Ashford Ladies Surrey Trust v Reigate Priory

Ashford finished off their best season yet in style, with a comfortable win which sees them finish the Surrey Trust development league as runners up. Two early wickets from Hannah Merchant got Ashford off to a great start, then Reigate found their stride, with Camilla Thrush attacking the bowling. The run rate slowed after she retired on 37, and Ashford started picking up wickets. Yolandi Maynier’s accurate bowling brought the first, then a fine piece of fielding by Hannah Merchant resulted in a run out. Sarah Taylor bowled an excellent spell, picking up two more, then skipper Angharad Purser finished off the remaining two batsmen, including the returning Thrush, in consecutive deliveries, which will leave her on a hat trick all winter!

Chasing 114, Ashford started off well, Jenny Tippell finding the gaps in the field with ease. However, she was bowled with the score on only 17. Katie Butler took over the scoring, well supported by Beth Evans, and found the boundary a couple of times before she retired with 35 off the same number of balls. When three wickets quickly followed, it looked as though Ashford were in trouble. However, Evans and Sarah Taylor steadied things to get their side within reach of the target, and when Taylor was out, Angharad Purser finished things off with 9 from only 7 balls. Evans batted the whole way through the innings for an unbeaten 20.

Ashford have had a wonderful season, winning 16 of their 21 matches in all competitions. They narrowly missed promotion in the Women’s Cricket Southern League, and have finished runners up in the Surrey Trust. Jenny Tippell and Hannah Merchant have both developed into exciting all rounders, Katie Butler has made a big impression in her first season for the club, and with juniors such as Katie Brown and Rhianna Southby coming through into the adult side, the club’s future looks to be full of promise.

Alison McCreedy