It was another tough defeat for the ladies on match day two of the 2019 season, as Nantwich took the spoils at the UCG. Winning the toss, Upton elected to bat first on a wicket known for cracking up and become more difficult to bat on over the course of a game.

Our innings got off to a slow start, and finding ourselves at 16-4 certainly wasn’t the ideal scenario, with all of the top four back in the pavilion. Charlie Scudder (17) and Madi Arthur (13) worked really well again as a partnership in the middle overs, to push our total up to a respectable 91. With keen support from Jess Penny and Alison Green, who played a very brave little cameo at the end, to ensure a competitive total went up on the board.

The pitch, somewhat failed to do what it so often has, and offered very little for the bowlers to get too excited about in the second half. This, coupled with some fine counter attacking batting from Nantwich saw our total being quickly gained upon by the visitors. Hudson (32) and Prince (24*) showed a full range of shots, and made batting on a tricky wicket, look at times very simple. Wickets for C.Scudder, Dagger and H.McGowan, ultimately all in vain.

A thoroughly deserved victory for our hosts, who proved a vastly improved side from last year, that will clearly cause some of the more established division two sides some problems in the season ahead. In the mean time for our ladies, it is back to hard work in the nets and on the pitch, to sway those fine margins in our favour. However, we are not far away, and should continue to take solace in the fact that we are competing well in a division a step up in quality from last year.

Next up in the league is Appleton at the UCG, a big game with real potential to kick start our season.

We keep working hard and the victories will come!

Matt Owen
Ladies 1XI Coach