ECB Indoor Knock-out Cup

Shillingstone women’s cricket team are through to the semi finals of the ECB Women’s Indoor Knock-out Cup. Having played through the winter months indoors at Hurn against the under 15s Boys, they were well prepared for the tournament at the David English Centre in Bournemouth on Sunday 26^th February.

They played against an emerging Bridport side first, and, after early nerves settled down, recording a comprehensive win.

Next up, was a Bournemouth University side, which they also beat comprehensively.  Fortunately, Shillingstone were drawn to play all their matches in succession, which meant they were well-warmed up for their toughest test of the afternoon, against Hursley Park from Winchester, who looked to be a very strong side in previous games.

Shillingstone batted first and scored 78 off their allotted overs. Hursley Park started off at a terrific rate scoring 48 off the first 3 overs, but the middle overs proved crucial, as the brakes were applied with wickets, to slow the scoring.  Eventually, still needing 8 runs off the last over, the game came down to the final ball, with Hursley requiring 2 runs to win.

Danni Maidment bowled it and the batsman made contact and ran.  Keeper Danni Rigby picked the ball up and, without time to remove her glove, threw the ball making a direct contact with the wicket and running out the batsman by inches!

With little time for celebration, the team had to play their last game against a young Broadstone side, knowing that a win would see them into further competition. They did the business, winning this game by the highest margin of the afternoon.  This was a real effort, having been in play continuously for three and a quarter hours!

Celebrations ensued as the team of Becky Yeo; Jemma Sullivan; Danni Rigby; Danni Maidment; Hannah Winton and Courtney Lowman finally realised what they had achieved in getting through to the semi-finals of a national competition.

Next is a trip, on Sunday 1^st April, to The Play On Arena, in London’s Docklands, to play against much more experienced club sides, from the top leagues in the country.

Hugh Shackell. Coach/Manager. Shillingstone Women.

Hurn Indoor League

Shillingstone have an entered a team in the Dorset Indoor League. These matches are played at the Dorset Cricket Centre, Hurn, between September and February 2012.  Under the handicap rules the girls play in the boys U14 section.

Results

Thurs 16th Feb

Lost by 5 runs - Bransgore 164 - Shillingstone 159

In the final match of the season, the Shillingstone women went out in fine style, although they lost the match by 5 runs they played hard and demonstrated how much they have improved since the start of the season.

Bowling first, Shillingstone found the swinging ball hard to control.   Both Bransgore openers kept their heads and played carefully to put on 79 without loss by the half way stage.   Eventually they both retired and although Bransgore tried to increase the run rate they were thwarted by some excellent all round fielding especially by Beth and Amber.   The first wicket fell in the 10th over when some smart fielding by Jemma to Danni R achieved one run out.   And, in the following over, good fielding by Zara and return to Danni M brought about another run out.   Shillingstone did well to restrict Bransgore to 164.

Danni R and Jemma opened for Shillingstone but they found batting harder against a slower and more accurate bowling attack.   The openers started to fall behind the run rate and in an attempt to push the score along Jemma was bowled   in the 3rd over.   Beth and Danni had some daring runs and it was not surprising when Beth was run out two overs later.   Danni M then kept Danni R company for several overs.   Danni M hit a good on-drive for '8' before she retired and the team were on 75 at the half way stage.     Amber batted well as did Zara but some excellent fielding by Charis and her over of 7 runs put Shillingstone behind the run rate again.     When Charis ran out Zara, 15 were needed off the last over.   Danni M returned but was immediately bowled.. This left Danni R needing 12 off the last 3 balls, unfortunately this proved to be just too many.

Danni M. finished with 27 and Danni R. 28 not out.   The real winners were the wides, Shillingstone gave away 73 while Bransgore conceded 39.
Although, more-or-less the same players started as finished the season in other respects they were different.   At the start, a group of Shillingstone girls came together for a 'friendly' game, in this last match a team of Shillingstone women went out to win.   A tribute to their determination and to Hugh's management.

Sat 14th January v Christchurch B - Won

Shillingstone ladies lost the toss again and were asked to bat.  Jemma and Danni R opened as usual and had a very productive first over of 22 runs including a nice straight drive for 8 from Jemma, this was the basis for a very good all around batting display. The second over produced another 18 runs, and soon both players retired in quick succession for 25, leaving Danni M & Beth as the new players at the crease.  Neither player having shown too much form in the indoor season with the bat, previously giving their wickets away meekly.  This time they both battled through early overs to put on a splendid partnership of 85 runs, before Beth duly retired on 25.  Zara came in and found herself facing the last over, and needed 4 balls to get going before playing a cover drive for 4 thus getting Danni M on strike and needing 2 runs off the last ball to gain an extra batting point,  she duly played the ball away for 4 runs and we finished on 178 for no wicket.

