Performance: Ladies Cricket become BUCS Champions

10 March 2011

Cardiff University Ladies Cricket club became National Indoor Cricket Champions on Saturday 25th February as they beat Loughborough University in finals staged at the SWALEC national indoor cricket centre. This is the first time Cardiff have lifted the title and it is a testament to the hard work that has been put in to developing there cricketing skills over the winter months.

Coach of the team Gareth Wallwork was delighted with the girl’s outstanding performance 'The whole squad have shown commitment to Cardiff University ladies cricket club and thoroughly deserve there success. The squad train twice a week throughout the winter with some members of the team undertaking further coaching sessions due to there involvement in the high performance programme. This training programme and further dedication to indoor cricket through entering local leagues has resulted in the team becoming national champions. The team are looking forward to further success when the outdoor season gets underway.'

Stuart Vanstone, Head of Sport at the University said ' This is a tremendous result for the girls and all the hard work has paid off with a great performance in the final against a strong Loughborough side. The coach Gareth Wallwork has worked tirelessly with the group since the start of term and the commitment the girls have shown to the programme has paid off.'

The Cardiff University side boasts full England International Heather Knight who has recently returned from the Ashes Series with Australia. Also in the team were Welsh Internationals Katherine Taylor and Scottish Internationals Cappy Smaill. The girls will now hope to match the indoor success in the outdoor season which is due to start in April.

The first game of the indoor finals day was against the biggest threat in the group - Durham – boasting their own England star in Holly Colvin. Losing wickets at regular intervals meant Cardiff could only post 63 with number 4 Caitlin Brown top scoring with 15. The Durham openers got off to a cautious start thanks to excellent, tight bowling from fresher Katherine Taylor (3-0-5-1), but kept up with the rate and kept wickets in hand to look favourites to win. However, a number of run outs from keeper Knight and two wickets from Cappy Smaill (2-0-14-2) shifted the pressure on the Durham lower order. A faultless last over from Taylor meant Cardiff held on to secure a two run victory.

The second group game was against Brighton University who needed a win to stay in the competition. Invited to bowl first, Cardiff failed to contain the Brighton batters and missed opportunities combined with some loose bowling meant that Brighton topped 100 in their 12 overs, setting Cardiff 108 to win. Needing a positive start, Cardiff’s openers obliged with both Knight and Kathryn Hudson retiring on 26. The remainder of the batters finished the job and Cardiff were sitting pretty at the top of their group.

The final group was against Sheffield Hallam and Cardiff opted to bat first, knowing victory would guarantee a place in the final. Picking up where they left off in the last game, Knight (46*) and Hudson (27*) both retired again, providing the ideal platform for the big hits and smart running the lower order and the returning Knight could provide. Cardiff set Sheffield 148 to win from 12 overs and more impressive bowling and wickets from Smaill (3-0-22-2), combined with 4 run outs meant that Sheffield fell 9 runs short and Cardiff progressed.

The opposition in the final was Loughborough University , who had progressed easily from their group, scoring in excess of 140 in each game, with a top score of 175. Cardiff lost the toss and faced the daunting task of containing the Loughborough batters. After a bright start from Loughborough, taking pace off the ball seemed to strangle the scoring rate so captain Paula Matthews gave 6 overs to spinners Smaill and Brown, who returned figures of 3-0-22-2 and 3-0-20-1 respectively, with catches and a stumping for keeper Knight.

Loughborough set Cardiff 108 and Cardiff got off to the worst start possible with opener Hudson caught behind for a golden duck. Number 3 Smaill came to the crease and looked assured from the start, playing sensible cricket and taking easy singles to keep up with the required rate. Support from Knight (10) and Brown (11) allowed Smaill (39*) to retire but she was soon required once more and she combined with captain Matthews (6*) to see Cardiff home with 3 balls to spare to secure victory and the BUCS title for Cardiff.

Smaill received Player of the Match in the final for her match winning efforts with both and bat and ball.

Captain Matthews received the trophy and had this to say: ‘In my three years playing for CULCC, I knew we could win the championship this year, every single player excelled with the bat and ball and Cardiff’s exceptional team spirit really stood out from the rest. Champions!!”