Chester are Knockout winners again as they turn tables on Wistaston

Senior Knockout Cup Final – September 6:

Wistaston Swans 33 (14.3; Kim Jones 12, Lauren O’Reilly 2-2, Beth Nicholson 2-4, Annette Axon 2-9)
Chester Boughton Hall Deemons 34-1 (9.4; Lorna Starkey 16*)

The Knockout Cup heads for Chester for the sixth time in nine years, as they reversed their defeat to Wistaston from just seven days earlier. The Deemons’ comprehensive win ends Wistaston’s 11 match winning run in T20 competitions that dated back to July 2014.

Wistaston were already up against it at 10-1 after six overs, with Laura Newton having fallen to Sophie Ecclestone in a spell of 1-2 in three overs from the England Academy spinner. However, the real damage came in the next four overs, as Wistaston were reduced to 16-6. This period of the game saw one wicket each for Lorna Starkey and Kate Coppack, and one run out, plus two scalps in her first over for Annette Axon. Chester really did have an embarrassment of bowling riches here, as illustrated by who was not required to bowl.

Lauren O’Reilly and Beth Nicholson then claimed the remaining wickets to leave their team with the simplest of run chases.

Development Knockout Cup Final – September 6:

Leigh Lionesses 69-4 (20; Emma Capper 25ret, Georgia Taylor 25ret, Eve Bowen 2-18)
Northop Hall 63-8 (20; Thea Murray-Williams 16, Jess Hargreaves 3-7, Ellen Smith 2-5)

Earlier in the day there was a closer finish to the final of the Development Cup for division three teams. However, Leigh had two batsmen reaching the retirement score and the resulting total proved too much for Northop Hall.

The League thanks hosts Kingsley CC, and the umpires for both matches, Neville Abberley and Kevin Johnson.