U15 girls clinch win over Hitchin despite being 2 players short

The U15 girls travelled to Hitchin for their 3rd league game of the season. With some of the girls out playing in county matches and two taken ill on the day, the team started with 2 players short. A win was looking difficult!

We lost the toss and batted first. Marie and Isabella opened with a strong start of 14 and 11 respectively, including boundary hits for both. Captain Zoe joined Marie at the crease with a superb innings, retiring not-out on 25 with an impressive five 4s!

Alice and Emily added useful runs at the end of the innings setting Hitchin a target of 138 to win.

Alice’s younger sister Elsie (just 10 and who had come along to spectate!) joined the girls in the field (with some impressive stops) but we were still one player short.

Isabella and Marie opened the bowling and Isabella took the first wicket in the third over. Hitchin had a strong start and were 52/1 after 6 overs. Captain Zoe rallied the girls and then the wickets started to come – wickets then followed from Zoe, Mattie (2), Emily (caught by Alice), Lea (caught by Zoe) and Marie. With 2 overs to play, Hitchin needed 20 from the last 2 overs. Up stepped Emily, in her first game, to bowl her 3rd over. Another wicket for Emily left Hitchin needing 14 from the last over. With cries of “just whack it” from the Hitchin supporters, Lea kept her cool and delivered her second wicket of the game.

Hitchin finished on 132/9. A great team win for the BSCC girls, even more impressive given their reduced numbers!

Well done girls and thank you to James B for coaching and umpiring, Lucy for scoring and writing this report and all the spectators who braved the cold wind and early Sunday start.