Jemma decided to give the younger players a chance to open the bowling.  Zara, never liking to give away runs of her bowling bowled 2 very tidy overs, whilst Beth R settled in to a 3 over spell of flighted bowling that had the opposition batters trying to play expansive shots but usually failing to connect.
One opening batter retired, but after 6 overs Christchurch B had toiled to just over 50 runs.  The bowling attack switched to Danni M & Jemma and with the opposition needing to up the run rate they started taking risks in their running.  Good quick fielding led to 2 consecutive run outs off Danni M's bowling and Jemma got her usual LBW decision.  In the penultimate over, Zara induced the batter to play a lofted drive into Jemma's hands giving Zara figures of 3 overs 1-19. Jemma bowled a very tight final over, leaving the opposition on 126-4.  Shillingstone with 17 points move off the bottom of the table!

Overall, a good sound performance.

Sat 17th December v Bournemouth Beasts - Lost

Fri 25th November v Mudeford - Lost

Fri 11th November - Won

Shillingstone ladies won the toss and inserted Parley whose opening brother/sister combination of Megan Hattemore & Ross both retirerd on 25 as Parley took 73 off the first 6 overs & a challenging score looked imminent.  The following batsmen then struggled against a much more impressive bowling display with Zara B bowling a very controlled line & length that was difficult to score off.  Jemma S got her regulation LBW wicket & Amber C took a good caught & bowled & performed a spectacular direct hit run out, as Parleys innings faltered a bit to 141 for 3.
Courtney L & Jemma S opened the batting & in the second over Jemma played what would have been a perfect shot outside chipping the bowler, but unfortunately it hit the ceiling and landed at the bowlers feet leaving Jemma stranded having run on the shot.  Courtney played some good shots including a straight drive past the bowler for 6, but a large lack of communication saw 2 more run outs cheaply & suddenly Parley had the ladies on the backfoot at 49 for 3.  Issy F joined Courtney gradually built up a partnership putting on another 20 before Courtney had to retire on 25.  Amber added another 10 with Issy, before falling LBW & Courtney re-entered with 4 overs and 63 runs still required.  However, the break did not do her any good as she was caught off a lofted cover drive in the 9th over leaving Issy on her own at 104-5. This seemed to galvanise her into playing manipulative shots all around the wicket, as gradually she lowered the required score to leave her needing 9 off the last over.The unfortunate bowler buckled under the pressure of the last over, which went, dot, 3wides, dot, 3wides, dot then a delicate push to mid wicket for 3, to give the ladies their first win with 2 balls to spare Issy finishing on 46 not out.

A good all round display apart from the run outs which were not even close, once the calling & hesitation can be ironed out they will make the game so much easier for themselves.  Bring on the next match!!

Fri 21st October - Lost

Shillingstone girls crucially lost the toss again, and had to bat first against Ferndown/Wayfarers.  Danni R & Jemma S opened the batting and scored a useful 17 off the first over.  Unfortunately, Jemma was bowled off the first ball of the next over.  This seemed to set a trend for wickets to fall on a regular basis from one end whilst Danni was accumulating runs from the other end.  Three wickets fell to very close run out decisions, 2 from direct throws. Danni was left to bat out from over 10 on her own, and was very well caught off the wall for 49, leaving the opposition to get 133 to win.
With a smallish total to defend the girls needed early wickets which unfortunately did not come, the first wicket falling at 55 caught off Beth C's bowling.  At 110 they achieved a run out, but that was the end of the wickets as the boys won in the 9th over by 4 wickets.  Indoors it is essential to get batters retired to enable others coming in to play with freedom, unfortunately Danni was only retired for 2 balls before she had to re-enter the fray. 

Too many balls were allowed to pass by without scoring shots being made.  Due to the below par score we are putting too much pressure on the bowlers to get wickets, hopefully we will eventually get a chance to chase down a score and WIN!!

Sat 1st October 2011 - Lost

Shillingstone girls started a new venture by playing an under 16s side in the boys under 14 league indoors at Hurn.  After losing the toss the girls were invited by Poole B to bat, & after 2 promising overs where we had progressed to 35, the wheels came off!  Jemma was run out by a direct hit, & all incoming bats managed starts, but failed to capitalise on them.  Meanwhile Danni R was calmly accumilating runs at the other end until the slow bowler came on, her nemisis!  Danni was out for a top score of 34, as the team committed the cardinal sin of not using up the overs being all out for 106 in the seventh over.

Knowing they would have to bowl the opposition out to win, the girls attacked the ball at the start of the innings & Zara B had a very good run out from a direct hit to claim the first wicket.  Thereafter everyone seemed to struggle with their run ups as they gave away a series of no balls & wides & the opposition were cruising to their target score.  Jemma came on for a second spell with immediate success bowling an opponent with the first ball, and with the 4th ball of same over a plumb LBW was given, but unfortunately Poole were close to their target by then making 108 for the loss of the 3 wickets.