Yesterday was the first day of the Malvern U13 Girls Cricket Festival. This year’s fixtures for the girls were changed on arrival, meaning we were fortunate to play Warwickshire, as well as Kent, who we were not due to play, in two thrilling T20’s.
All the girls performed well in their own right, but it was the team as a whole which impressed our oppositions the most. The team was captained well by Merrion’s Emma Paul and her vice Aisling McCormack of Rush.
Wickets were taken quick and fast in the first innings. With Leinster with the ball, bowling figures were personal bests for some of the girls. Loulou Little 2/1/2/0. Maria Kerrison 2/0/4/2. Emma Paul* 2/0/10/2. Klarissa Walser 2/0/6/2. Restricting Warwick to 85/8 off their 20 overs, they set themselves a low total.
Heading to the middle Cliona Tucker and Ali Keenan opened and clocked up and quick 17 off the first two, to then loose A Keenan for 9 to Warwick’s L Sercombe. Joining Cloina was the captain for what was to be a Captains innings. Quick to score the girls rotated the strike well and smashed boundaries at the right times and reaching their target of 86 in 10.2 over’s, Cloina 27* Emma Paul 34*.
Second game took place later that afternoon where we played Kent. After losing the toss Kent put us in to bat. Opening with Cliona and Emma*, loosing Cliona early was worrying but knowing we had some strong players through the squad we kept our heads held high and sent Jane Maguire in to replace Cliona. Clocking on the runs Emma and Jane held their own till Jane was bowled for 2 by Kent’s M. Baynes. Next heading to the middle was Pembroke’s Orla Prendergast. With Herself and Emma 22 at the middle there was a serious partnership in the making. Hitting the middle every time Orla finished on a clean 68*, leading Leinster to a high total of 132 all out in the 20th over.
A confident start in the field restricting Kent to 3/1 after the first 2 overs. With some notable bowling figures of E. Mullen 2/1/5/1, A. Brennan 2/1/3/0 we started well taking wickets and keeping the run rate below the required. Until Kirsty Dymond of Kent came in smashing a quick 33 of 18 balls to bring Kent out of their slow start. A run a ball in the last 5 overs as the game went backwards and forwards as Kent took boundaries and Leinster responded with wickets. A nail biting last over with Kent needing 6 off, Loulou Little with the ball kept her composure as the first ball went for one and 2nd a wd. What to do now? A small fielding change and the 2nd legal ball of the over was nicked for 4 and the Kent supports went wild. With cricket as the winner and some great performances in the batting Leinster came away with some great experiences and the thrill that comes with t20 cricket.
Written by Laura Erskine (Manager)
Match Scorecards:
Leinster V Warwickshire:
Leinster V Kent: