This morning the U13G travelled to South Woodford Cricket Club for the County Cup finals day. The format was the winners of the four groups playing in a semi-final followed by a final for the respective winners.

Here we met Hutton in the semi-final, which we knew would be a tough opponent. Wanstead lost the toss and were asked to bat first, which suited us. But we didn’t really appreciate how challenging a batting wicket this was going to be. Saanvi was out in the first over to an unplayable delivery which barely left the surface. A rebuild needed. Kiah and Lucinda went about this very watchfully and managed to take the total to 30 before Lucinda was out to another good delivery. Elsie then joined Kiah at the crease and the pair managed to add another 40 runs partnership. By the time Elsie was out, Wanstead had moved to 73 for 3. With the help of the other girls, Wanstead managed to post 108 off the 16 overs with Kiah top scoring with 43, batting from the first ball till the end of the innings. The coaches felt this was just about a par score. We were too harsh. Or more appropriately put, our bowlers were outstanding.

Having seen how difficult it was to face a good length delivery on the pitch the girls went out with a simple plan - bowl full and straight. Our opening pair (Sienna and Saanvi) did what they’ve done so well all season. Wicket to wicket bowling. You miss I hit. Sometimes it’s just that simple. And just in a blink of an eye Hutton were 13 for 5 with 4 wickets for Saanvi and 1 for Sienna. Scoreboard pressure led to some additional risk taking. And some more runs were added but the rest of the bowlers continued where the openers had left off and in the end Hutton were 47 all out with remaining wickets going to Kiah (1), Agatha (1) and a run out. Not only was the bowling excellent, it was supported brilliantly by the fielding and this was what really separated the teams. There were very few extras at all from the Wanstead girls and the work behind the stumps by Lucinda was so good that we were able to operate with an extra fielder.

So part one complete. Now the wait to see who we play in the final. Well not a long wait. It was Buckhurst Hill who won their semi-final against Bishops Stortford.

So after a short break, Wanstead's U13 Girls won the toss and elected to bat (well did you expect anything else). The plan was to bat the 16 overs, apply some scoreboard pressure and give our bowlers something to bowl at. Well that was the plan. As often is the case reality has a different look.

This time Wanstead lost Kiah in the opening overs to a direct hit run out. So another rebuild needed. And that’s exactly what came. That was the last wicket that Buckhurst Hill took. With Lucinda and Saanvi batting out the 16 overs, taking the Wanstead total to 132 for 1 and both girls getting super close to the 50 mark. Batting first in a final, that was a strong total to put on and in this instance the coaches thought this was above par.

But we knew the opposition wasn’t going to give us the trophy without a fight. So again bowling and fielding had to be tight. The girls tried to do something different with a bit of spin early on but this wasn’t a spinner friendly pitch so reverted back to the well trodden path. Sienna coming on in over 2 with a maiden wickets and followed those up with another 3 very economic overs conceding only 9 off her 4 overs. There was a bit of a flurry of runs in the middle but Wanstead pretty much kept things in check throughout. Some fabulous and low risk fielding resulted in four run outs during the innings and the big difference today was the girls throwing into the hands of the bowler or keeper. Mila’s runout from a throw from the boundary to Lucinda as the opposition tried to convert a single into two was the highlight of the fielding. All this meant that in the end Buckhurst Hill fell short of the Wanstead total, finishing on 97 all out. The other wickets fell to Emily (2) and Saanvi (1). All three of the pace bowlers were outstanding in their line and length bowling. And again the fielding remained on point, even after spending 6 hours in the field.

So the U13G finish as champions of Essex. An absolutely fantastic achievement by all the girls. It’s been a marathon but the way the girls have grown, developed, played as a team and constantly encouraged each other regardless of the situation has been great to see.

A huge thank you to all the parents. We know the fixture congestion has an impact on holidays and the time commitment to get the girls to matches is very much appreciated. We hope that a day like today makes it all worth it. A special thanks to Chris, Jon H and Len for also coming down to support the girls and the encouragement throughout the day.

Wanstead U13G v Frenford U13G - Tuesday 16th July

Wanstead's U13G team hosted Frenford in the Essex hardball league at Nutter Lane for the final match of the group stages.

Wanstead won the toss and chose to bat first (surprise surprise) and once again, there was a very complete batting display from all the girls. The openers set the platform and the girls that came after continued to push the runs along at a nice rate. The most noticeable development through the season has been the running between the wickets, and this was on full show today. After settling in for the first couple of overs and seeing a spread field, the girls were pretty much picking up singles at will. All this resulted in Wanstead finishing on 133 for the loss of one wicket (Saanvi (32 retired), Sienna (22 retired), Kiah (16) and Arya (14 not out)).

