Women’s 1st XI v Spencer (SWCL T20)
We lost the toss to hosts Spencer and were put in to bat. Amy Gordon and Lucy Harris put on 171 in an unbeaten opening partnership, with Amy scoring 92* and Lucy 65*, both facing 60 balls each. Brilliant bowling restricted Spencer to 48 all out – with run outs from the bullet arm of Charlotte Mehmood, and Esmae Vos taking 3-1, Bella Barton 2-0 and Emily Burke 2-5.

Lady Llamas v Sutton, Surrey Women’s Cup Slam, 24 July 2024
Sutton were the hosts for this match, and batted first. They made a steady start, putting on 18 runs in 5 overs before Abigail Richardson claimed the first victim, caught behind by Izzy Cooper. Sutton had a couple of good overs and a couple of tough ones, before Leah Dexter bowled the other opener in the 9th over, claiming her second victim in her second over, caught by Emily Taylor. Abi Lunberg took the next, caught by Naomi Saunders, but there were no more wickets to be had as Sutton batted out the overs to finish on what felt like a very chaseable 87-4. (Leah 2-7, Abi R 1-12, Abi L 1-15).

Izzy and Naomi opened the batting, making 8 before Izzy was dismissed in the third over, followed the next ball by Charlotte Mehmood who was run out going for a second. Amelie Moore joined Naomi and the pair batted on for several overs before Naomi succumbed on the first ball of the 12th over. Leah and Emily were then bowled on successive balls in the 14th over, and Charlotte Pitt hit 5 runs from 2 balls before a miscommunication led to her being run out. Abi L fell to Sutton’s best bowler on the fourth ball of the final over, Melody Reader coming in and hitting 3 off her first ball. It was down to the final ball - we needed 2 to tie, 3 to win but unfortunately it was a single for a one run loss. (Naomi 35, Amelie 22*)

The Lady Llamas won the pool anyway and advance to the play-off stages later in August.

GU15 T1 v Dulwich, Surrey County Finals Day, 26 July 2024

Having won their league division GU15 T1 South comfortably (and unbeaten), the team were invited to a finals day at the neutral venue of Old Wimbledonians CC to take on the GU15 T1 North winners, and this season’s nemesis, Dulwich. Rather short notice meant it was a bit of a scramble to put together a side at this stage of the season, but manager Kate pulled out all the stops. So had Dulwich. Bella Barton struck immediately, clean bowling Dulwich’s opener with the first ball, and our bowlers claimed the number 3 batter (caught behind by Ashny Rajnikanth off Eleanor Clark’s bowling) and the other opener (caught and bowled by Charlotte Mehmood) in overs 6 and 7 to leave Dulwich on 39-3. Several overs then passed by with Dulwich racking up the runs before Abigail Richardson bowled Dulwich’s top scorer with the first ball of the 14th over (and her first of the day). Amelia Leonard took two back to back at the start of the 19th over but Dulwich batted out the final balls without loss to post a strong 127-6.

Alas, and unusually, our batting attack couldn’t match our bowling attack as Dulwich avenged their early wickets in similar style leaving us at 7-3, which then became 10-4. Lauren Parish and Charlotte Mehmood steadied the ship with a four each and some singles but both succumbed, followed quickly by our remaining two wickets. A valiant effort, particularly with the ball, but it simply wasn’t our day. Still, division winners and second in the county – what a terrific season. Very well done girls!

GU15 T1 v Spencer, GU14-15 Hundred Cup Round 2, 21 July 2024
Our girls hosted Spencer at the lovely setting of the Red Lion on a gloomy Sunday morning. Having won the toss and put us in to bat, the visitors then shocked us with a wicket in the first over, taking out Captain Bella Barton. The Llamas quickly rallied, Harriet Jones coming in to bat with Ashny Rajnikanth. Ashny turned up the pressure, hitting 4 fours and some singles before falling on 18, Reigate 29-2. Lizzie Fisher joined Harriet at the crease, but was unfortunately run out attempting to boost the scoreline. Harriet, with Charlotte Mehmood now her batting partner, decided enough was enough, hitting the next ball for four, followed by another three fours in the next over. Charlotte then joined in, scoring 11 runs (including two fours) in the next over. The pair continued to punish the Spencer bowlers with boundaries and quick singles, before Charlotte was bowled, having scored 30 off just 19 balls, including six fours. Annie Turner joined Harriet, batting and running well over several overs to score 9 from 12 before Spencer’s Gigi (who trained with us last season!) struck twice in over 18, also trapping Harriet lbw. Isla Kinniburgh and Abigail Richardson batted on for the next four balls before Isla was bowled, bringing our innings to a close for 138 all out. Harriet Jones was top scorer on 43 including eight fours, Charlotte 30, Ashny 18.

