We played last season’s champions Odiham & Greywell at home on Sunday, knowing that a win and other results going our way would see us regain the league title. There was a big crowd in to watch as it was Junior Volunteers’ day, and we also had the support of several Men’s 1s players, and what a cracking game they witnessed.

Odiham won the toss and without hesitation batted first, which after Dani Chivers bowled their skipper and had the no 3 caught by Katie Jones left the visitors 13 for 2 in the 6th over. However, Odiham rallied well with Noa Mais and Annabelle Bailey putting together a fine stand, and nothing we seemed to do could dislodge them, or indeed slow the run rate, which moved up to 6 an over on a true pitch and a lightning outfield. Mais was the more aggressive but had solid support from Bailey, and a 40 overs total of 250 plus looked on the cards. The pair had put on 138 when we finally made a breakthrough, Emelia Butler taking a good diving catch off Rachel Hegarty to dismiss Bailey for 51. The Odiham no 5 played very solidly in support of Mais, but was struggling to give her much of the strike as we flexed our fields, and the run rate dropped somewhat. Eventually the no 5 was run out by a 30 yards direct hit from Finty for 12 (off 35 balls), but undeterred Mais progressed towards her maiden century, the Netherlands wider squad player finishing the 40 overs on a highly creditable 108 not out off just 83 balls. Odiham totalled 215 for 4, a challenging target but gettable, and with only two bowling points gained by us.

We suffered early setbacks when we replied, losing the in-form Rachel Hegarty, who hit a full toss straight to Mais at short mid wicket – a yard either side would have been 4, also in-form Emelia Butler leg before for a brisk 17, then Caity Smyth. We were now 38 for 3 in the 8th over, and Darcey Clarke and Maisie Ayers faced a re-building job. This they did splendidly, with skipper Maisie in a supporting role to red hot Darcey, who had hit her maiden Hampshire U18 century the previous week, which she followed up in midweek with two big county half centuries. Here she looked very assured, striking the ball beautifully and the pair had put on 124 in quick time when Maisie holed out to a good boundary catch for 29. Finty joined Darcey, as the latter progressed smoothly through the 70s and 80s.

We had reached 185 for 4, so just 31 needed off 13 overs, when Finty received what could be termed an “interesting” lbw decision. Next over Darcey reached her maiden St Cross hundred, with 18 fours and off just 86 balls, producing a loud cheer from the crowd for this popular player. We now needed only 21 with 5 wickets in hand, but their young spinner induced Darcey’s first false shot, and she was caught for exactly 100. Katie Jones and Beth Lewis stayed whilst a handful of runs and extras were scored, but they both were dismissed and we had collapsed to 204 for 8, with the league title on the line and two tricky matches to come. It was now down to Dani and Emily Wilson, who showed great composure by playing very sensibly, picking up singles and waiting for wides to be bowled which was frequently. After 26 balls of this partnership and the tension growing we had added 11 runs to bring the scores level. Another 6 balls elapsed, with all the fielders round the bat, before Emily drove through the covers for the winning runs – phew!

This will be our 4th league title in the past 5 seasons (and in the other season we were runners up), never having finished higher than 3rd prior to our first title in 2021