Yorkshire Women vs Worcester Rapids Women at Leeds (Headingley) on Sat 19 April 2025 (10h30)
Described by commentators as a ‘massive victory’ for Rapids – chalked-up in 23.1 overs; to co-launch league two’s opening day for this season’s fifty overs competition. Rapid posted two match-winning ‘fifty’ partnerships, both scored at one-run—per-ball (i.e.: at a strike-rate faster than par=100.) Firstly, Gwen Davies and Clare Boycott banked ‘fifty’, followed by Ruby Davis partnered by Bryony Gillgrass who added Rapids’ second ‘fifty’ to chalk-up a defendable score. Commentators lauded the Hosts bowling performance, when Rapids were bowled out for 228/10 with eleven balls remaining. Rapids made light work of Yorks batters when eight batters departed for single-figures with two ‘ducks.’ Only Dutch International Sterre Kalis showed spirited resistance. Kalis [51 runs (from 55 balls)] top-scored with fifty, until stumped by Rapids’ skipper-keeper Chloe Hill (pictured) to clinch the match. Commentators were Michael McCann with Jonathan ‘Doigey’ Doidge (BBC radio Leeds) and Dr Jane Powell (President at Yorkshire CCC). Weather was cool and sunny, ‘13C’.
Rapids’ Innings: *skipper Chloe Hill with Gwen Davies (Wales) *[Lauren Winfield-Hill keeping wicket for Yorks] *Gwen Davies and Clare Boycott opening partnership banked 53 runs without loss until Davies played forward-defensive but went ‘leg-before’ to Claudie Cooper’s spin; *Skipper Hill was caught at ‘slip’ by Ami Campbell, also from Cooper; *Clare Boycott went ‘leg-before’ to Maddie Ward’s spin; *After 25 overs (mid-way around noon) Rapids were 125/3, drinks taken; *Ruby Davis was caught at ‘deep square’ by Ami Campbell, from Amelia Love; *Poppy Davies went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Amelia Love; *First ‘six’ was struck by Bryony Gillgrass who was later caught by Sterre Kalis from Amelia Love; Emily Churms was caught in-the-covers for a carbon-copy dismissal; *Phoebe Brett went aerial, caught ‘in the deep’ by Ria Fackrell, from Beth Langston; *Jess Beech lost her middle-stump to Beth Langston for a second-ball duck; *Finally, left-handed Flora Bertwistle had her off-stump flattened by Beth Langston. Rapids’ batting: Bryony Gillgrass 48(60),Ruby Davis 44(46), Clare Boycott 38(61), Sophie Beech 36*not out(45), Gwen Davies 21(39); Yorks bowling: Amelia Love 4/39, Beth Langston 3/28, Claudie Cooper 2/45, Maddie Ward 1/38.
Yorks innings: *skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill with international player Sterre Kalis (NL) *[Chloe Hill keeping wicket for Rapids] *Lauren Winfield-Hill was caught at ‘backward point’ by Ruby Davis, from debutante Emily Churms. *Cursed by commentators at a ‘crucial moment in the run-chase,’ Erin Thomas was ‘bowled around her legs’ by Phoebe Brett, who struck ‘top-of-leg-stump.’ *An ‘early pickle’ became more serious when Rebecca Duckworth was caught by Flora Bertwistle taking a rolling catch at ’slip,’ from Phoebe Brett. *Having ’steadied the score,’ two wickets fell in consecutive overs. *Prompted commentator’s curse that a partnership was ‘building nicely,’ Ami Campbell (earlier dropped by Churms) went aerial, and was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Emily Churms, from Sophie Beech; *Said to be an ‘attacking player,’ Maddie Ward went ‘leg-before’ to Flora Bertwistle for a fifth-ball ‘duck.’ *Beth Langston ‘chopped-on’ to a deceptive ball, bowled by Flora Bertwistle for a fourth-ball ‘duck.’ *Ria Fackrell went for a carbon-copy dismissal, also bowled by Bertwistle. *Elica Pollard was ‘run out’ by Gwen Davies; Claudie Cooper was bowled by Brett with both bails sent flying. *Finally, Sterre Kalis was stumped by skipper Hill from Flora Bertwistle – as mentioned above. Yorks batting: Sterre Kalis 51(55), Ami Campbell 13(18); Rapids’ bowling: Flora Bertwistle 4/32, Phoebe Brett 3/25, Sophie Beech 1/23, Emily Churms 1/26.
Expressing some disappointment over Yorks ‘comfortable defeat,’ commentators wanted batters to show ‘less hesitancy’ to enable ‘more decisive’ shots. Yorks players also needed to adapt between ‘different (playing) conditions’ having just returned from their recent Abu Dhabi (UAE) training tour.
*Match result: Worcester Rapids Women 228/10 (@5.5 runs-per-over from 41.1/50 overs) beat Yorkshire Women 142/10 (@4.9 r-p-o, target 229; from 23.1/50 overs) by 114 runs
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV Play at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#mc133d3c3-99a5-48c2-ae33-cd10392246f4 & Also BBC Sport at URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225578
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of Yorks TV (NV Play) via YouTube <05h04m22s> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckKDz-yL63E
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/03/04/metro-bank-league-one-fixtures-for-2025/
Tags: MetroBankCup, LeagueTwo, cricket, Rapids, Yorkshire,
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