Barrow Cricket Club played host to the first home games for the new Cumbria Women side, as they welcomed Herefordshire Women for back-to-back T20 matches.
For the first time, women cricketers in Cumbria are part of a unified national structure across England, set up by the ECB in recognition of the status of women’s cricket, and to further develop the game.
Cumbria Women are playing in Tier 3 of this new structure, and thanks to investment by the ECB and sponsors, now benefit from the things the county’s men have enjoyed for years – all-year-round training, with kit provided along with transport and hotels at away games.
Cumbria skipper Sarah Earl won the toss in the morning match, electing to bat.
The home side posted 138 from their 20 overs, Charlotte Whitaker top scoring with 50 and captain Sarah Earl 46 not out.
It was an impressive batting performance with intent to score throughout despite the chilly overcast conditions that saw most spectators donning coats and in some cases hats as well!
That high intensity from the home players continued when they took to the field, choking Herefordshire’s scoring, with the visitors finishing on 89-8 off their 20 overs.
Emily Renshaw and Zara Matthews were the pick of the Cumbria bowlers with 2-15 & 2-9 respectively.
Highlight of the fielding was an outstanding one handed diving catch by Alice Heaton fielding at point that drew intakes of breath and applause around the Ernest Pass Memorial Ground.
The players emerged after lunch to sunshine for the second game of the day. Herefordshire elected to bat first and whilst they made a decent start were restricted to 102-5 off their 20 overs, Lucy Hetherington taking 2-5 and Megan Smith taking 1-14.
Again the Cumbria women were very impressive in the field with teenager Elsie Fox patrolling the deep point boundary stopping 2 being taken every time.
Cumbria chased the total down with little drama to make it two from two on the day, Charlotte Whitaker making 27, Zara Matthews 18, Sarah Earl 22 not out and Lucy Hetherington 27 not out. Cumbria reached the target for the loss of just 2 wickets with 3 overs to spare.
This was very much the start of a new era for women’s cricket in Cumbria, with a strong squad of 20 players creating a new positive environment with real competition for places, which will hopefully inspire young girls in the pathway to want to fight for their place in the senior team.
It was great to see a number of the girls from the county sides watching from the boundary to support the women’s side along with their parents.
Cumbria Cricket extended a huge thank you to all involved at Barrow Cricket Club for hosting the day to a high standard both on and off the pitch.
