Lucy Turns Up The Heat

The league game originally scheduled for 35 overs per side became a 20 overs per side (not a T20) game as the teams agreed a shorter match in view of the Amber weather warning of extreme heat. Thankfully the extreme heat never arrived but it was hot as the game got underway with Shepperton winning the toss and electing to bat as openers Jasmine Jones and Ella Clinton (who would later also open the bowling) started well and had reached 60 by the 8th over as 2 overs each from Izzy Wall, Ellie Thomas, Evie Spreadbury and Jess Whitcher failed to dislodge the openers.

Then 3 wickets fell in successive overs as Jess Whitcher had Jasmine Jones (31) caught by Izzy Cooper for 60-1. Next over Lucy Harris bowled Chrissy Rapley and then Jess got her 2nd wicket (4-1-21-2) bowling opener Ella Clinton (16) and Shepperton were 63-3 in the 10th over.

A partnership between Esmae Vos and Captain Helen Kopicki took Shepperton to 96 at which point they lost 2 wickets as Izzy Wall (4-1-14-2) had Helen Kopicki (6) lbw and then bowled Sana Rabbini as 96-4 became 96-5 after 16 overs. Vicki Howard (4-0-16-1) dismissed Esmae Vos lbw for 24 for 106-6 and Lucy Harris (4-0-11-2) had Laura Quinn (5) caught by Chloe Bailey for 106-7 as the Shepperton finished their 20 overs on 110-7.

The tea ladies looked after the players with melon slices to go along with the 10 over drinks break, followed by a very welcome salad spread for the break between innings. Having been fed and watered the Llamas started their reply with Lucy Harris and Vicki Howard and had a similar start to Shepperton and had reached 37-0 after 4 overs (Shepperton were 35-0 after 4 overs) before Vicki Howard (13 from 15 balls) was bowled by Ella Clinton (4-0-29-1) and the Llamas were 40-1.

With Izzy Cooper for company, Lucy Harris passed her 50 in the 10th over and went on to dominate the innings reaching 75 no (from 49 balls with 14 fours); however it was left to Izzy Cooper (19 from 18 balls) to hit the winning runs with a boundary from the 1st ball of the 14th over to take the Llamas to 111-1 and claim the points to retain top spot on 161 points just 2 points ahead of 2nd place Richmond on 159 points.