Since my last update, the U13 girls have played two more matches. Both matches against the same opposition or was it? The club was the same, however the make-up of the team was vastly different, although they may have said the same about us. First up, they were away at Cranleigh where they scored 283/2 after being asked to bat. This was a vast improvement on the previous week in terms of number of wickets lost. In reply, Cranleigh scored 293/2 to win by 10 runs. Although I was not there, the reports are that the match was as close, if not closer, than the score indicates and a call or two in Cranleigh’s favour may have been the difference between these closely matched teams.

A week later, Elstead were hosts to Cranleigh, who brought a more established team to the Pav. Again, Cranleigh won the toss and elected to field. Eva (3) and Lily (5), made a solid start, accumulating 20 runs for 2 wickets, by the end of their 4 overs. Anna and Lucie found it hard as the 2nd pair, only managing to progress the score by 2 by the end of the 8th over. However, Ellie (9) and May (13) managed to pick the run rate up in their four overs, which allowed Sophie (4) and Bella (4) to have more confidence as the scoreboard was ticking over to finish on 254/5.

It was clear from early on that Elstead were going to have to bowl well and take wickets, especially when Cranleigh’s opener hit 16 off only 12 balls. In the second 4 overs, the wickets started to fall, first Sophie, then Ellie and finally Anna each taking a wicket in their first overs of the match. Ellie picked up a 2nd later on and Lucie picked up one, however, Cranleigh’s batting was too strong for the night.

Thank you to Natalie for scoring (for the first time after a very quick crash course from Lucy), Giles for umpiring and Fleur and Louise sorting the refreshments.