Emma stars with bat and ball in victory over Wells

WESTON Ladies travelled to Wells and won an amazing match played on a squelchy outfield and a sticky wicket.

Weston skipper Roxy Newman lost the toss and her team was asked to bat. The visitors knew it was going to be tough, but no-one could have predicted how tough.

Wiseman was caught and bowled by Richards in the third over for four, the second highest score from the bat in the Weston innings. Sarah Tedder hit a single before being trapped leg before to Richards.

Newman, hoping to continue her good form with the bat, was soon back in the dressing room after being caught by Wells skipper Liz McConnell for three while Dannie Stone, Josie Smith, Georgia Tulip, Laura Foreman, Kelly Stone and Sophie Marks all recorded ducks. Helen Clough did manage a single.

Emma Whitehead, meanwhile, managed to work her way to an impressive unbeaten 45. The partnerships of 17 and 15 between Whitehead and Foreman and Whitehead and Stone were to prove key in Weston’s win. The second highest score of the Weston innings came in extras, which ended on 25.

At tea and with the wicket and outfield not showing any signs of improving, Weston knew they had a slim chance, but with only 79 runs to defend the odds were against them.

Opening bowlers Newman and Wiseman produced tight spells and after 10 overs the score had only reached 18, with Wiseman having picked up the wicket of opener Corina Thompson in her second over.

With Newman keen to take the wicket of dangerous opener McConnell, a double change of bowling was made.

After an unusually loose opening over from Whitehead, 10 coming from it, she took the first of two key wickets - the first of McConnell, caught by Clough, and then, with the next ball, she caught and bowled Wilson. With the pressure starting to build, Wells started to take chances and Smith produced two excellent run outs. Tulip then bowled Wells’ Newman for a duck, reducing the home side to 44-6, with Wells needing 36 from 14 overs.

Smith then took up bowling residency at one end, and conceded just six runs off her seven overs. She was accompanied by Wiseman (1-15) and Newman (0-10) before Tulip finished with figures of 1-12.

With one over to go Wells required 11 to tie and 12 to win. A run out on the second ball of the over was critical as it removed Richards, who had worked hard for her 25. Whitehead ended Wells’ 35 overs by taking her third wicket off the last ball, meaning Weston had won the match by 10 runs, with player of the match Whitehead returning figures of 3-25.