Super All-Round Team Performance

It was a muggy, cloudy Sunday morning – the rain that was threatened the day before did not materialise and we had a good game of cricket.

Gemma was Captain today, losing the toss and we were asked to bat first.

Gemma and Megan Driskel opened the batting – Megan was very focussed today and set about the bowlers with vigour; picking up 2 4’s off the last 2 balls of the first over. We lost our first wicket in the second over with Gemma falling to Jack. We still managed to end the over with positive runs though as the girls ran superbly for 3 singles and Megan picked up another 4. I thought the pair worked really well together always looking for runs but I don’t recall any where I felt the need to take a breath as they were running. Megan picked up four 4’s today and finished as top scorer on 23. Gemma picked up 6 runs and contributed to the pairs total with some great calling and running – she also hit a lovely shot straight back over the bowlers head for a good 2. At the end of their spell we had moved onto 225 – a really solid start – well done Gemma & Megan.

Next up we had Jessica and Erin. Both batters played some lovely shots. 2 shots which stood out were from Erin, a lovely straight drive playing the straight ball perfectly and also a great leg side shot just helping the ball on its way. They effectively lost 1 over to wides and no balls which impacted their ability to score too many runs. They succumbed to Katie in their final over. Jessica was bowled and Erin caught – not quite picking the space between the fielders. However a good effort from both of you – you shared the strike pretty much evenly and both picked up 6 runs apiece – taking our score to 233 at the end of the 8th over.

Lucy and Issy were next up. The running between the wickets was excellent again. Good calling and running. We did lose 2 wickets in this session – Lucy fell in the second over and Issy in the fourth. Both girls tell me they played straight to what they thought was a straight ball but it turned after pitching - which I’m not sure we’ve covered in training. Issy had a great second over – lofting the ball back over the bowler’s head and running 3 off it – but for some good fielding it would have been a 4. She then came back on strike for the last ball of the over and hit a lovely 4 some way over the fielders outstretched hand – 2 really good shots. Issy picked up 13 runs (finishing second top scorer) and Lucy 5 and at the end of their partnership we had moved onto 247 at the end of the 12th over.

Lulu and Megan came to the wicket next – this pair batted together last week and much like Issy and Lucy I think they run well together – always looking for singles or byes. We lost 2 wickets early on in this pairing but they both then came back into it and made the most of the balls they were bowled and any fielding mistakes. Lulu played a lovely leg side shot which I think went for 4 runs – she also played a great forward drive getting the full face of the bat to the ball and pushing it away between the fielder and bowler getting 2 runs. It was a lovely shot. Megan has fantastic technique and played a lovely dab shot to a ball that bounced up to her - dropping the ball a short way in front of her and calling for and getting the run - a great shot with some good match nouse thrown in to get the run. Lulu picked up 11 and Megan 2 (plus 10 between them in byes) and at the end of the partnership had moved the score onto 252.

Next up were the pair of Emily’s, Cameron & Bird. We had regularly lost wickets throughout the innings but were still building a good score - we didn’t want to lose any more wickets and they both came out and played the bowlers and the situation excellently – protecting their wickets but still moving the score on. Emily C picked up 11 runs and Emily B picked up 5. These were all - bar two 2’s - from singles - there was some really good running as well as a couple of moments of what we’ll call “optimistic” singles. But the right sort of batting approach for the situation.

We finished on either 271(Vulcans), 274 (Me) or 273 which the official scorecared shows – depending on who you believe – a good strong performance and a good score bearing in mind the 7 wickets we lost.

After a quick turnaround we took to the field – with Gemma organising her team.

Megan D bowled 2 good overs again making the bowlers work to protect their wickets. She didn’t manage to get any wickets but did make the batters think. She finished with figures of 2-0-9-0

Gemma picked up a wicket in her first over sending the bails to wales as per the frequent instructions from the field. She finished with figures of 2-0-10-1.

Erin had 2 great overs firing in a loosener for her first ball but then tightening up in subsequent balls and picking up a wicket. She finished with figures of 2-0-9-1.

Emily Bird did well in her 3 overs only firing in one no-ball. In her second over we managed to take 2 wickets. The first was a great bit of fielding by Issy to stop the ball as it hurtled towards the boundary – the batters thought they could squeeze in 2 runs but a great stop and throw back to Emily who took the bails off saw them record only the 1 run and lose 6. Emily then followed this up by knocking off the bails on the following ball. She finished with figures of 3-0-13-1 (+ a great run out!). Based on her first 2 overs Gemma picked her as one of the 2 bowlers to bowl a third over. Super work Emily.

Issy was quite tight with her bowling, only conceding 1 wide which she is adamant was not a wide! Regardless of that 1 wide it was a really good focused piece of bowling. She finished with figures of 2-0-9-0.

Lucy pitched in with 2 wickets – 1 was a great catch by Megan after the batter used a bit too much bottom hand. The second was a straight bowled. She finished with figures of 2-0-17-2.

Megan Clark again turned in a great bowling effort – I think I have said this before but it’s worth repeating that she has a lovely bowling action – combining the run up and bowl into 1 seamless action and delivering the ball with some speed. There were so many good moments across all the girls bowling but one that especially stood out was the great run out off her own bowling that Megan achieved. The batter hit the ball about ½ to ¾ up the pitch and set off for the run. Megan pounced on the ball and in one smooth action turned and launched the ball at the stumps – a direct hit taking the wicket – a fantastic piece of work Megan. Well done. In her second over we also picked up a second run out and Megan also took a wicket. A really good spell. Megan finished with figures of 2-0-4-1 – 2 extras the only thing to blot her scorecard.

Jessica was our final bowler – like Emily Bird, Gemma picked Jess to bowl a third over – based on her performance earlier in the innings. She had a great first over pinning the batters to the crease and conceding only 1 run. The second over was even better taking 2 good bowled wickets. She finished with figures of 3-0-7-2. A great effort Jessica.

Lulu was our wicket keeper again today – we have some really quick bowlers and she made several good stops throughout. A really good effort again Lulu to go with a solid batting performance – well done.

There was so much good today – some great shots, some good tight fielding and fantastic teamwork and encouragement – throughout the game be it when we were batting or bowling the team were constantly positively encouraging whomever was in the thick of it. It’s really lovely to see\hear. Well done girls.

Some of the opposition were complaining loudly amongst themselves as the match was drawing to a close that the girls were too old - some of them are 15 they kept moaning – nope that would be wrong; or that we were “chucking it” - uh again wrong; but you could see this just encouraged the girls that could hear this to be more vociferous in their support of their team mates. I did eventually ask the boys to cease as frankly it was a little irritating – it’s not something I have come across in any of the games we have played over the last few years.

It was a great effort – we are still second in the league behind Taunton Deane Pumas. The season is a marathon not a sprint so we have to make sure we keep our focus but at present the league match on the 4th July against the Puma’s is looking critical.

*Shockingly - earlier versions of this report omitted to offer thanks to our umpire today, Simon Stevenson. Simon put in a stellar performance following on from last weeks equally impressive stint at Wiveliscombe.

We have a league match at home on Wednesday and a Cup game on the following Sunday – playing at Blagdon Hill on the grass wicket with a 10.30 start.