Ashford travelled to Stoke Mandeville this weekend, to compete in the ECB Women’s Indoor Cricket Southern Regional Finals. Their first group match was against Wanstead, and Ashford bowled and
fielded extremely well, making scoring difficult and picking up regular wickets, each one costing the batting side 5 runs. Chasing low totals, all three pairs of Ashford bats won their skins against the
corresponding opposition pair, and Ashford comfortably took the game.

With Wanstead having lost their second game too, Ashford faced Harrow knowing that they had already qualified for the semi finals. Once again they did well in the field, with everyone contributing, particularly Skipper Angharad Purser, who claimed a hat trick. Katie Butler was in great form behind the stumps, adding to her haul of catches and stumpings. The first Harrow pair had been able to attack the bowling and post a decent score, but the other two struggled, and Ashford needed only 53 to go through to the semi final as group winners. The Harrow bowlers, however, had other ideas, and particularly in the second skin, took enough wickets to make it impossible for Ashford to get the required score.

Ashford’s semi-final opponents were the winners of the other group, Horsham, who had demonstrated in their first two games that they were the side to beat. Hopes were still alive for an all Surrey final, as Shepperton were taking on Harrow in the other match. Horsham didn’t hold back, fielding a very strong side, and the Ashford bats found it hard going to begin with, but after a slow start they were able to score more freely, and posted a total of 46. Horsham started off playing some big shots, but after losing a few wickets, they had to take it more carefully. Good catching, sharp fielding, and the consistent quality of Ashford’s bowling attack kept the pressure on, and Ashford’s travelling supporters sensed an unlikely victory as the game reached its climax. With the final Horsham pair needing around 15 to win they were still favourites, but knew that losing a wicket could cost them dearly. Ashford’s hopes were dashed as the Horsham pair held their nerve, and made sure they did enough to get their side into the final.

Shepperton were left to fly the flag for Surrey, having beaten Harrow in the other semi, but Horsham maintained their form in the final, winning comfortably to take the title, and they will go on to represent the region in the National Finals next month.

With two sides in the top four of the region, things are looking good for women’s cricket in Surrey, and hopes will be high when the game moves outside in a few weeks time for the start of the league
season. The two sides will be facing each other again in the Wostrack Division of the Women’s Cricket Southern League, with both of them hoping to secure promotion to the Championship.