CHESHIRE WOMEN’S CRICKET LEAGUE - LATEST RESULTS

Here are the latest results from the Cheshire Women's Cricket League.

Division One – September 10:

Oakmere v Didsbury: Didsbury are league champions for the first time since 2019 after securing enough points from what was the only abandoned match of the day. Roshini Prince-Navaratnam’s 5-12 led the way as Oakmere were all out for 122. Only six overs of the reply were possible, but Didsbury would have been feeling safe anyway by this stage, given that they would then have needed to be bowled out for 74 or less to give Leigh a chance of snatching the title

Didsbury ultimately prevailed by seven points and when they beat Leigh off the final ball in the second match between the two teams this season, back in July, many suspected that the outcome of that tight finish would prove to be crucial. This indeed proved to be the case, as a Leigh win or a tie in that encounter would have altered the final destination of the league title.

Nantwich v Leigh: With Didsbury taking care of business at Oakmere, this match simply became a shoot-out to decide second place. In a high-scoring rain affected encounter, Nantwich made 173 in 34 overs and Leigh 120 in 22.5, so one wonders what the scores might have been had they been able to play a full 40 overs per side. With the batters holding sway, Grace Michell (98) and Morganne Prince (62) put on 169 for Nantwich’s first wicket and Kate Gaging’s half-century anchored the Leigh reply. Nantwich ended the season in third place, but it’s still their highest ever league finish.

Stockport Georgians v Chester Boughton Hall: Another team recording a club record final league position is Stockport Georgians, who finished fourth. They have had both big totals and big collapses during the season, but this was one final solid batting effort that took them to 216, with half centuries for Skye Thomas and Heidi Cheadle, added to Freya Jones falling just short of this mark. Ali Cutler’s 48 dominated the Chester total of 108 and added to her 5-26 (including a hat-trick) earlier in the day, it was a fine individual match for the former Cheshire captain in what may have been her last match in the Cheshire league.

Upton v Appleton: Sophie Morris, who made her senior regional debut this year, recorded remarkable figures of 4-6 in eight overs here, but could not guide Upton to victory. Abbey Gore’s 4-21 and Becca Othick’s 3-28 ensured the Wirral side fell short at 109, chasing Appleton’s score of 125.

Division Two – September 10:

Hayfield v Hawarden Park: A comprehensive win for Hawarden to end a season where their only defeat came against divisional champions Lindow. Nicola Deane again made the top score (36) and Poppy Smith took 3-12 and then hit the winning runs to round off a fine personal season.

Leyland v Greenfield: An excellent all round bowling display saw Leyland bowl Greenfield out for 46 and complete a straightforward win.

Division Three West – September 17:

Porthill Park Northern Stars v Appleton: A comprehensive win for the Stars, who are able to reach 192 in 30 overs despite the top individual score being just 27.

Chester Boughton Hall 2^nd XI v Porthill Park Northern Stars – cancelled due to rain on original date and never re-arranged, recorded as Cancelled

Porthill Park Northern Stars v Didsbury 2^nd XI – cancelled due to rain on original date and never re-arranged, recorded as Cancelled

Division Three East

Buxton v Ashton-on-Mersey & Woodley – AOM & Woodley unable to fulfil fixture on last scheduled date and will not be re-arranged, awarded to Buxton

Ashton-on-Mersey & Woodley v Lindow 2^nd XI – cancelled due to rain on original date and never re-arranged, recorded as Cancelled

Buxton are the champions of this division, joining Lindow  in division two as the only teams to finish with a 100 per cent league record.

Division Three Cross-Divisional Matches – September 17:

Stockport Georgians 2^nd XI v Nantwich 2^nd XI: Jess Isaacs and Lucy Neill recorded the stand-out figures of the ten Georgians bowlers, as the pair took the last three Nantwich wickets for one run to seal a 15-run win, all after Grace Michell had threatened to take Nantwich home. Neill had herself already made a 32-ball half-century in the first innings.

Buxton v Appleton 2^nd XI – Appleton unable to fulfil fixture on last scheduled date and will not be re-arranged, awarded to Buxton

Buxton v Chester Boughton Hall 2^nd XI – cancelled due to rain on original date and will not be re-arranged, recorded as Cancelled

Appleton 2^nd XI v Ashton-on-Mersey & Woodley – cancelled due to rain on original date and will not be re-arranged, recorded as Cancelled

Division Four East – September 5:

Hawk Green v New Mills & High Peak North: Caitlin Greatbatch’s 3-4 return kept Hawk Green down to 39 in 13 overs and New Mills got home relatively comfortably despite the loss of four wickets in the second half of the reply.

September 10:

Heaton Mersey & Cheadle v Langley: Langley rounded off their excellent season as Neve Boon’s 4-6 led the way in keeping the home side down to 50, in reply to Langley’s 78. There were also wickets for the new ball pair of Ella Hirst and Jenny Wallace, who have played a large part in their successes this year.

Macclesfield v North East Cheshire: Four wickets for Emilie Ward set up a comfortable run chase for Macclesfield, which was anchored by Annabelle Morton’s 30 retired.

September 12:

Hawk Green v North East Cheshire: Becky Scholes top scored once again as North East won relatively comfortably.

September 17:

Macclesfield v Heaton Mersey & Cheadle: Macclesfield’s strong end to the season continued as they sneaked home in the final over, with the last pair at the crease. Heaton Mersey & Cheadle would have finished runners up with a win here, but instead ended in fourth position.

Hawk Green v Macclesfield – Macclesfield unable to fulfil fixture on original date and will not be re-arranged, awarded to Hawk Green

Macclesfield v Hawk Green – Hawk Green unable to fulfil fixture on original date and will not be re-arranged, awarded to Macclesfield

Hawk Green v Buxton 2^nd XI – Hawk Green unable to fulfil fixture on latest match date and will not be re-arranged, awarded to Buxton

Hawk Green v Heaton Mersey & Cheadle – Hawk Green unable to fulfil fixture on original date and will not be re-arranged, awarded to Heaton Mersey & Cheadle

New Mills & High Peak North v Macclesfield – cancelled due to rain on original date and will not be re-arranged, recorded as Cancelled

The next meeting of the League Committee is on Wednesday September 27 at Northwich CC at 1930.

The business of the AGM in mid-November will include reports from existing league officers, elections for the league officer positions over the next 12 months and voting on any regulations proposals that could affect 2^nd XI cricket in the league. Proposals for regulation changes on other issues will be debated at the January meeting.

The AGM will also consider any applications for promotion. The winners of division 2 and the two regional divisional 3s are entitled to automatic promotion, subject to confirming that they understand the regulations that apply in the higher division. All other teams seeking promotion, including the division 4 winners, will need to submit an application detailing their readiness to play at a higher level.

The AGM will finally consider any applications to join the league’s hardball divisions for the first time. All applicants – including any clubs wishing to be promoted from the division 5 softball competitions - will need to complete the detailed application form.

With the playing programme concluded, it’s also nearly time to celebrate the season and to hand out awards and trophies to our star teams and individuals. Club representatives should have received details of this year’s Presentation Night and we look forward to seeing you in Widnes on Saturday October 21.

Division 5

Many of the softball divisions had a clear winner this year, but net run rate was required to separate the contenders in Division 5 West, where Irby edged out Old Parkonians.