Appleton defeat League XI in the replacement fixture after MCC's withdrawal

Appleton scored something of a coup by defeating a league representative team that looked especially strong in the bowling department in the fixture played on August 13.

Indeed, it did look like the bowling strength of a youthful League XI would prevail when two wickets in an over from Emily Stones reduced Appleton to 47-6. However, opener Laurie Sheridan remained at the crease, with just seven runs to her name, and she would go on to play a vital role in turning this match around.

Initially, Sheridan and her seventh wicket partner Rebecca Othick had to survive a period when the bowlers beat the bat numerous times, with Molly Price and Georgia Norman especially unfortunate in this regard. However, the scoring rate soon accelerated, and by the time Sheridan fell for 37, the pair had added 60 and only 23 more were required. Some more confident stokes from Othick and number nine Katie McLean duly completed the victory with five balls in hand.

The lively weather certainly played its part, with an overnight thunderstorm forcing the pitch to be changed after water seeped under the covers, and play commenced on a drying pitch where batting was difficult. Several balls rose sharply from a length, and with some excellent fielding to back up the bowlers, the League XI were struggling at 53-6 at one stage. This was of course the day the League XI were meant to play the MCC, and with MCC duty bound by tradition to bat first, any star-studded MCC batting line up would certainly also have struggled with those batting conditions.

As batting became easier, there was an excellent innings from Beth Caunce in the closing overs of the first innings. Her unbeaten 47 was a very technically correct knock – scarcely did she hit the ball in the air or give the bowlers any other hope of taking her wicket.

Appleton’s bowlers were backed up by some superb fielding, with the wickets falling via eight catches and a run out. Othick’s slip catch and Abbey Gore’s catch off her own bowling were perhaps the most eye-catching moments.

So many thanks to everyone who made it happen, especially to Appleton for turning out a full eleven on a weekday, without which any sort of fixture would not have been possible. Many thanks also to the League XI players, especially those who filled in at short notice – only five of the 11 who were selected for the original MCC fixture remained available. Finally, many thanks to Nantwich CC for making their facilities available.

League XI: Carys White (Stockport Trinity, captain), Libby Clifton (Porthill Park, wk), Georgia Norman, Emily Stones, Amy Scerri (all Porthill Park), Tilly Buss, Nicole Fisher (both Chester Boughton Hall), Molly Price (Oxton), Beth Caunce (Ashton-on-Mersey), Rosie Davis (Didsbury), Kasey Bentham (Leigh). Scorer: Emily Clamp (Nantwich).

Scorecard - http://cheshirecb.play-cricket.com/website/results/4502927

The match commentary is still available via the CBHLCC You Tube channel.