For the second year running there was an dramatic tied match at the Cricket Meadow on the last weekend of the season. With Hampton needing just one run to win off the last over, Thriplow women’s skipper Lara Neild proceeded to take three wickets from her first five balls and then run out the new batter on the last to send the Thriplow team into wild celebration.
Almost as remarkably, the visitors’ 100% win record stretching back four years was thereby brought to an end by a young Thriplow team, in their first season in adult competition.
Thriplow had earlier begun hesitantly, as early morning lateral movement and low bounce, and some excellent bowling, made runs almost impossible to come by. After being 13-4 at one point, Lucy Duncan and Victoria Neild steadied the ship. Lucy played her shots when she could whilst wickets fell once more at the other end. Finally, Lisa Turner was called upon to make her batting debut and saw off the penultimate over safely to allow Lucy to take the strike, and the score to 52-9. Lucy finished on 33 not out, including 6 fours, which was outstanding in the context of the match.
Thriplow felt they were in with a chance if they took early wickets, and opening bowler Trinity Hales duly obliged with two bowled in her first two overs. Lara Neild added the key wicket of Fiona Plumb just when Hampton were starting to look comfortable, but, despite economical bowling from Zoe Barkes and Chloe and Freya Watrasiewicz, the visitors looked to have the match sewn up at 50-3 off 17. Freya and Chloe kept them to one run off each of the 18th and 19th overs but the scores were brought level with eight balls to go.
Two dot balls followed and then came an over which will surely become part of TCC legend. Lara knocked top scorer Chloe Salisbury’s stumps back with her first ball and Emily Hill then faced two dot balls before Annabel Follows pocketed a close catch. Next, Lauren Burns came to the wicket intent on finishing the game with one firm hit – but it looped high towards Trinity at square leg, safely taken, and as cool as a cucumber. The batters had crossed and so even then Hampton were favourites, until the last ball was pushed firmly back to Lara, who gathered it safely and took the bails off as the non-striker desperately sought the winning run.
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After a short break Thriplow took the field high on adrenalin for the next match, after asking NCI to bat first. Chloe immediately accounted for opener Charlotte Graham, caught behind by Lucy off a faint edge. However, the home side found things a little harder in the afternoon sun, understandably weary after their earlier efforts. However, they had fresh bowlers: Annabel, Victoria and Emily Moore did particularly well until Helen Stocks-Morgan retired after scoring an excellent 30 and Lara took two late wickets, finishing with 6 in 6 overs for the day.
Thriplow were set 88 to win and, after Zoe fell with the score on 14, Lara and Freya batted with increasing assurance, putting on over 50 for the second wicket. Defending carefully when needed, they both punished anything bowled on the leg side and attacked between long on and long off, scoring several threes and fours to the long boundaries there. After Lara’s compulsory retirement at 30, Freya (26) and Lucy were out soon after, but the last 13 runs were knocked off comfortably by Victoria Neild and Siobhan Pebody, and Thriplow had won with 14 balls to spare.