Match Report

Alton hosted newly promoted Ropley Ladies for the first time on Sunday. Winning the toss Ropley opted to bat, their line up strengthened by a guest appearance of Providence Cowdrill from the Hampshire Ladies squad. It was Cowdrill and former Alton junior Rachel King who set about building a target with a structured 70 partnership before Gemma Porter removed King (53), chipping the ball in the air to Abi Green for the catch. Shortly afterwards it was Porter herself taking a great catch off the bowling of Josie Morris to remove Cowdrill (20) and that was the catalyst for a collapse of some proportion with (Catherine Bayliss taking 3 catches!) before the tail wagged with Ropley managing to set a target of 146 for Alton to win.

Wickets for Alton were shared between Martha Bilsland (1), Porter (2), Morris (3) and 3 wickets also for debutant Issy Wallace who picked up her maiden wicket with her first ball. Porter and Morris set about chasing down the target with confidence - Bayliss and Amelia Marshall following once Morris was out with Alton always looking in control. The game could have turned when Emma Tatnell removed Bilsland and then Alton skipper Nic Gadsby in consecutive balls. Abi Green survived the hat trick ball before taking the attack to Ropley scoring 38* off 22 balls in an unbroken partnership of 55* with Porter (53*) to see Alton safely home.