The Army Ladies Cricket team started their season with a T20 match against Alton Ladies. It was time to tell if the hard work at the winter nets sessions had paid off.

Alton Ladies won the toss and elected to field. Cpl Eddie Taylor-Koff and Lt Jade Haron took to the field to open up the batting. Jade was injured in the third over and the opposition graciously allowed the Army a runner. Sgt Kirsty Gavillet ‘volunteered’ for running duties and took to the field like a gazelle. After much confusion and a lengthy discussion between the batters and the umpires a resemblance of order was restored and the game continued. Jade stood and delivered as best she could and thumped balls around the ground. Much to Kirsty's dismay the unkempt outfield prevented many balls from reaching the boundary requiring the ladies to run three after three!

Eddie put in a fine knock and was bowled in the sixth over for 19. Team Captain Capt Caz Norris also put in a great batting display scoring 20 before also being bowled. Sgt Emily Wall in at number four learnt a valuable lesson in the 15th over: don't assume the ball is dead and rehearse your shot just outside your crease or the sneaky wicket-keeper will take off your bails. Emily believed the ball was dead, as she saw it the ball had finally settled in the hands of the wicket-keeper sadly the umpire did not see it the same way! Shortly after saw the return of Kirsty looking not quite so gazelle like but still in fine form leaving the field not out for two.

The Army Ladies posted a score of 95 and felt confident that a strong fielding display could keep the Alton Ladies from a win. Eddie put on a bowling masterclass and dismissed both opening batsmen for four runs in just ten minutes. A fine resilient batting display from Bex Clearly (Alton Ladies), 38 not out, put the pressure firmly back on the Army ladies. Step up WO1 (RSM) V Bartlett with an agile catch at 1st slip off the outside edge to relieve some pressure. It took lengthy discussion to finally believe such an agile, rapid and spectacular catch came from the normally sedate RSM.

As the light dimmed and the spectators (and players) could barely see the ball the match continued and the pressure mounted. As suggestions of head torches and putting a bell on the ball were floated and the final over commenced with Alton requiring 11 to win. Cpl Taylor-Koff bowled and the pressure mounted: three off the second ball, two dot balls, a boundary of the fifth and Alton need four for the win. The last ball was bowled and the resilient Bex Clearly hit the ball with a hefty thud, only for the unkempt outfield to swallow up another ball and prevent it from reaching the boundary.

The Army Ladies won by one run.

See scorecard

 

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