Ashford beat Sibton Park by 71 runs

Ashford beat Sibton Park by 71 runs
Women’s Cricket Southern League Division 1, 13th April 2014

Ashford 103 (Gill Bonham 31, Lucy Arman 5-0-21-3)
Sibton Park 32 (P Skelton-Hook 11, Yolandi Maynier 4-3-2-3)

Ashford made a dream start to their first season in Division 1, with a comprehensive win over Sibton Park, carrying on their fine form from last week, which saw them finish runners up in the ECB Women’s National Indoor Knock Out.

Although the game was played in glorious unbroken sunshine, the pitch provided a reminder of just how much rain had fallen on it over the winter. Put in to bat, Ashford made a careful start, with Gill Bonham and Becky Halls taking the score to 37 before Halls was out lbw in the 15th over. Two wickets in successive deliveries from Lucy Arman began to turn things in Sibton’s favour, but Bonham looked very comfortable at the crease, and was finding the boundary with ease, even with the slow outfield. However, an ill-judged call for a single by her partner gave Bonham no chance of making her ground, and Ashford had slumped to 75-4. None of the other bats were able to get to grips with the bowling, and wickets continued to fall with alarming speed, Ashford all out in the 34th over.

Defending only 103, Ashford knew they had to be at their best in the field to have any chance. Jenny Tippell and Hannah Merchant got their side off to a great start, Tippell beating the bat time after time, but it was Merchant who made the breakthrough, with two wickets in her first spell. Yolandi Maynier came into the attack, and struck in her first over, Katie Butler holding on to a tricky catch, the ball coming out of the sun. Elize Brown joined the action, taking a good catch off her own bowling, and Sibton Park were on 26-4. Ashford chased down everything in the field, with Hannah Merchant, Angharad Purser and Amy Evans all saving valuable runs. Rhianna Southby topped off a promising performance behind the stumps by collecting a good throw by Jenny Tippell to secure a run out, but it was Maynier who took command and saw her side home. Two more wickets resulted in her best bowling figures for the club, and she finished off the match with an excellent throw from fine leg to run out the last Sibton Park bat, with more than half of the 45 overs remaining.

A superb start to the season for Ashford, in their first match at this level. The whole team played their part in the win, and credit must also be given to coaches Daniel and Ben Simper for the winter training programme which has prepared their side so well.

Alison McCreedy