Another stunning summer’s evening in Bushy Park set the scene for BPG U13s to take on Richmond U13. With many of the BPG team new to hard ball cricket, the aim of the match was to give them all a taste of what it feels like to pad up. Richmond won the toss and elected to bat first, but with a number of our BPG newbies feeling unsure of bowling, a team that was one player short and captain Erin Goodwin (co-captaining with Imogen Higgins) still nursing a back injury, the formidable Richmond team quickly began to rack up the runs. Higgins opened the bowling with Sofia Stapleton-Parslow, followed by Matilda Le Frenais and Ananya Apte, both still new to hard ball cricket. The seasoned Richmond batsmen were unforgiving in their boundaries, with all four of their top batsmen reaching over 30 runs apiece before retiring. Grace Tasker, in her first appearance for BPG this season, and Ruby Oakley could also do little to stem the tide and Richmond looked to be barrelling towards an almighty target.
With only a few overs to go, co-captains Erin and Imogen changed up the bowling order to rotate between themselves and another over for Stapleton-Parslow in the hope that the bails would fly before the 20 overs were up. It wasn’t until the 17th over with the score on 158 runs that Goodwin finally got a breakthrough by clean-bowling Richmond’s fifth batsman. Higgins followed in the next over with a stunning ball caught by teammate Ruby, then Erin followed this in the 19th over by clean-bowling the next batsman. However, some relaxed fielding and a few too many extras meant that BPG were facing an insurmountable target after Richmond ended on 195/3.
Knowing that this would be a game of lessons learnt rather than pushing for victory, all of the girls were keen to pad up and have a go, even though for some this would be a first. Wicket keeper Beth Crabtree and Erin opened, but Erin fell early to a risky run-out, to be replaced by Higgins. Crabtree (8 runs) and Higgins (8 runs) looked to be settling into a steady partnership before Higgins was bowled in the 5th over and Beth was caught in the 6th over. Holly Ramsden stepped up to the wicket and managed to face the pacey bowling, settling into some nice singles and doubles to settle the wicket and remain there for the rest of the match. Ruby shared the wicket with her initially and managed 6 runs before being caught and bowled, then Sofia Stapleton-Parslow (4 runs) was caught just as she was settling in.
It was then the turn of Amy Banner in only her second match for the BPG U13s. Facing the strength and pace of some of Richmond’s finest bowlers, she seemed unfazed and relaxed at the crease and settled into a very neat partnership with Holly, who stood defiant at the other end. Amy was eventually caught on the last ball of the match, but not before she reached 11 runs. Holly ended the match not out on 12 – a fantastic debut!
Although BPG’s 93/5 was far short of a victory as such, there were many positives to be taken from the match and it was lovely to see our newest team players facing some formidable bowling with courage and good old BPG fighting spirit. The heads did not drop and the girls smiled throughout. There was even some dancing in the outfield and occasional shouts of joy (mostly from the spectators as England scored in their World Cup match against Colombia). The match also highlighted some key areas for the girls to work on in training going forward and, although it may not have been the ending we would’ve liked, the silver lining was that everyone was home in time to see England win their penalty shoot-out.
As always, a big thank you to the parents for sacrificing their football viewing to support the girls, to Chris for umpiring and a special shout-out to BPG U15’s Paige Goodwin for scoring.
An impressive number of BPG dads (and a couple of mums) turned their backs on breakfast in bed this Sunday morning, choosing instead to start their Father’s Days on the road to Wembley with their cricketing daughters. Rumours that once they got home, after negotiating the North Circular for the second time in the day, they would spend the rest of their Sundays slumped on sofas doing nothing more strenuous than filling in their World Cup wallcharts are unsubstantiated. In any case, the BPG girls served up a treat on the pitch, as satisfying as any Sunday morning lie in.
It was a grey and lacklustre evening when BPG U13s travelled to old foes Ealing yesterday in their first league match of the season. With the team two players short of a full line-up and others still battling through the rush-hour traffic, young captain Erin Goodwin won the toss and elected to bat. She chose herself and trusty fellow teammate Imogen Higgins to face Ealing’s formidable opening bowlers.
Bushy Park Girls started their summer season campaign with a thrilling win against Ealing CC yesterday. In an entertaining friendly against their rivals the combined BPG team of Under 13s and Under 15s won the match in the final over at Popesfield, Ealing.
With rain in the air Bushy Park Girls won the toss and chose to bat. It was a good choice as North London CC found three BPG batswomen in a serious mood to make runs. Kerrie-ann D’cunha took control early, lashing out with a series of boundaries, racing away to 15 runs before being caught in the 7th over. Her opening partner Molly Bartlett always seems to bring her best form to the Middlesex Final and this year was no exception. Bartlett constructed a mature innings, carrying her bat and scoring 28 not out, playing some delightful shots to all corners of the ground. After her success in the semi-final Evie Mayhew fell early but Eve Abbott once again took up the baton, carving out an impressive 24 runs, with many a boundary hit straight down the ground, right under the noses of the scorers. With some tight overs from North London’s five chosen bowlers it was an impressive display by both sides. Bushy Park Girls finishing on 104 for 2 in their 20 overs.
