Women’s XI qualify for T20 Finals day
Shropshire’s Women’s XI have qualified for their Vitality Blast T20 League finals day after two more victories on the road in Cumbria in their League Three Division Two North campaign.
Their victories at Tynefield Park, Penrith, mean they won nine of their ten games in the division to finish well clear at the top of the table meaning they will take on the winners of the South group Oxfordshire at the Wormsley Estate on July 27.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first in the opening game of the day, they struggled early on and were reduced to 15-2.
But Millie Parry (23) and Olivia Smith (27) helped them get a score on the board as they finished their 20 overs on 122-8.
The bowlers then took centre stage to ensure that total was more than enough as they dismissed their hosts for 67 with Harriet Shuker, Isabelle Crann, Esther Hurford and Smith all picking up two wickets apiece.
In the second game, Cumbria won the toss and batted first and the Shropshire kept a tight rein on the scoring as they were restricted to 104-9.
Again the wickets were shared around with two apiece for Kate Brazier, Crann, Hurford and Aamma Khan.
In the reply, Shropshire slipped to 52-3, but Libby Thomas batted through the innings for 51 off 54 balls and Alex Hale hit an unbeaten 19 to make sure there were no further scares as they reached their victory target with 14 balls to spare.
Coach Naomi Payne said: “It was an excellent display of cricket across all departments! The girls brought the energy from minute one of the warm-up and continued that throughout the day.
“On the field, it was very pleasing to see such clinical and professional displays with both bat and ball, executing team and individual plans to a T. Both the senior players and the younger players joining the women’s squad this year contributed to two great wins.
“This campaign has been nothing but fantastic. All of the players in this squad have given their all and that has showed in our results – winning all but one of our games in this T20 campaign.
“We now look forward to heading to Wormsley to face Oxfordshire on the 27th July and, of course, hope to continue our wonderful form in this format.”
