14/05/2025
On a scorching hot Sunday morning, 7 heroic ladies from Mawdesley made their way to the Wirral to play in a very close super 8's soft ball game vs New Brighton (NB) Ladies.
The battle began long before the day just trying to gather a team together. One lady down, we lost the toss and were put into bat... NB nominating Mel Moores to bat twice.
Everyone played their part in a great innings amassing 295 for 2. A fantastic score going at a run a ball... and believe me, bar the explosive batting of Bella Donkin (22) everyone else pretty much did run a single every ball... and it was HOT!! 🤣☀️🥵
Then it was NB turn with the bat. Let me tell you, covering a cricket pitch with 8 fielders is tough going, but trying to do that with 7 is almost impossible. Gaps everywhere! But these Mawdesley Ladies fielded their socks off, running left, running right, throwing themselves around, working as a team and backing each other up every single ball. Bare in mind... between us we have a multitude of injuries... so this level of fielding was exceptional!!
In the first 8 overs there were chances popping up, but agonisingly falling in gaps, Bella and Rosie asking questions every single ball. NB then knuckled down, and played in a very safe, measured way, chipping away at the total, not giving any chances.
Moving into the last few overs, things started to get tense as NB edged towards our total... the Mawdesley Ladies continued to field their socks off in the rising heat, sweeping the leg side boundary like their lives depended on it. With 2 very close run out chances going NB way the last over loomed... NB needed just 4, sadly extras got them over the line then all they had to do was survive the last 2 balls without loosing a wicket. Something they hadn't done the whole game... dot balls followed and Mawdesley lost by 3 runs.
Every single player put their all into Sundays game, and I am proud to call these ladies my team mates. A fantastic display of cricket skills and exemplary sporting attitude. Stand out performances have to go to Rosie (20 off 4 at an economy of 5) and Bella (22 - going at SR 169). But lets not forget Michelle Stangroom (for saving the day by getting us to 7 players), Michelle Ireland (for running the boundary like an Olympic sprinter), Mel Moores (for wearing one on her bad shoulder, batting twice and taking the gloves!!) and Sara Boardman (for playing through the pain and not letting a single ball pass her by). Bravo ladies!! 🏏