So, with a very defendable total, it was all to play for with our bowling innings. Harriet struck first, taking out their opener with a catch by Bella, who then took two in a row in the next over – a double wicket maiden. Spencer 8-3, which became 8-4 when Harriet bowled a wicket maiden. Spencer then rallied, taking the score to 40 before spinner Annie took out Spencer’s other opener, caught by Charlotte. Isla then dispatched the final two batters in the following over, to leave Spencer all out for 43. Harriet took 2-2, Bella 2-6, Isla 2-10 and Annie 1-8. Next up, Purley in the QF.

GU14 T1 v Valley End, 28 July 2024

We were away to Valley End in beautiful west Surrey countryside under blue skies and very hot sunshine. We lost the toss and were put in to bat, facing some fairly mixed seam bowling. Captain Charlotte Pitt faced first, with sister Christobel at non-strike, hitting the first ball for four - clearly meaning business. Alas, Christobel started a run but trying to get back was adjudged to have been run out in the second over. Eleanor Clark came in at three but after a super 4 and a single she unfortunately chipped on. Nessie Floyd then came in to bat, scoring a useful 19 before being bowled. Izzy Keith joined Charlotte at the crease for three and a half overs before Charlotte was bowled on 39. Sophie Dawes and Izzy went for it, but Valley End’s best bowler had surely the over of the season - 4 wickets in 6 balls, including a hat-trick to finish our innings. Reigate Priory all out for 115 - U12 Betsy not out on 1 from 2 balls.

After a quick break, we set out to defend our batting total. Eleanor struck first, taking out the non-strike opener with a fantastic catch, way above her head, by Clemmie Butterworth. Christobel bowled the other opener (their four wicket bowler) in the fourth over, and Sophie and Nessie kept the runs in check over the next four overs. Off-spinner Charlotte, bowling for the first time since her horror injury last August, took wickets with the first and last balls of her first over and Clemmie bowled a very tidy over to take us to the drinks break. We got a bit of tap in the next three overs, but when the heat under the lid became a bit too much for WK Izzy, Eleanor took over and got a super runout on the third ball of over 14, to finally dispatch Valley End’s most threatening batter. Christobel struck again in her fourth over with an outswinger, and again with a great catch at full stretch by Charlotte in the final over. Valley End finished with a four but it wasn’t enough to overhaul our total, ending with 97.

Special mention to Eleanor for bowling 4 overs (1-23) and then taking over as WK, getting such a fantastic run out, Izzy for 13 overs with the gloves in the heat. Our U12 Betsy, who stepped in that morning, batted well and bowled a very tidy (0-3), very timely over. With the bat, Charlotte 39, Nessie 19. With the ball Christobel 5 overs, 2 maidens, 3-12, Charlotte 2-12 and Clemmie with 2 overs, one maiden and just 5 runs conceded plus that catch. Sophie and Nessie each bowled 3 good overs too. And Lauren, who played despite feeling ill so as not to leave the team short, giving it her all. The girls pulled together, playing to each other’s strengths, our superior bowling and fielding smothering Valley End’s batting attack and countering that four wicket over! Very well done everyone, a great win to end the season. (Match report: Lucy Pitt)

GU13 v Spencer, GU12-13 Hundred Cup Round 2

The early afternoon rain swept away just in time for us to host Spencer at the lovely Red Lion ground in the second round of the Hundred Cup. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first, getting off to a racing start with 26 off the first 20 balls. But Sienna Tombs clean bowled the strike opener with her first ball, followed 10 balls later by Annabel Isaac trapping the number 3 batter lbw. Then Nessie Floyd got the other opener in the 10th over, caught by Georgie Fairclough, who herself took a wicket (lbw) in the following over. Christobel Pitt got her wicket in the next over, catching the ball by her feet at silly mid-off off her own bowling, with Flora Cowan also catching her victim Freya (one of Spencer’s three county players) off her own bowling in the following over. At this point Spencer sent in their next county player, Edie, but Annabel’s spin caused her to make a huge hit straight to Christobel at mid-on: out. Nessie clean bowled the next wicket with the penultimate ball of over 17, and Sophie Dawes claimed the final wicket, again clean bowled, with the first ball of the 18th. Spencer all out for 86, with the pick of the Reigate bowlers Nessie (2-6) and Annabel (2-7).

