ENGLAND and WALES CRICKET BOARD
SOUTH REGION UNDER 15 SQUAD
v
ENGLAND and WALES CRICKET BOARD WOMEN'S SQUAD
PRESTON NOMADS C.C. , FULKING, SUSSEX
UMPIRES MARTIN BODENHAM / IAN FARRELL
SCORER RODNEY BREARLEY/ MRS DOROTHY HOWE
England won off the last ball by 3 wickets
SOUTH OF ENGLAND BATTING
The South batted first and made a steady start. The opening pair built a platform which unfortunately was not fully built upon. Of the allotted 50 overs bowled - 163 balls were recorded as a dot ball. Pressure began to build as the overs passed and despite some stout batting the planned target of 225 did not materialise.
The main reason why the South did not reach their target was the excellent fielding of the Ladies side. The field placings were exceptionally slick and ensured that the South rarely penetrated the field. The South batsmen showed some inexperience- as is to be expected - in not batting in a manner which would have placed extreme presuure on the England side. Soft hands should have been the order of the day and quick singles should have been undertaken.... It is easy to play from the boundary edge.
Richard Bates, the England coach, felt that the total of 190 was a good target to chase.
At the end of the 50 overs the players were confronted with a sumptuous feast fit for the occasion. Mrs Jan Smith had excelled herself in providing a meal with strong emphasis on "food for sport".

The Ladies lost two wickets before reaching 50 and the South at that stage were probably, on balance, in the driving seat. The Ladies fought back and the 100 mark was passed. Three quick wickets and the game swung back to the boys. At this stage one would have liked to have re-arranged the fielding positions of certain players and possibly tried spin to slow down the Ladies run rate. By now the Ladies with 4 overs to go needed a run a ball and a Sussex lady kept England in the hunt. A run out on the penultimate ball kept the game in the balance. The winning run was hit by the player adjudged by the scorers to be Person of the Match.
ROSALIE BIRCH 6 overs 4 for 32 and 37 not out.

Preston Nomads CC staff were extremely generous with their time and assistance and both squads were grateful for the hospitality offered to them.

N.B. One white shirt/ one South tie/ one watch were left in the South changing rooms.They will be available at the Bradfield weekend.

SOUTH BATTING
Number Batsman How Out Score
1 B.GODELMAN C GREENWAY B TAYLOR 37
2 B.HOWELL B BIRCH 54
3 T.WESTLEY B TAYLOR 1
4 U.PATEL C CONNOR B BIRCH 44
5 M.ROBERTS C NEWTON B BIRCH 9
6 A.BLAKE B BIRCH 17
7 C.HEMPHREY NOT OUT 7
8 B.BROWN NOT OUT 0
9 - - -
10 - - -
11 - - -
Extras   b10       lb    1  w  10   nb      For 6 wickets                                                                    TOTAL 190

 BOWLER OVERS MAIDENS RUNS WICKET AVERAGE
L.PEARSON 6 1 21 0 -
S.GUNN 7 2 27 0 -
C.TAYLOR 10 1 25 2 12.50
I.GUHA 7 1 14 0 -
N.SHAW 5 0 29 0 -
N.SPRAGG 9 0 31 0 -
R.BIRCH  6 0 32 4 8.00

Number Batsman How Out Score
1 C.EDWARDS B MAJEED 8
2 L.NEWTON B CHHIBBER 18
3 C.TAYLOR RUN OUT 45
4 C.CONNOR ST BROWN B BLAKE 21
5 O.GREENWAY C BLAKE B HOWELL 31
6 N.SHAW C PATEL B BLAKE 3
7 R.BIRCH NOT OUT 37
8 J.SMIT RUN OUT 4
9 C.TAYLOR NOT OUT 0
10 - - -
11 - - -
EXTRAS b   10    lb  9    w 5    nb   For 7wickets                                                                       TOTAL 191

 BOWLER OVERS MAIDENS RUNS WICKET AVERAGE
D.MAJEED 10 2 28 1 28.00
N.BISHOP 5 1 22 0 -
M.CHHIBBER 5 1 9 1 9.00
W.BEER 10 3 29 0 -
C.HEMPHREY 5 0 25 0 -
A.BLAKE 7 1 22 2 11.00
B.HOWELL 9 1 37 1 37.00