EMWCC Ladies: County Cricket Champions!

By Charlie Gloyne, Ladies Team Captain

The Easton & Martyr Worthy Cricket Club Ladies’ W10 (softball) team have had an unprecedented season of success, ending in triumph.  On Sunday they were crowned Hampshire County Champions!

Through the season they fought some hard won matches and saw off the other teams in their league: Hartley Wintney, IBM Hursley, Old Netley and Twyford and topped the Central South Division leaderboard.  On Sunday 4th September the Easton Ladies faced Portsmouth CC Ladies in the Regional Quarter Finals, played on their Home pitch at Easton. With the support of family and friends cheering from the boundary and the novelty of the Club’s new light-up stumps adding to the occasion, bails were sent flying and stumps flashed as wickets were won in an exciting and friendly match against the capable Portsmouth team. Easton came out on top with a convincing 76 run lead.

With only a week to recover, Easton were through to the County Finals Day held at IBM Hursley on Sunday 11th September. First off they were drawn against Whiteparish CC in the Semi-Final. It was a nail-biting match with sterling performances from both teams but it was the Easton bowling and fielding that clinched the match and kept the Whiteparish batting score down as they struggled to pass the boundary despite their best efforts. Easton batted second and just edged past the Whiteparish score – winning  the Semi Final by just one tiny but hugely significant run. The other Semi-Final between Sarisbury CC and Redlynch & Hale CC had been equally fraught, also won by only a single run.

And so it was that Easton faced up to Redlynch & Hale for an exciting and extremely close County Final match that same afternoon. The heat and the pressure ramped up as the sun beat down on what may have been the last of the summer’s warm days. The crowds of supporters were treated to a tense and close battle on the pitch. It all came down to the final over of the match. Redlynch were batting and chasing Easton’s score of 293. Easton had an incredible final bowling over and chased every ball down.  Their victory was sealed by a stunning catch – another Redlynch wicket fell and they were unable to equalise.

Easton & Martyr Worthy CC raised the Hampshire County Cup as W10 Champions – a wonderful and thrilling way to end the season

Left to right back row: Rachel Drewer, Carolyn Milles, Rashmi Bhintade, Rebecca Andreae, Charlie Gloyn (Capt), Liz Gault, Ava Neilson

Front row: Miranda Bannister, Purdy Arscott, Elloise Clarke, Mark Low (Coach)

Charlie Gloyne with the trophy