In February 2015, the Primary Club gave a grant of £4,000 to the Blind Cricket of England and Wales (BCEW) to develop visually impaired women’s cricket in the UK. In September 2015, the women played their first match and below is a report from John Garbett, Head of Development at BCEW
The Blind Cricket England and Wales women’s programme produced its first match on Sunday 6th September when a squad of 13 played an international ball game against Price & Myers, a team of structural engineers, at Brentham CC in West London.
The programme started at Reading University in May and has built up a squad of 17 players from all over the country, with this match the culmination of all the hard work and hours of training that the ladies have put in this summer.
On a glorious day, the women’s captain, Lois Turner won the toss and decided to field first in the Twenty20 friendly.
Price & Myers, wearing simulation spectacles, started well and the score moved on steadily as the girls got used to playing as a team for the first time
At the 10-over drinks brea
k, Prcic e & Myers were 73 for 2, but the women’s team got into their stride from then on, took regular wickets and fielded exceptionally well to restrict their opponents to 118 for 8.
After an excellent tea provided by Brentham CC, the ladies set about chasing down the Price & Myers total requiring 6 runs per over to do so and made steady progress to be slightly ahead at the break on 63 for 2 wickets.
There were a couple of run outs as again the players were getting used to working with each other in match situations, but the score continued to progress at the same rate and despite a nervy maiden over just before the end, they reached the target after 19 overs to claim victory in their first ever match as a team.
All 13 players took part in the game and all contributed to the result.
The match was played in a great spirit and thanks go to Price & Myers, Brentham CC and many other people from within VI cricket who helped out greatly both in the lead up and on the day of the game.
This occasion was the completion of phase one of the women’s programme, which was kindly funded by the Primary Club. We aim to build on 2015, to grow the women’s game in this country and to eventually play against international opposition.
All-UK Women’s Squad in Full:
Lois Turner (Surrey VICC, Captain) Susannah Barnett (Worcestershire Elizabethans)