Evie Mayhew (2-0-12-0), Emma Bridge (1-0-5-0) and Edie Davies (1-0-6-0) kept the pressure on North London CC while Edie Proud (1-0-7-0) struck with a wicket again with the final ball of her over. With the score on 97 and just 2 overs left, the game was finely balanced as North London battled to reach their target of 105. The penultimate over from Low (4-0-15-1) yielded a wicket and a run out (Proud) but with 4 needed from the last over it was nail-biting for players and spectators alike. Goodwin kept her nerve in the final over, with a superb display of accurate bowling. With a run out (Bartlett) off Goodwin’s 3rd ball, North London needed 4 runs from 3 balls, then 3 runs from 2 balls and ultimately 2 runs from the final ball.
Jess Low picked up the West Middlesex League trophy on behalf of the Under 13s (and also for the Under 15s too), while Erin Goodwin lifted the under 11 trophy. It is hard to draw positives when you lose a match under such tight circumstances but without sounding too clichéd, whether we win or lose, Bushy Park Girls Under 13s are a wonderful team to be involved with. It has been a pleasure to spend time with you all.
A dewy Autumnal morning greeted both sets of players and with the outfield and wicket wet it was a cautious start by fielders and batswomen alike. North Middlesex won the toss and put BPG in to bat. It was hard for the North Mid bowlers with the slippery ball but also for the batters too, with many a fine shot pulling up short of the boundary. Openers Molly Bartlett (7) and Paige Goodwin (4) both toiled tirelessly in the conditions and eager to push the run rate along were run-out in the 6th (Bartlett) and 9th overs (Goodwin).
A special mention to Molly Bartlett for an excellent run-out and Kerrie-ann D’cunha who kept wicket with real dexterity and skill. She was one of the best keepers on display throughout the day, giving away the fewest byes in the games we played in. The umpires were lenient with the wides (especially down leg side) and she had to be on her toes. With 240 balls bowled at her (over semi-final and final) it is quite some achievement to concede only 3 byes in that time.
Bushy Park Girls won the toss and captain Abi Avery chose to field first. Opening bowler Jess Low struck second ball, pinning the Old A’s opener in front of the stumps, and the umpire’s finger reached for the sky. Simrat Khaira (3-0-15-0) kept it tight at the other end and worked well with her opening partner. Low (2-0-6-2) was at it again in the 3rd over catching her victim with a LBW bullet. Evie Mayhew (3-2-2-3) was the most prolific of the bowlers (wickets), and the most miserly (runs conceded), producing the best spell of her BPG career that included 2 wickets in her first over, a wicket-maiden in her second and a maiden in her third. She truly was on truly sparkling form.
In reply Bushy Park Girl batted with a great deal of prowess and strength. Dcunha got her highest ever score for Bushy Park Girls, retiring on 32 not out in the 8th over. While Paige Goodwin also reached a season’s high with 27 not out. It was an action packed 10 over innings that quickly reached the 79 target, every shot was used and the ball hit the boundary in the North, South, East and West. After Dcunha retired the ever faithful Abi Avery steered BPG toward the winning line.
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.
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.
After a night of General Election ups and downs it was Bushy Park Girls who ended yesterday (09/06/2017) as the obvious strong and stable team to lead us into the coming months. Playing at home (Teddington CC) they entertained Ealing CC in a top of the table clash that saw Bushy Park Girls come out as comfortable winners in an enjoyable match.
Thank you to Ealing for a very enjoyable match in the Bushy Park sunshine. Thanks to Alban and Bruce for umpiring, and to Jim and Cormac for scoring. The next match in the Girls League will be a month away against Richmond (AWAY) on the 7th July 2017.
Last night (25/05/2017) Bushy Park Girls CC won a second match against boy’s league opposition in this their debut season in the MCA West league. Played in the glorious evening sunshine at Teddington Town CC it was a far cry from the chilly conditions braved earlier in May. On that occasion Teddington Town defended a strong total and Bushy Park Girls were 20 runs short in their reply. Yesterday Bushy Park Girls turned the tables on their neighbours to record a fine win and propel them up the Division 3 standings.
Teddington Town pushed on in the second half of their innings, tripling their score in the process. Nerves didn’t affect Evie Mayhew in her debut match, bowling a good opening over. Phoebe Head’s unpredictable spell kept the batsmen on their toes and ultimately produced a wicket (2 overs, 9 runs, 1 wicket). Iris Saunders (1 over, 8 runs, 1 wicket) dismissed Teddington Town’s most destructive batsmen, teasing him into a slog that was caught by Head. The innings was concluded by Abigail Avery (3 overs, 1 maiden, 10 runs) and the bandaged Ruby Wilkinson who bravely overcame her wrist injuries.
Bushy Park Girls Cricket Club 