Opening Day Results

Division One – April 24:

Leigh 210-6 (40; Sophie Heaton 93, Ellie Davey 27, Sarah Worsdale 2-33, Jane Tarpey 2-40) (25pts)
Oakmere 159-8 (40; Worsdale 54, Leah Holland 45, Emma Capper 2-29, Heaton 2-30, Adelaide Mather 2-30) (8pts)

• After finishing bottom of last year’s top-flight, Leigh made a major statement here, with Sophie Heaton’s 93 from 88 deliveries – with 16 fours and two sixes – leading the way to a significant total. Oakmere ultimately fell short as a number of Leigh bowlers recorded good figures, despite a century stand for the second wicket between Sarah Worsdale and Leah Holland. Leigh have been boosted this season by a number of new acquisitions, who include former Lancashire wicketkeeper Sian Phillips and one-time Lancashire and Cheshire player Rachael Walsh, who previously played a handful of league matches for Poynton and Bowdon. However, it was Heaton, possibly the standout performer in their last campaign, who played the leading role here. Today also marked a new era for the league, with more than one club handing a debut to an Australian overseas player, and although Leigh’s Jaimie-Lee Strang and Lindow’s Heidi Cheadle failed to make significant contributions on day one, we hope they have a profitable playing experience in the CWCL.

Stockport Trinity 110-6 (40; Sarah McCann 60, Georgia Heath 2-14, Annie Rashid 2-15) (25pts)
Appleton 111-1 (20.2; Emma Barlow 53ret, Holly McCurrie 26ret) (4pts)

• An impressive start from Appleton – after their promising all-round bowling attack had restricted Trinity to below three runs per over, a rapid partnership between Emma Barlow and Holly McCurrie quickly snuffed out any hopes the Stockport club might have had of mounting a comeback. Appleton opening bowlers Annie Rashid and Rebecca Othick gave nothing away early on and left Trinity struggling at 21-4 from 14 overs. Although Sarah McCann did an excellent job in improving her sides’ fortunes after that, the final target posed little difficulty for Appleton.

Nantwich 116 (39.3; Bethan Hughes 40, Gemma Rose 2-15, Annette Axon 2-17, Georgia Munro 2-17, Ffion Jones 2-24) (7pts)
Chester Boughton Hall 117-8 (40; Katie Bennett 61, Katie Haszeldine 2-17) (25pts)

• Newly promoted Nantwich gave a good account of themselves on their first day in the top division but, despite losing a flurry of late wickets as they neared the target, Chester Boughton Hall sneaked home from the final ball to start the defence of their title with a win. Katie Bennett, one of eight half-centurions on the opening day, scored more than half their runs.

Division Two – April 24:

Hawarden Park 203-5 (35; Holly Mayers 82, Nicola Deane 36, Laura Nichols 22, Rachel Warrenger 21, Molly Saunders 4-44) (25pts)
Ashton-on-Mersey 103-7 (35; Beth Caunce 50, Mayers 3-7) (6pts)

• Hawarden Park marked their promotion in style, with Holly Mayers sharing a century opening stand with Nicola Deane, before going on to finish with 82 runs, and then taking three wickets in the second innings for good measure.

Lindow 165-9 (35; Claire Ashworth 49, Libby Ackerley 34, Katie Poole 3-17, May Hardy 2-7, Abigail Bates 2-32) (25pts)
Leyland (35; Bates 54, Eleanor Boardman 20, Michelle Hesslegrave 4-19, Ackerley 2-12, Libby Beckley 2-29) (9pts)

• A great day for newly promoted Lindow, who ran out comfortable winners over league newcomers Leyland. The Wilmslow club are another side to be boosted by a number of new players this year, but once again, many of their 2021 squad registered standout performances here.

Woodley 38 (Philippa Dagger 5-, Charlie Scudder 2- , Ellen McGowan 2- ) (1pt)
Upton 39-1 (25pts)

• One team who found life difficult on their first day in the top two divisions were Woodley, put to the sword by Philippa Dagger’s five wicket haul as Upton started the season in style.

Division Three West – April 24:

Porthill Park 113-7 (30; Peyton Hulme 16, Isla Entwistle 2-7, Charlotte Barratt 2-17, Amy Bourne 2-19) (9pts)
Wistaston Village 114-9 (26.5; Hannah Burnett 41*, Hulme 4-6) (25pts)

• Hannah Burnett was comfortably the top scorer, helping her Wistaston side recover from a poor start – after wickets for Peyton Hulme and others - to register this nailbiting win.