Ashford secure first league win of the summer

Ashford beat Spencer 2nd by 8 wickets
Surrey Women’s Cricket League, 27 th June 2021
Spencer 2 nd 112-8 (Camille Wood 31, Jenny Tippell 6-3-4-2)
Ashford 113-2 (Rhianna Southby 68*, Gemma Ware 2-0-11-1)

It has been a tough month for Ashford, for a number of reasons. Three wins in the Surrey
Slam and friendlies have been countered by four cancellations, and two heavy league
defeats, and it has been a constant struggle to get a team on the field each week. All that
was swept aside on Sunday with a first league win of the season, despite still having only
ten players.

With rain clouds threatening, the match was reduced to 30 overs, the visitors batting first.
An outstanding start by Lakeesha Walia saw her claim a wicket without conceding a run off
her first two overs. Spencer rallied, led by Camille Wood, and they had added 75 more
before the partnership was broken by Gill Bonham, from which point Ashford didn’t look
back, taking regular wickets. Bonham picked up another, and there were two each for
Gayatri Sunkersett and Jenny Tippell, who gave away only 4 runs from her 6 overs.
Chasing 113 for victory, Ashford lost an early wicket, but Rhianna Southby soon got into
her stride on a rare weekend off from Surrey duty. She hit ten boundaries on her way to an
unbeaten 68 from only 56 balls, putting her side well on track, but it would not have been
possible without the vital innings played by Amy Evans at the other end. Reining in her
naturally attacking game to play the supporting role, Evans batted with great determination
as she and Southby added 100 together, and Ashford finally recorded their first league win
in style, with almost ten overs to spare.

There is still a lot of work ahead for Ashford, but new players are beginning to find their
feet, the squad is working hard in training, and enthusiasm is high.