We had won the league title the previous week, beating Odiham & Greywell at St Cross by two wickets in a tense finish, and for this Sunday’s return match at Odiham we fielded 9 teenagers, including two U13a making their 1s debuts (Amelia T and Violet M-N). We were very pleased to welcome back Talitha Stanley for her first 1s game since 2023 due to injury and county calls, and what an impact she had.

We won the toss and chose to field first, and although Dani Chivers quickly bowled one opener, the other was Kerry Hartnett, playing her first match of the season, and she put on 70 with their no 3, before Tal had her caught and bowled for 46 (off only 49 balls). Another wicket for Tal, then one for Ella, both clean bowled, pegged O&G back to 106 for 4 in the 30th over. This brought Kerry’s twin Becky to the crease, and the scoring rate accelerated as she hit the ball powerfully for boundaries.

Although we took further wickets – another to Dani to take her to 24 for the season and consolidating her position as the division’s leading wicket taker, one to Immy, and a run out by Maisie Ayers, Becky Hartnett was not one of them, and she finished the 40 overs on 61 not out off just 34 balls, as O&G posted a challenging 192 for 7 off their 40 overs. Tal (2 for 24 off 8 overs) and Immy (1 for 27 off 8 overs with 3 maidens) were our most economical bowlers.

It was crucial that our run chase got off to a solid start, and Rachel Hegarty and Talitha more than delivered. The opening bowlers’ first 8 overs went for 71 as we got off to a flyer. Although Becky Hartnett came on and stemmed the tide somewhat, O&G leaked runs from the other end, and we passed 100 in the 14th over. Rachel and Tal both smoothly moved to their 50s, before at 142 Rachel was bowled by Kerry Hartnett for 56 (off 47 balls). After a frustrating start to the season, once Rachel had got used to English conditions she has blossomed, scoring 343 runs in her last 6 Women’s 1s innings, at an average of 86.

Skipper Maisie joined Tal, and they moved unhindered towards the target whilst maintaining the scoring rate at more than 7 an over. As the runs piled up, it became a race as to whether or not Tal could get her 100, and she had reached 99 with 2 runs needed for victory halfway through the 27th over. Maisie had blocked out the previous over so as not to jeopardise Tal’s chances, which Odiham quickly cottoned on to and surrounded the bat to no avail. A two through the offside brought up both Tal’s first hundred for the Women’s 1s, and also our victory by 9 wickets. Tal’s was the 4th hundred by the team this year, the others being Darcey, Emelia and Rachel. Her 101* took 95 balls, with 15 fours, and at the other end Maisie was 9*.

This makes it 11 wins from 13 league matches, and the season wraps up on Sunday at home to Aldershot. This is 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 win in 2021