For the first game of the 2015 cricket season, Moddershall Ladies were up against Horton Ladies, last season’s Division 3 champions.
Horton won the toss and put themselves in to bat, finishing their 45 overs on 300-3 at tea. There was excellent fielding from all players, exceptional fielding from Emma Brown, Sara Dimmock and Maria Birkett. Brown chased down every ball whilst sweeping the boundary, not letting one four get through.
Moddershall came in to bat but opener Sara Dimmock was removed for a duck in Jenny Williams’s second over, with the other opener, Maria Birkett, removed just two balls later off Williams with a brilliant catch at gully from Marie McKenna. Danielle Houlden opened at the other end, bowling Hannah Burrows (5) and dismissing Hannah Day (3) and Emma Brown (10) for her second and third wickets from catches by Williams.
The openers bowled their 9 overs straight through, with Jenny finishing on 9-4-9-2 and Danielle 9-1-26-3. It was then that Grace Bambury and Amy Bridgett, had to keep their wickets to keep the game going, scoring runs when possible. Horton had their first change of bowlers changing the pace of the ball, Kerry Mikeli and Katie Taylor, despite the fact that Taylor had spent 45 overs at the crease, she bowled all 9 overs (9-4-17-1).
Bambury was bowled by Taylor for 21, the match was then dependant on skipper Bridgett, and the younger girls to keep their wicket, for the remaining overs. Alex Walker did a fantastic job of protecting her wickets, as a young developing player she hit 6 runs and looked like she could keep going for the remaining overs. Sally Cory (2-0-28-0) came on in attempt to bowl some leg spin, due to the cold weather her grip on the ball was hampered and it was very difficult to control, to which Bridgett took advantage with her favourite shot. Mikeli came back on to finish her remaining overs at the other end, finishing (9-0-58-0), Starr (7-0-32-0) came on to finish the remaining overs, Bridgett played straight shot, which Starr managed to get a touch to which then struck the wickets to run Walker out.
Bethany McGowan then joined Bridgett at the crease to finish off the last of the overs, protecting her wickets to support Bridgett, Bethany played some fantastic shots which got her up to 10* and skipper Amy finished on 74* beating her personal best. Moddershall finished up 174-7, just short of six runs for full batting points. An outstanding batting performance from the bottom end of the order.
Prior to the game Croft Architecture sponsors of the match ball, presented it to captain Amy Bridgett and Horton were presented with their trophy from last season’s win.
A club spokeswoman said: “Thank you to our match ball sponsors Croft Architecture and to all those who braved the cold weather to support us. The team looked smart in their new kit purchased from S and S Promotions in Newcastle.”
