Celebrations were in order after Leeds University’s women’s cricket team stormed to victory in their Varsity match early on Wednesday morning as they bowled Leeds Beckett out for 57, chasing the score Uni set of 93.

The match took place indoors at the Headingley Indoor Centre, a setting more regularly used as a practice space for the Yorkshire squad, but this time provided a fitting backdrop for a hard-fought and ultimately successful performance by LUUWCC.

After a tense start, which saw Captain Alice Davidson-Richards being run out in the first few overs, and Nat Lyons caught out after just two overs, it looked as if the match was set to head in favour of Leeds Beckett. However, Club Captain Ruth Salthouse and Jess Watson proved to be a winning pairing, and the innings soon took a turn for the better.

With the retirement of Watson on 25 runs, Beth Hirst stepped up to bat and together with Salthouse clocked up nearly twenty runs, leaving the home side on a respectable score of 93-2 off 10 overs. Leeds Beckett started their batting well, but the innings quickly went downhill for the opposition when they were run out by Watson in the second over.

This was swiftly followed by two more run-outs and a bowl-out. A final triumphant catch from Lyons saw Beckett leave the court with a score of 57 off eight overs, signalling a win for the Uni ladies.

Speaking after the match, skipper Davidson-Richards spoke of her team’s success as ‘an incredible effort from all the girls for a deserved victory’. Indeed, with strong performances by the entire team, and cool heads under pressure, LUUWCC have proved that they are a force to be reckoned with.

 

Sarah Weir

 

Picture courtesy of Ruth Salthouse