Girls league up and running

Mike Askew, the chairman of Kent Girls Cricket, was all smiles after the under-13 league got off to a flying start.

Eight matches were completed, three of which were decided by fewer than five runs.

The league - sponsored by SeaFrance and Sportsmatch - boasts 10 girls’ clubs, five in each of the West and East divisions.

“I am absolutely delighted with the way things went this weekend,” said Askew. “I think we have struck on to a winning formula with the format of the matches and the league.

“The thing I like the most is that over sixty girls are experiencing competitive cricket, with an opportunity to make a contribution to their team's performance.”

Four of the five West Kent division clubs were in action first – Bexley, Bells Yew Green, Holmesdale and Hayes Hurricanes – on the splendid pitches in the beautiful surroundings of Holmewood House School, Tunbridge Wells.

Holmesdale’s experienced and talented team chalked up two wins out of two, Bexley and Hayes won one match each, with Bells Yew Green narrowly losing both games. Colfes Girls (Greenwich) did not have fixtures.

The magnificent 18th century colonnade of St Edmund’s School, Canterbury provided the backdrop to the East Kent division matches the following day.

The mighty Mote Ladies had two comfortable victories, with Nonington and Thanet having one win each over newcomers Sibton Park. Swale and Medway girls, the other new club in the division, did not have fixtures.

The next round of matches takes place on Sunday May 28 with both divisions in action at Eltham College and Sutton Valence School.

After that there are a further three rounds with everyone playing each other twice, with the top two teams in each division going through to the final on August 28.