On Tuesday 23 June, the Girls’ 1st XI travelled to Stowe School to compete in the National Plate Finals Day of The Cricket Paper 100 competition. With temperatures soaring throughout the day, all matches were reduced to 80 balls per side. Following a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Newcastle-under-Lyme School in the morning semi-final, the girls progressed to the Plate Final against St Edward’s School, Oxford. St Edward’s won the toss and elected to bowl. Cranleigh closed their innings on 77-7, with Amelia G finishing unbeaten on 32.
Paloma W struck in the opening set before Charlotte H claimed two further wickets in the second, leaving St Edward’s reeling at 5-3 after just ten balls. St Edward’s number three responded with a counter-attacking innings, playing several positive strokes to take her side to 40 before she was brilliantly caught at long-off by Lizzi K from the bowling of Charlotte H. At the halfway stage, the match remained finely balanced, but Cranleigh’s spinners, Felicity H and Sienna V, applied sustained pressure by restricting boundary opportunities and building scoreboard pressure.
Matilda F then struck with a key wicket in the 13th set to settle any remaining nerves. St Edward’s eventually closed on 64-9, handing Cranleigh a hard-earned 13-run victory and securing the school’s first-ever Girls’ National cricket title.
A tremendous team performance, showcasing resilience, discipline and composure under pressure, capped off a memorable day and a historic achievement for the Girls’ 1st XI.
