Howzat for a game of cricket?

8:33am Saturday 14th June 2008

ANYBODY who thinks ladies' cricket can not match the excitement of the men's game should come and watch Maldon ladies play on a Friday evening.

For the second time in three matches, the result of the ladies' match was not decided until the penultimate ball last Friday, June 6.

Old Chelmsfordians, like Maldon are new to the league this year. Maldon captain, Penketh won the toss and elected to field.

Maldon started well, getting two quick wickets: Bell bowled Digweed for 7 and Letts bowled Hadfield for 5. Latimer was out for 10 caught behind Turner (a first catch for her behind the stumps) off Hadfield's bowling.

Then the OC middle order made good use of the short boundary, scoring regularly and frustrating the Maldon bowlers. Farrer retired on 27 and Fawkes on 28.

Culleton bowled with precision to restrict the OC batsmen, as did Emma Harris.

Old Chelmsfordians logged a massive 103 runs from their 20 overs.

Chasing a total was a new experience for the Maldon ladies, but openers G. Penketh and Hadfield started strongly and were never behind the asking rate of just over 5 an over.

When Hadfield was bowled she was replaced at the crease by a determined captain. Penketh's quick fire 25 (six fours and a single) reduced the required run rate and gave the middle order a chance. Culleton and Byford kept the Maldon girls in the game with 6 quick runs between them. Byford received a standing ovation from her team mates as in her first ever game with a hard ball she carried out her captain's instructions to the letter.

After a frustrating over, noble Furnival was run out in the quest for runs.

In the 19th over Randall somehow managed to hit a four. Between them Harris and Randall scrabbled a couple of singles.

This brought Maldon to the last over still requiring 3 to win.

Harris hit a single off the first ball, thus getting Randall on strike.

There followed a couple of straight balls, which Randall was unable to do anything with.

The 4th ball of the over was quite wide, but in her inexperience Randall tried to chase it, and by getting herself in a position to play it robbed the team of a wide.

The penultimate ball of the game went slightly down the leg side.

A determined Randall moved her feet and slogged across the line through deep backward square leg. Harris and Randall sprinted the first run and Randall called for the second. The pair beat the OC fielders to the stumps. Thus Maldon won by 2 wickets with 1 ball to spare with a very relieved Harris (3 not out) and Randall (7 not out) being mobbed by their team mates.