Nottinghamshire Recreational Cricket

The finals of the Nottinghamshire Women’s Indoor League finished in style as the Notts Finest narrowly took victory over close rivals the Notts All-Stars.

Both teams won their semi-finals with relative ease, the All-Stars beating Nottingham University by 24 runs whilst the Finest brushed aside Plumtree, running out 96-run victors.

That meant the Finest faced the All-Stars in the showpiece at the end of the night, their record before the night standing at one win apiece, and it was the former who edged to victory by a mere 20 runs.

Notts All-Star (135runs) vs Nottingham University (101runs)
Nottingham University fielded first and had the opportunity to get off to a quick start in their bid to cause a semi-final upset. They did just that, restricting the team who topped the table after six rounds, the All-Stars, to just 19 runs from the first skin. However, the All-Stars showed all the class that had taken them to five wins out of a possible six in the previous weeks, Hollie Stannard (33) and Sophie Williams (24) ensuring they posted a competitive total of 135.

The University Ladies spotted their chance to cause an upset though, getting off to a flier to take the first skin with Kelly Sladen scoring 21. At the half way stage, it was still the underdogs who were ahead after matching the score of the All-Stars in the second skin but that is when runs starts to become hard to come by for Notts University. The All-Stars upped their game in the last two skins and took the game beyond the reach of Nottingham University Ladies,with some good pieces of fielding, booking their place in the final.

Scorecard

Notts Finest (148runs) vs Plumtree Ladies (54runs)
The form team over the latter matches of the group stages, Notts Finest wracked up their sixth win on the bounce, easily securing their place in the final by beating Plumtree. The Finest flew off the mark in the first skin with Jessica Craddock and Alex Armstrong adding 52 runs. Plumtree’s fielding did stem the progress of the Finest in the next three skins but the form team of the competition still managed to post an impressive 148.

From the off it was going to be a tough task for Plumtree, and the fielding of the Finest made the job even tougher. Some quick run outs and safe hands stemmed Plumtree’s chase and ultimately they were always struggling to match the Finest with the bat, ending on just 54 runs.

Scorecard

Third place play off - Nottingham University (128runs) vs Plumtree (132runs)
Plumtree came out winners in an exciting 3rd place playoff; the two teams that only secured one win each in group stages being split by just four runs. Plumtree batted first and a slow start was soon vastly improved when good individual performances from Gabi Brown (29) and Elouise Haywood (36) allowed Plumtree to post 132.

Nottingham University sprinted out of the blocks in pursuit of third place and across the first three skins had amassed 119 runs, seemingly cruising to victory. However, Plumtree showed good fight in the final skin, two catches and two run outs keeping the scoring in check and their side in the lead. A further run out in the final over, and the subsequent loss of five extra runs, meant Plumtree ran out four-run victors, securing third place in the tournament.

Scorecard

Final - Notts All-Stars (133runs) vs Notts Finest (153 runs)
The final of the Women’s Indoor League was another great spectacle, the two best teams over the seven weeks separated by just 20 runs upon completion of the final game. Notts Finest, who had been on a stellar unbeaten after being beaten by the All-Stars in the first round, had the upper hand at the start, Alex Armstrong and Jessica Craddock scoring 45 during the first skin. Further high scoring skins followed, Georgie Boyce hitting 35 including four sevens, as the Finest posted a formidable 153.

The All-Stars were looking to show the batting prowess that had seen them top the league after the group stages, and they were only five runs behind after the second skin. The third skin was going to be the crucial time in the outcome of the match and it was the Finest who came out on top, taking three catches and getting two run outs. Rosie Penford and Sophie Williamson gave their best for the All-Stars in the final skin, adding 43 runs, however that still left them 20 runs short as the Notts Finest came out on top to be crowned 2015 champions.

Scorecard