History was made at Horley Cricket Club this month when the club fielded a ladies’ team for the first time in its 227-year history.
Many of the pioneering players are mums of boys and girls from the club’s thriving colts’ section and, with a few training sessions behind them, led by skipper Martha Spalding they took on a much more experienced Outwood team in a pairs game and did themselves proud.
Horley were put in to bat in glorious sunshine, with all-rounder Zeta Hoskins scoring the historic first runs, and she was ably assisted by her opening partner Jaymini Patel.
A sterling effort from Cathy Girling and top-scorer Lauren Waddington – comfortably the most experienced Horley player - moved the score on.
A wag of the tail from Madeleine Richards and Niki Smith later on set Outwood a total of 256 to win.
Horley under-12s player Aidan Spalding guested for Outwood as an opener and top-scored for the visitors, despite being troubled early on by the bowling of Lisa Richards. A wicket from Cheryl Douglas off her first ball, two wickets from captain Martha Spalding and a wicket from Sarah Robinson gave Horley hope of an upset.
All-rounder Georgina Mutton impressed, looking anything but sheepish with ball in hand, conceding only three runs in her bowling spell, as well as taking a fine catch and scoring a confident 11 runs with the bat.
Finally, Nihara Cook, also guesting for Outwood, edged Outwood to victory, before both teams shared a celebratory glass or two of bubbly to mark the historic occasion.
Many of the pioneering players are mums of boys and girls from the club’s thriving colts’ section and, with a few training sessions behind them, led by skipper Martha Spalding they took on a much more experienced Outwood team in a pairs game and did themselves proud.
Horley were put in to bat in glorious sunshine, with all-rounder Zeta Hoskins scoring the historic first runs, and she was ably assisted by her opening partner Jaymini Patel.
A sterling effort from Cathy Girling and top-scorer Lauren Waddington – comfortably the most experienced Horley player - moved the score on.
A wag of the tail from Madeleine Richards and Niki Smith later on set Outwood a total of 256 to win.
Horley under-12s player Aidan Spalding guested for Outwood as an opener and top-scored for the visitors, despite being troubled early on by the bowling of Lisa Richards. A wicket from Cheryl Douglas off her first ball, two wickets from captain Martha Spalding and a wicket from Sarah Robinson gave Horley hope of an upset.
All-rounder Georgina Mutton impressed, looking anything but sheepish with ball in hand, conceding only three runs in her bowling spell, as well as taking a fine catch and scoring a confident 11 runs with the bat.
Finally, Nihara Cook, also guesting for Outwood, edged Outwood to victory, before both teams shared a celebratory glass or two of bubbly to mark the historic occasion.
