Bushy Park Girls played the final match in their Boys League campaign last night (03/07/2017) against Ashford CC. With the glorious evening sunshine slanting across the Teddington CC pitch the girls finished with a fine win in the Division 3 MCA West U12 league championship. With 5 wins, 2 losses, and 2 abandonments during this summer it was a hard fought and fruitful experience for Bushy Park Girls, a far cry from last year when they lost every Boys League game they played.

Bushy Park Girls won the toss and chose to bat, it was time to make hay for the opening pair of Paige Goodwin (21) and Abigail Avery (11). Both looked self assured, hitting the boundary rope regularly and working well together. Avery was the first to depart playing-on in the 5th over with the score at 26. Imogen Higgins was as tenacious as a terrier with a bone at Number 3, never letting go, desperate to push every run. Together Goodwin (P) and Higgins put on a 53 run partnership before Goodwin was run out for 21 in the 13th over.

Ella Waldron was in a dominant mood this evening and it was a delight to see her flex her muscles in an innings of 37 (Not Out). Her first 6 scoring shots were all fours, flying to all corners of the ground. This innings sees Waldron score more than 100 runs for BPGCC in 2017, she is the first Under 15 to reach this milestone. Higgins fell to an Ashford thunderbolt in the 18th over, scoring 26 and proving what an essential member of this side she is. With two overs left Jess Low strode on for an eventful cameo which saw her face 4 balls, complete 2 dives to avoid being run out, score 7 runs, and depart. Kate Middleton’s innings was nearly as eventful with 4 byes and 1 leg bye coming from the 2 balls she faced. Bushy Park Girls finished their innings on 143 for 4 after their 20 allotted overs. This was their highest score in the Boys League this season.

Ashford were cautious but purposeful in their batting response with  ‘little and large’ opening the bowling once again for Bushy Park Girls. Erin Goodwin (3-0-13-0) started nervously but finished her 3 over spell with her usual aplomb while Jess Low (2-0-5-1) squeezed the life out of the Ashford openers like a boa constrictor. Low’s restrictive qualities paid dividends in the fourth over as Imogen Higgins caught a lofted drive at Mid-Off. Isabel Jenner (3-0-10-0) bowled well and was unlucky not to take a wicket as Higgins popped up again at Mid-Off, unfortunately it was a no-ball for Jenner. Imogen Higgins (3-1-8-1) wasn’t out of the game for long and bagged a wicket herself with a smart 3 over spell, bowling straight and true.

The strength and depth of Bushy Park Girls was obvious in the next three bowlers, Iris Saunders (4-0-30-0) bowled an extended 4 over spell, and was ably backed up by Kate Middleton (3-0-18-0) and Emma Nunn (2-0-9-0). Nunn was particularly energetic in the field and caught the eye, as did the wicket-keeping of Emily Bryce once again. Coming straight from her school sports day, Bryce took an over to settle into the role, but thereafter was nimble and fearless. A real find for this season. Ashford were diligent in their batting but couldn’t break the shackles imposed upon them by Bushy Park Girls. They reached 95 for 2 by the end of the match.

A dominant win from Bushy Park Girls and a great way to bow out of the 2017 Boys League season. All the girls who have played in these matches should be very proud of themselves. The Division 3 table as far as we know it look like this (below) with one match still left to play between Hampton Hill and Teddington Town.

Hampton Hill – P 8, W 5, L 1, A 2, Total = 54
Bushy Park Girls – P 9, W 5, L 2, A 2, Total = 54
Teddington Town – P 8, W 2, L 4, A 2, Total = 24
Ashford – P 9, W 1, L 6, A 2, Total = 14
(P Played, W Won, L Lost, A Abandoned)

Thank you to Mark and Andy for umpiring, and to Alban and Sham for scoring. We look forward to meeting Ashford CC again next year, thank you for making it such an enjoyable game.