RAYLEIGH Women picked up the Thurrock Sports Council’s indoor six a side cricket crown with a third consecutive title at Gable Hall School, Corringham on Thursday evening. Following wins over Stanford le Hope and Belhus, the Rawreth Lane based club stormed to a 58-run win over Thurrock.
Batting first, Rayleigh were all out for 93 with Thurrock emerging with great credit as they became the first team in the history of the competition to dismiss the reigning title holders. Rebecca Holyoak struck three sixes in a superb innings of 45 runs, but Hannah picked up 2-14 for Thurrock and she received valuable support from Sarah Fergey and Heather Phillips with one wicket each. Allison Edmeades hit 12 not out for the Blackshots-based side but Rayleigh bounced back in style as Elisha Brett picked up 2-8 from three overs while Louise Harmsworth and Holyoak collected 1-7 and 1-10 respectively.
Thurrock were restricted to 35 for the loss of five wickets after their ten-over allocation to leave Rayleigh at the top of the final league table once again.
Meanwhile, Stanford secured the runners-up spot with a 32-run victory over Belhus. Stanford, batting first, had three batsmen in double figures, being Gemma Reynolds with 11 runs, Olivia Wyatt contributed 13 while Laura Knight was undefeated on 21 as Stanford closed on 93 for the loss of three wickets.
Belhus lost their opening batsman, Amy Squires, in the first over for just one run when Rhiannon Hales (1-21) held on to a good catch off her own bowling. But Tracey Sloan joined Rachel Cordell and these two put on 49 for the second wicket until Cordell was bowled by Knight for six runs. Sloan hit two sixes in a bludgeoning knock of 20 runs, but perished when she was caught and bowled by Wyatt (1-7). Belhus concluded their innings on 60 for the loss of three wickets, with Knight (1-1) picking up the wicket of Cordell. Umpires for both matches were Graham Davies and Mike Randall.