Over to the bowlers. Firstly a mention to our two stand-in wicket keepers, Saanvi and Olive, who were outstanding behind the stumps, with only 4 byes conceded in the whole innings. The bowling itself was spot on from the first ball. Both Sienna and Olive ensured Frenford weren’t able to get runs away at all and were very economical at the start. This followed through to the rest of the bowlers, who all bowled very tight lines supported by excellent fielding. The most notable bowling performance came from Anushka who finished with 2 overs, 1 maiden, 2 runs, 2 wickets. From an umpire’s viewpoint the line and length were far better than what this umpire ever saw her dad produce. Other wickets were taken by Kiah (1) and Saanvi(1) and one run out for Sienna, closing out the Frenford innings on 81 for 5.

So with that win, we conclude the group stages and we look ahead to finals day. While the result was nice to see, more importantly it was really nice to see some of the younger girls already having an impact in an age category well above them which bodes well for the future. Thanks, as always, to the parents for all the support and Romit for scoring.

Wanstead U13 Girls v Upminster U13 Girls - Wednesday 26th June

Wanstead's U13G team hosted Upminster in the Essex hardball league on a sweltering summer evening at Nutter Lane. Wanstead won the toss and chose to bat first (rinse and repeat) and put on a very complete batting display. Both the openers, Kiah and Lucinda, were retired after reaching 50, the first wicket stand taking the girls firmly past the 100 mark. Post the openers, both Emily and Sienna came in, pushing the accelerator to ensure there was a strong finish, and it wasn’t until the final over that we actually lost our first wicket with Sienna commendably sacrificing her wicket pushing for the extra run. In the end Wanstead put on 138 for the loss of 2 wickets from the 16 overs.

Over to the bowling. There were some claims from the parents that the evening was getting a bit cooler. Unsure about those claims. But what was certain was how excellent the bowling and fielding was, and again excellent keeping behind the stumps. All the bowlers kept tight lines and the fielders all supported, with the stand out moment being the excellent flick of the wrist run out by Sienna. In the end, it was a comfortable win with Upminster finishing on 82 for 4 off their 16 overs.

So with that win we are officially winners of the group and now go to finals day. A great outcome for all the girls involved. Thanks to Chris for helping with scoring and umpiring and all the parents in supporting the girls.

Wanstead U13G v Billericay U13G - Sunday 16th June

On Sunday morning, Wanstead's U13G team travelled to Billericay for the 3rd round of the ECB T20.

Wanstead won the toss and chose to bat first. We wanted to apply the same target, which was to try and bat the full 20. Again the openers, Kiah and Saanvi saw off the first string bowlers and had put on 29 for the first wicket, but trying to grab a second run resulted in a run out. With some interruption for rain, wickets continue to fall at short intervals. Wanstead managed to get to 77 all out in 17.2 overs, Saanvi top scoring with 22.

Knowing that the total was below par, the girls needed to be exceptional in the field, and this aspect they did very well. Fielding was really good and the bowlers made Billericay work for all their runs. There was a mini collapse for Billericay, but they still managed to knock off the runs for the loss of 4 wickets. There were 2 wickets for Kiah and a run out, and the other wicket was picked up by Saanvi, but all the bowlers bowled very tight lines with few extras.

A good effort by the girls but it was not to be. Thanks to Romit for scoring and all the parents in supporting the girls. A disappointed group, but plenty to be positive about.

Wanstead U13G v Frenford U13G - Tuesday 11th June

Two matches in two days. Girls starting to look a bit tired. Parents out with blankets again. But we keep going. On Tuesday, we travelled down the road to Ilford to play Frenford in the U13 league. Wanstead won the toss and chose to bat first again. Why change? 16 overs today but the goal was to bat it out again. Again the openers, Kiah and Saanvi saw off the first string bowlers. And the girls made it through the 16 with a couple of wickets in hand. A strong partnership at the top with Kiah (36) and Elsie (12) again set a platform to push on from. And that’s exactly what happened with strong contributions down the order from Sienna (12) and Emily (22), taking the Wanstead total to 147 for 6 off 16 overs.

As the clouds gathered, on came the bowlers. Frenford got off to a lightening start, putting on 30 runs in a couple of overs, but that pace was going to be hard to sustain. The girls knew they just needed to break the partnership. A great over from Sienna saw two quick wickets and then the gates opened. Wickets then fell very quickly with Kiah (1) , Arya (2) and Elsie (1) picking up the remaining batters. Frenford were all out for 52.

Great volume today in the field and even some appealing from the crowd. Well done to all the girls and thanks to Romit for scoring and all the parents in supporting the girls.

Wanstead U13G v Woodford Wells U13G - Monday 10th June

A bit of “should we, shouldn’t we” with rain and dark clouds through the day. Girls making their way from all parts. But the final decision made right at the last moment was to play on. The Wanstead U13G team travelled to Woodford Wells in the ECB T20 Cup. Given how tight the friendly was a few weeks back, it was fair to expect a close match.

