Rowledge 153/8 off 40 overs
Shepperton 155/4 off 37 overs

Rowledge Ladies had a disappointing end to a great season when a team missing their best bowlers lost to Shepperton by 6 wickets.

Rowledge batted first and got off to a sound start, with opener Ann Mortimer hitting some square cuts for four before being caught behind at the end of the 8th over for 16. This brought in Sarah Gilbert, making her debut for Rowledge, who got off the mark with a fine leg glance for four, and then played several promising shots, including a lovely straight drive down the ground for four, and another straight drive which unfortunately was stopped by the stumps at the bowler's end. Meanwhile, opener Pauline Baker took until the 12th over to get off the mark, but then hit a pull shot for four, and then started to play several good scoring shots. This second wicket partnership of 46 was just accelerating nicely, with Rowledge well-placed at 67/1 after 22 overs, when Shepperton bowler Gill Hopcroft bowled a high full toss to Sarah Gilbert. Sarah ducked, assuming it was a no-ball, only to see the ball drop down onto the stumps, and without a no-ball call from the umpire, trudged off in puzzlement for 18. This brought in Emily Ingram, who started to run quick singles to accelerate the scoring rate. In an attempt to further accelerate the scoring, Pauline heaved at a straight ball from Jen Shelly and was bowled for 21 in the 26th over. This brought in Katie Forward, who was immediately off the mark with a pull shot for four, but shortly afterwards skied a ball from Jen Shelly. Sophie Cooper then came in and played some fine strokes, with several cut shots going for four. This partnership was looking good, with Rowledge at 127/4 after 34 overs, but then Emily was bowled for 21 and Sophie on 27 hit a firm drive which bowler Pauline Goodlad did well to hang on to, and the remaining batters were unable to maintain the scoring rate. Rowledge finished on 153 from their 40 overs, which seemed like a reasonable score, but a little short of the ideal of 180.

Rowledge made a great start when Sophie Cooper trapped Shepperton opener Rachel Holmes LBW in the third over. The second wicket fell in the seventh over, when Gill Hopcroft played a firm drive to mid-on, which hit Pauline Baker on the knee. Spotting the misfield, Gill set off for a quick single, but Ann Mortimer swooped onto the loose ball and hit the stumps to run her out. Katie Forward came on as first change bowler, and picked up two wickets in successive overs, leaving Shepperton reeling at 36/4 in the 13th over. It was at this point that the news came that England had won the Ashes.

Katie Forward continued to bowl very accurately, conceding only 6 runs from her 8 overs, but runs came more easily from the other end, especially since Rowledge were short of full-time bowlers. Shepperton's fifth wicket pair of Kath Essex and Jen Shelley, after a sticky start, settled in and scored with increasing ease, frustrating Rowledge, who brought their opening bowlers back on to no avail. These two went on to a hundred partnership, with Kath Essex reaching her fifty with several hefty blows. Shepperton eventually reached their target at the end of the 37th over with an unbroken partnership of 119, leaving a disappointed Rowledge wondering what might have been had their best bowlers been available.


Rowledge points: 3.82 batting points, 2 bowling points, total 5.82


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