Ashford Ladies winning streak of 8 wins come to an end at Sibton Park

Ashford’s long winning run came to an end at Sibton Park, with their first defeat since the opening game of the season. Batting first, Gill Bonham carried on her good form from the previous game, easily finding the boundary, and Ashford were wishing they could call on DRS when she was given out lbw, having hit the ball. Two more wickets quickly followed, to leave the side in trouble at 21-3. Ali McCreedy joined Beth Evans, and, slowly, they began to rebuild the innings, staying together for ten overs until Evans mistimed a shot and was caught. Hannah Merchant was next in, and as usual wasted no time in attacking the bowling, scoring 12 off eleven balls, but she wasn’t able to add to it before she lost her wicket. Ashford then lost two more wickets in two balls in the 25th over. Running out of partners, McCreedy tried to up the run rate, but became the last wicket to fall, run out trying to get the strike.

With only 81 to defend, it was always going to be tough for Ashford, and they needed early wickets. It didn’t happen, and the Sibton Park bats scored with ease, running well, and having no difficulty finding the boundary. Ashford Skipper Angharad Purser picked up the first wicket with the score on 32, to give her team hope, but they were unable to do anything to stop Sibton Park’s progress, and they scored the winning runs in the 16th over to seal a well deserved victory.

Ashford will stay at or near the top of the league despite this defeat, and their promotion challenge is still in their own hands, with four matches left to play.

Alison McCreedy