More News on Women's Cricket

The amazing Haddenham Women's Cricket Team took to the road on Sunday 19th July and with passports in one hand and prosecco in the other, made the long and arduous trip to Chesham.  The team arrived but was somewhat nervous which could be evidenced by several last minute trips to the facilities which is pretty frustrating if you are the coach, I can tell you.  Finally, at 12:55 precisely, the team was ready to play.

Haddenham has played Chesham (who are an excellent team) several times over the last couple of years and all the matches have been nail-biters, but the question the coach wanted an answer to was, just how good are we?  We have the skill, but do we have the belief to win easily?

The game started with Chasham batting and Haddenham were immediately under the cosh.  Chesham batted with confidence and skill and were 82 for 2 after 12 overs and cruising. The Haddenham bowlers had worked hard in the stifling heat but had no answer.  There was a welcome drinks break (yes I am old) which gave Rach the excellent captain just enough time to move things around and remotivate the players. And it worked. Hattie, bowling just a tad under 100mph, took two quick wickets (finishing on 3 for 16) which shifted the momentum in Haddenham's direction.  Bels, who finished with an amazing 4 for 12 was simply unplayable, and Rach's 2 for 14 meant Chesham collapsed to 107 for 9.

But in cricket, 9 wickets is not good enough and Chesham added a further 25 runs until Clare F took their final wicket which meant they finished on 132 all out.  How costly would those final runs be?  Had that killer instinct we were looking for deserted Haddenham just when they needed it most? Perhaps the coach was wrong?

We didn't have to wait long to find out as Clare F and Rach took to the field to bat.  It was a slow start as they took just 4 off the first over and then the floodgates opened and we all witnessed the most powerful and skilful batting we have seen this year.  The next few overs went for the following runs: 13, 11, 10, 19, 8, 12.  I could go on because Clare and Rach were brilliant.  Rach was finally out for 36 off 41. Vicki came in and scored 15 off 15 to get us over the line along with Clare F who scored the first 50 ever by a woman from Haddenham scoring 51 off 51 balls for a 100 strike rate.

The large crowd went wild, and with arms aloft she basked in the glory only this ancient game of cricket can give you.  Haddenham ran out winners by 9 wickets.  Amazing. There were match winning performances all over the pitch: Rach's captaincy, Bels' bowling, Hattie was the momentum shifter, Laura behind the stumps was simply the best.  But it was Clare's 50 that will become the stuff of legend, and rightly so.

The only person who wasn't happy with the emphatic win was the coach because there was nothing to moan about. He grumbled a bit about the team not winning by 10 wickets but, not for the first time this season, absolutely nobody was listening to a word he said.  And he didn't mind one bit!

Tim (The Coach)