Wanstead won the toss and chose to bat first. The plan was again to ensure the girls batted the full 20 overs, and this time they did exactly that. Kiah (41) and Lucinda (43) opened the batting and were just 6 runs short of a hundred wicket opening partnership. Both batted very intelligently, dispatching the bad balls and watchful on the good ones. Having a platform set, the next two, Elsie (13 not out) and Saanvi (21 not out) pushed on, taking the total to 144 for 2 off the twenty overs. A pretty respectable total.

Over to the bowlers. A great couple of overs from Sienna really set the tone with two quick wickets. With Wells feeling the scoreboard pressure, they increased the risk taking but some great fielding and work behind the stumps led to 3 run outs, including a particularly strong contribution from Lucinda who was involved in all 3 of the runouts and also took a high catch off Sienna's bowling. Emily and Agatha rounded up the last two wickets. The spin twins didn’t get a look in, and Wells were bowled out for 36. Onto Billericay next.

Great to see another all round team performance from the girls. Well done to all the girls and thanks to Romit for scoring and all the parents in supporting the girls, and extra thanks to Justina for bringing the Forest girls from another fixture.

Wanstead U13G v Bancroft Lions U13G - Wednesday 15th May

The Wanstead U13G team travelled to Woodford to face Bancroft Lions in the Club T20. As the days get longer it was a lovely evening to kick off the tournament. Wanstead won the toss and chose to bat first and the plan was to ensure the girls batted the full 20. After another platform set by the top order, wickets did start falling relatively early on. The innings went from 26 without loss to 68 for 4, so a bit of a rebuild was necessary in the middle. And that’s exactly what happened with a great partnership between Agatha (23) and Lucinda (22) taking Wanstead past the 100 mark and then a last wicket flurry with Olive coming in to join Agi took the total to 127 all out off just over 18 overs. So we didn’t quite make the 20 overs but had put up a very respectable total.

Over to the bowlers. A really good start by the openers Emily and Saanvi with some early break throughs and keeping things tight. This took Lions to 10 for 2 with the two early wickets going to Saanvi. Then a bit of a rebuild for Lions and some good hitting by them started to gain some momentum. Enter the spin twins with the score now at 32 for 2. As Carl said as we left the match, it was unlucky that so many balls turned so much. But nonetheless from 32 for 2, Wanstead got through the remaining wickets with the opposition total on 54, Elsie picking up 3 of the 4 wickets and Kiah the other.

Kit Kats in the intermission and Jammy Dodgers post match provided the perfect recipe for the girls to get through to the next round. Great to see another all round team performance. Well done to all the girls and thanks to Romit for scoring and all the parents in supporting the girls.

Wanstead U13 Girls v Orsett - Wednesday 8th May

The Wanstead U13 girls travelled to Orsett in the opener for the hardball league. After a few false starts the season finally got under way. A long drive for all and as always the effort to get the girls to the venue is greatly appreciated. Wanstead lost the toss and were asked to bat first on a very green wicket (ok it was Astro). A very big change in the team from last season and huge shoes to fill. Kiah and Saanvi opened the batting and set a solid base in the first few overs. The second wicket stand then really kicked on with Lucinda joining Kiah in the middle and accelerating the run rate. Kiah retired with her first ever 50 with a ball left in the innings. Lucinda hit 37 not out with some big shots in between the quick singles. Wanstead closed the innings for 138 for 1 off 16 overs.

By the time the Wanstead girls had come out to bowl, temperatures had dropped and the crowd was looking cold. But the girls didn’t blink. Tight bowling from Emily and Sienna to start and contributions from all the girls resulted in Orsett making 44 for 5 off their 16 overs. Wickets for Violet (2), Sienna, Saanvi and Kiah. Fielding was also excellent with all the girls backing up well and attacking the ball and great stops from behind the stumps.

The one thing that hasn’t changed from last season is the volume and support the girls bring, both supporting the batters from the side and each other on the field. Win or lose you know the Wanstead girls are about. So a great start to the season. Well done to all the girls and again a huge thanks to all the parents for getting the girls to the match.

Wanstead U13G v Woodford Wells - 12th May

The Wanstead U13G hosted our friends at Woodford Wells for a friendly at Nutter Lane. Absolutely gorgeous morning for a match. Wanstead batted first. Nice to see some new and old faces stepping up into key roles. Openers Kiah (21 retired) and Elsie (19 retired) gave a great start. All other girls contributed through the innings with a nice 10 retired from Sienna as well, taking Wanstead to a total of 107 for 4 off the 20 overs.

Matches with Wells have historically always gone to the wire and today was no different. They batted well and kept pace with the run rate. Wanstead managed to pick up key wickets at important times. Violet started by removing one of the openers. Other wickets for Anushka and Arya (welcome to the group). All the girls contributed so a proper team effort. As always the drama came in the last over. Wells needed 3 to win or 2 to draw. Step up Elsie - 4 dot balls then a single. So last ball 2 to win and 1 to draw. Great ball, Wells run out going for the run.

A perfect way to end a great game and a few cookies to enjoy in the sun. Well done to all the girls and again a huge thanks to Chris for the warm up and umpiring and all the parents in supporting the girls.