Ladies off to a winning start

Maldon Ladies 1st XI opened their account in the Beaumont Seymour T20 League with a thrilling victory against a strong Old Chelmsfordians side at the Prom on Friday evening.

In conditions more akin to March, with a cold, brisk breeze blowing off the river, the visitors posted a score of 71 for 6 after being put in by Maldon. OCs lost wickets regularly and tight fielding restricted runs with only Beena Sharma and Hollie Lodge forming a significant partnership, putting on 26 runs for the fifth wicket.

Ali Daniels took three wickets for 13 runs, to continue the rich vein of form which saw her take five for 15 two weeks earlier in the Two Counties Championship at Copdock. Megan Daniels took an excellent diving catch off her mother’s bowling at deep square leg - no mean feat as she was taking off her jumper at the time - and wicketkeeper Kerry Turner took two smart catches down the legside. Holly Cheek, Megan Daniels and Sue Thornet all took a wicket each while Chloe Collins epitomised the commitment of the players with a near faultless display of fielding. That commitment was also in evidence when her mother Sally sacrificed her shin to prevent a certain four and Jess Walton sprinted to flick back a ball just inside the boundary. Little did they realise how important the runs saved would prove to be.

In reply to OCs’ total, Maldon began briskly, with excellent running between the wickets by Megan Daniels and Holly Cheek (12). The latter departed with the score on 20. Daniels then held the side together through the rest of the innings, facing 61 balls for her 21 runs. She was eventually caught by Martine Smith off the bowling of Lois Smith with the score on 65. At the other end, Captain Sarah Harris scored a quick fire 10 with two steepling fours to midwicket, before being run out by a direct hit. Two more run outs followed as Maldon battled to reach the total. The overs ticked away and the tension rose as the light faded. Would the home team manage to overhaul OCs’ total? An exciting final over saw wickets tumbling as players ran for everything. The game could have gone either way but, with just one ball to go, Jess Walton and Mary Huntington scrambled a bye to take the home team over the line.