Thornbury women lead the North Bristol League by 5 points following a Sunday double over Stapleton & Twyford House, you can view the table by clicking HERE.
In the first game Thorns were asked to field on a wet & wintery Sunday v Stapleton. From the first ball the ladies were focused & put pressure on the Stapleton batters from the first ball.
Stapleton were up to face off and after 3 overs were 25/0. Gaenor picked up 2 run outs in the 4th to leave the opposition 32/2 after the first pair. Eva & Helen then applied the middle overs squeeze with 2 overs, 8 runs and 3 wickets. Skipper Warney (Caroline) and Emily Hill followed suit with 2 overs, 12 runs & 3 wickets, leaving Stapleton 52/8 after 2 pairs.
With a little renaissance from Stapleton batters Kelly & Becky they somewhat recovered to a respectable 85/8 with an over to go until Thorns own Glenn McGrath (aka Helen Newman) nipped out 2 wickets with Stapleton posting a below par 90/10 off 12. Helen (justifying her new nickname ) finishing with figures of 2 overs, 5 runs, 4 wickets.
Thorns needing only 41 to win, which required a boring defensive approach to secure a comfortable win. Not these ladies.
In an almost perfect chase, the foundations were laid by Caroline & Gaenor reaching 35/0 after 4 overs, with most importantly no wickets lost. TCC are bred to entertain and with victory all but secured, Emily Hill and Helen showcased their skills with shots all round the arena. In 4 overs the pair put on 49 for 0. Helen rotated the strike beautifully with some deft touches, with Emily applying the power, dancing down the track and smashing a huge straight six off her first delivery resulting in a lost ball.
After 2 pairs Thorns were clear at 84/0 with a lead off 44. With victory secured it was now a competition between the batters as the gallery looked on in awe. In the final 4 overs Eva & Emily Bogg picked off the tiring and deflated Stapleton attack with ease as they amassed a further 53 runs for a solitary wicket. It was an exemplary display with a winning margin of 92 runs.
WOM (woman of the match) Helen. Batting: 15 runs off 7 balls. Bowling 2 overs, 7 runs, 4 wickets.
Bowling Stats (Overs-Runs-Wickets):
Caroline: 2-12-2
Eva: 2-11-0
Emily H: 2-19-1
Gaenor: 2-18-2
Emily B: 2-22-1
Helen: 2-7-4
Batting Stats (Runs, Balls):
Gaenor: 4 (7)
Caroline: 6 (13)
(partnership 35)
Emily H: 24 (11)
Helen: 15 (7)
(partnership 49)
Emily Bogg: 23 (8)
Eva: 24 (11)
(partnership 53)
In game 2 Thorns faced fierce rivals Twyford House having pipped them to the summer title in 2021.
Twyford won the toss and played into our hands and batted first in front on a large Twyford following in the galleries.
In confident mood the ladies again went about their business with accurate bowling backed up by a purpose in the field. But Twyford were up to the challenge with class batters Kelly & Karen picking off the loose balls and running sensibly with 30 on the board after the first pair.
Questions were now being asked of the team, could they keep up the standards and get themselves back into it. With the first ball Emily B bowled Porscha, soon after Emily Hill ran out Katie to turn the tide. Emily H followed this gathering a great throw from Eva to leave Twyford 47/3 after 2 pairs.
The final 4 overs were crucial as chasing on a wearing pitch in fading indoor lights could prove difficult for any side. Gaenor set the tone with just 5 off the 9th over, with a wicket, Caroline leaked just 7, then Emily Bogg bowled a maiden with her mystery spin. The measly Helen again delivered with just 6 off the final over to leave Twyford on 65/5, knowing only an awesome bowling display would prevent another Thorns victory.
As the ladies kept the same batting order that served them so well in the first game, Twyford were up to the fight. Gaenor & Caroline found batting tricky against the nagging lines & length of Katie, Karen, Porscha & Lara with only 14 on the board for 2 wickets.
Thorns required 46 off 8 overs if they lost no further wickets. The Twyford contingent were now in fine voice sensing uncertainty in the the Thornbury batting.
Emily Hill & Helen started to settle Thorns nerves with another sprightly display between the wickets pulling the fielders around the arena. Emily graced the crowds with another sublime six as the pair put on 41 for the loss of 1 wicket, leaving the scores now tied at net 80 apiece with the final pair of Emily Bogg & Eva to come.
Twyford tactically held their best bowlers back for exactly this situation but were no match for the confident approach adopted by the pair as both hit sixes with ease combined with subtle nudges & nurdles. The only Blemish was Emily narrowly getting run out off the last ball through some outstanding fielding. Again victory was secured, this time by 30 runs. The ladies left in the hope of a well deserved Sunday dinner and glass of winners.
WOM (Woman of the match) Emily Bogg. Batting: 14 runs off 8 balls. Bowling: 2 overs, 2 runs, 2 wickets.
Bowling Stats (Overs-Runs-Wickets):
Eva: 2-7-0
Emily H: 2-12-1
Gaenor: 2-12-1
Caroline: 2-18-0
Emily B: 2-2-2
Helen: 2-14-1
Batting (Runs, Balls):
Caroline: 6 (7)
Gaenor: 2 (13)
(partnership 14)
Emily H: 18 (9)
Helen: 17 (11)
(partnership 41)
Emily Bogg: 14 (8)
Eva: 17 (12)
(partnership 35)
Well done all!
Harry Hawkins
TCC Women's coach
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