The Wadebridge Ladies' softball cricket team has once again demonstrated their dominance in the sport by winning the Cornwall Ladies Softball Cricket Finals for the second year in a row. The event took place last weekend at St Austell Cricket Club, where the winning teams from both the East and West leagues came together for an exciting day of cricket.
The finals day featured four top teams that had battled their way to this stage: Wadebridge, St Minver, Paul, and Penzance. Each team had earned their place through a season of intense competition, with the West league consisting of six teams and the East league hosting ten teams.
In the first semi-final, Wadebridge faced Penzance in what proved to be the closest match of the day. Penzance held a narrow lead of two runs in the final over, but Wadebridge's resilience shone through. A crucial wicket with just three balls remaining allowed Wadebridge to regain the lead, which they held onto for a dramatic victory. The second semi-final saw Paul emerge victorious by a slim margin of seven runs against St Minver, setting the stage for an exciting final.
The final match between Wadebridge and Paul was a nail-biter from start to finish. Wadebridge's innings began cautiously, as Paul's bowlers applied pressure with tight deliveries. However, Wadebridge's batters displayed remarkable skill in finding gaps and running hard between the wickets, ensuring a steady flow of runs. The last two batting pairs upped the scoring rate with some well-timed boundaries and quick running, resulting in a final score of 295-4 from 16 overs, giving them a net score of 275.
Paul started their chase strongly, regularly finding the boundary and staying ahead of the required run rate. But Wadebridge's spirited defence turned the tide, with crucial catches bringing the game back into balance. With 21 runs needed off the last four overs, Wadebridge's bowlers and fielders applied relentless pressure, securing key wickets at critical moments. The final overs were filled with tension as Paul attempted to chase down the target, but Wadebridge held firm, ultimately winning by 20 runs (net score) to claim their well-deserved title.
Women and Girls Development Lead Nick Matthews said: “The competition has been great this year! It's fantastic to see the amount of teams involved, the spirit the games have been played in and the high standards of cricket shown. The 4 teams today all played their part in what was a cracking finals day, I don't think it could have been much closer. Congratulations to Wadebridge, and also every other team involved. The future of Ladies Cricket in Cornwall is bright!”
To find out how you can get involved in Ladies Softball Cricket email Nick Matthews wgdo@cornwallcricket.co.uk or visit www.cornwallcricket.co.uk/women-and-girls.html
The Cornwall Cricket Board remains committed to offering opportunities for individuals aged 5 and above to engage with cricket across the county. As the official governing body for cricket in Cornwall, the Board is dedicated to nurturing a love for the game among both children and adults.
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