The Faulkner’s contingent made significant contributions with Ava (LK), Emma (LM), Emma (LI) and Jemima (LM) all involved in taking wickets to bowl Shrewsbury out for 84. Openers Poppy (M) and Bella (I) confidently chased down the total inside 11 overs for a ten-wicket victory and a place in the final.
Their opponents for the decider were Bede’s, the team who had beaten them in the semi-final of the 100-ball competition earlier in the summer, and it proved to be a thrilling final with twists and turns throughout.
This year we’ve built quite a strong team bond. I’m not sure if there are any other schools that have the same team dynamic which we have here.
Bradfield batted first and made a strong start, hitting thirty runs from the first four overs but lost both openers shortly afterwards as Bede’s fought back.
Bradfield continued to battle, Eliza (K) memorably hitting back-to-back boundaries in one entertaining over, but lost wickets at regular intervals and eventually set their opponents a target of 91.
The girls made the perfect start with tournament Captain, Poppy, finding the top of off stump twice in the first over and taking a third in the same manner two overs later, helping to reduce Bede’s to 8-4 from three overs. The South Coast side steadied the ship with a fine middle order partnership helping them to reach 52-4 at the ten over drinks break.
We’ve done everything with such a sense of community. Whether we’ve got girls in Shell, Faulkner’s or Upper Sixth, we’ve all come together, whether we are winning or losing and it’s been such a lovely atmosphere to be a part of.
At the resumption of play the Captain, bringing herself back into the attack, was instantly rewarded, taking a wicket first ball and trapping the new batter lbw to end with remarkable figures of 5-10 from her four overs.
Two more wickets fell in the following over as Bede’s slipped to 56-8 and they were only able to add four more runs before Emma (LI) took the match winning wicket and Bradfield were crowned T20 champions.
2022 has been a fantastic year for Bradfield cricket and we are excited about the progress our pupils can make in the years to come.
