Women and Girls' Cricket
Essex Under 15s Win South Counties Festival
This years festival took
place at a new venue of Christ’s Hospital School in
Horsham, Sussex. It took place from Mon 1st August to Fri
5th August and involved 8 counties – Essex, Berkshire,
Buckinghamshire, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset and
Surrey.
Mondays matches were unfortunately lost to the weather
with heavy rain causing disruptions. Hampshire were due
to be the opposition.
Play eventually started on Tuesday afternoon with the first
match against Dorset. Essex won the toss and batted first
and scored 123 all out. Beth Langston batted almost through
the innings for 30 not out, and was supported by Dani Armes
(18) and Elissa Penketh (14). Essex got off to a flying
start when they bowled reducing Dorset to 11 for 4, Dani
Armes taking 2 for 7. They staged a recovery in the middle
order but were eventually dismissed for 100, Beth Langston
taking 4 for 22 and Gemma Dowler picking up the vital wicket
of Sarah John. A win for Essex by 23 runs.
The last group match was against Somerset. Again Essex
batted first, and lost 2 early wickets. A partnership between
Joanne Cook (37) and Rachel Barron (15) started the recovery
and then Lauren Onojaife with 40 helped the score on to
153 all out.
Essex then produced an excellent bowling and fielding display
to bowl out Somerset for 45. Dani Armes taking 4 for 8 in
6 overs, Rachel Barron with 3 wickets and Catherine Dalton
with 2 wickets proved too strong for Somerset. A win for
Essex by 112 runs.
The Semi Final then saw Essex drawn against Berkshire. Batting
first Essex scored 134 for 5 from their 35 overs. Dani Armes
top scoring with 48 and Joanne Cook with 32 provided the
runs. In what proved to be a tense match Essex eventually
bowled out Berkshire for 105, Rachel Barron being the pick
of the bowlers with 3 for 22 from 6 overs. An Essex win
by 29 runs to put them into the final.
The Australian Womens’ team were at the grounds for
a practice session on the Thursday. Some of the best U-15
bowlers from the tournament were asked to bowl against the
international players, Danielle Armes from our team was
one of five girls who were chosen and bowled very well at
the Aussies.
The Final against Buckinghamshire started in damp conditions
after overnight rain. Essex won the toss and changed from
normal tactics and bowled first. They soon had Bucks in
trouble with early wickets from Catherine Dalton 2 for 14
and Dani Armes 1 for 15. Then in came Rachel Barron to produce
her best figures and take her first five wicket haul for
the county – 6 overs, 1 maiden, 5 wickets for 19 runs.
These girls were helped by some excellent fielding and especially
the captain Jo Cook who took 4 catches. Bucks were all out
for 85. Essex then set about the Bucks bowlers to chase
down the target and Dani Armes 37 not out and Lauren Onojaife
37 not out knocked the total off in just 17 overs. A win
for Essex by 10 wickets.
A well deserved tournament victory was rounded off at the
presentation with the Essex Girls being voted the best fielding
team of the week by the Sussex and Berksire umpires.
Rachel Barron also took the prize for Best Bowler of the
competition with total figures of 16 overs, 2 maidens, 49
runs and 11 wickets.
Match 1
Essex v Hampshire – No play, rain
Match 2
Essex 123 all out – Beth Langston 30 not out, Danielle
Armes 18
Dorset 100 all out - Beth Langston 4-22
Match 3
Essex 153 all out – Lauren Onojaife 40, Joanne Cook
37, Rachel Barron 15
Somerset 45 all out – Danielle Armes 4-8, Rachel Barron
3-8, Catherine Dalton 2-7
Semi Final
Essex 134-5 – Danielle Armes 48, Joanne Cook 32
Berkshire 105 all out – Rachel Barron 3-22, Danielle
Armes 2-21
Final
Bucks 85 all out – Rachel Barron 5-19, Catherine Dalton
2-14
Essex 86-0 – Danielle Armes 37 not out, Lauren Onojaife
37 not out
