16 years old Iris Eshelby has been threatening to make a big score for some time; last season she hit her first Women’s 1s 50, and opening the batting this season she has the opportunity to build an innings. So it proved on Sunday at Odiham & Greywell, as Iris batted the entire 40 overs, and notched up 129 undefeated in our total of 298 for 5. She faced 103 balls, hitting 15 fours (so lots of running in between), against the side who were champions in 2024 (the only blemish in our hegemony since 2021).

Iris had good support from Darcey Clarke, the two putting on 147, and Darcey looked on course for her second hundred (against the same opposition) until caught for 77. Other contributions came from Maisie Ayers (21), Caity Smyth (20), last week’s centurion Emily Lawler (13) and Freya Watkinson (11*), as we racked up a formidable total. Sadly only 7 balls were possible in O&G’s reply before the heavens opened.