Christobel strode out to the crease accompanied by U12 Betsy Pollock, and hit the second ball (a no ball) for six, getting us off the mark very quickly. Betsy joined the fray and together the girls struck up a very profitable 71 partnership through a combination of sensible batting against the Surrey fast bowlers, cashing in on weaker bowling for boundaries, and well-judged running of several byes and wides (only occasionally trying to give the supporters a collective heart attack!). Christobel was trapped lbw by Surrey bowler Edie on the last ball of the 13th over. Nessie joined Betsy at the crease and scored a quick six from seven balls, before being trapped lbw by the third Spencer Surrey fast bowler, Jayna, with Reigate now on 82-2. Emma Devenney joined Betsy, immediately hitting 2 runs. The pressure clearly got to Spencer, who managed to gift Emma four overthrows on top of her run from the second ball of the 17th over, seeing us across the line. Reigate 90-2, with Christobel top scoring on 27, and Betsy carrying her bat for 18*. (Match report: Lucy Pitt)

GU13 v Banstead, GU12-13 Hundred Cup QF, 28 July 2024

After our strong win against Spencer on Wednesday we were fortunate to have the hallowed Park Lane to host our locals rivals Banstead. Despite Banstead having defended 96 in our league fixture against them, we asked Banstead to bat first when we won the toss. Georgie Fairclough, Sophie Dawes, Christobel Pitt and Sienna Tombs kept things tight in the first 4 overs with the added bonus of a Georgie / Bella Cross runout seeing Banstead 17-1 after 20. A couple of fielding errors over the next few sets saw Banstead to 60-1 after 50 and well placed. The girls regrouped at drinks and immediately struck and on the back of a tough dropped catch at deep cover, Flora firing the ball back into Nessie to run out the Surrey U12 Lois. Two balls later Nessie bowled their Sienna (No4) and at 62-3 we were back in the game! Banstead’s captain Rebecca proved to be a thorn in our side combining with Ava and again our fielding - catching and backing up took Banstead to 91-3 from 75! Up against it the girls again responded taking 4 wickets in the next 15 balls and a tight last couple of sets saw Banstead post 110! Game on! Pick of the bowlers were Christobel (2-14 including a double wicket maiden, and Nessie 2-20).

Christobel and U12 Betsy Pollock strode out to face the Surrey U13 & U12 Banstead opening bowlers but tight bowling saw us only score 11 from the first 20! And our girls could just not find 2nd gear when needed - further tight bowling and fielding and then quick wickets as Christobel, Bella and Sienna fell to leave us 33-3 from 50! Georgie (20) and Betsy (19) saw us to 60-3 off 75 but as they tried to move from 2nd to 5th gear both fell and we were 62-5! Nessie and Sophie (17*) hit a flurry of fours but we had left it too late and despite U12 Kavya Panchal and Sophie’s best efforts we finished on 89 and out of time. So bragging rights to Banstead this year… Awesome effort from all the girls! (Match report: Alex Plumb)

NATIONAL CHAMPION CHARLOTTE

On Saturday 20 July young Lady Llama Charlotte Mehmood made her third (yes, third already!) appearance on the hallowed turf of Lord’s Cricket Ground, representing the MCC Guildford Hub in the National Hub Finals.

The MCC Foundation Hubs are a nationwide network of training hubs providing training and matches for talented state-educated young cricketers. Charlotte’s talent was spotted at an early age, and she has represented the Under 15 girls for three years running, getting to the National Hub Finals at Lord’s each year and winning for the last two.

Congratulations Charlotte on the tremendous achievement of being a National Champion two years running.

(Charlotte was also one of the ECB U13 T20 Cup National Championship winning Reigate Priory team in 2022, so actually she has been a National Champion three years running!)

SHOWCASE MATCH
It’s a week off for the ladies as Park Lane plays host on Sunday to the Juniors End of Season Day. You can catch the Women’s 1st XI in action next on Sunday 11 August away at Ashford, or Sunday 18th August when they host Sutton at Park Lane, both SWCL Premiership matches, and both well worth a watch.

Also highly recommended is the GU18 T1 match on Wednesday 31 July (see below).

COMING UP
The junior leagues have now finished for the season, but the women and older girls are still playing fixtures.
Wednesday 31 July: GU18 T1 host Richmond at Park Lane.
Thursday 1 August: GU18 T2 are also at home, at Micklefield, hosting Purley.
Sunday 4 August: GU15 T1 travel to Purley for the GU14-15 Hundred Cup QF.
Lots of luck to all the players.