Top performance by women cricketers

Posted by Tony Hutton

The most interesting part of yesterday's perambulation between the T20 shambles at Headingley, the Leeds University game v Liverpool at Weetwood and the womens university match at Kirkstall was undoubtedly the latter.

Leeds Metropolitan University women were entertaining powerful opponents in Loughborough University women. On our first visit the home side were piling up the runs against some fairly friendly bowling on this fast scoring ground. They finished their fifty overs with what seemed like a winning score of 263-6.

The sudden influx of five additional spectators seeking refuge from Headingley was as ever welcomed by hard working groundman Dave Hodgson, who eventually had to tear himself away from the idle chatter to get on with his work, as he was in the middle of preparing pitches for nine matches in eight days.

On our second visit, after events at Headingley had finished, we were amazed to find Loughborough well on their way to victory, again against some pretty poor bowling which seemed to alternate wides with full tosses. However the two batsman, or batswomen, were playing splendidly and put on an unbroken 250 partnership to win the game by nine wickets with more than ten overs to spare.

Further research revealed that opening batsman, Tamsin Beaumont, who has played for England as second choice wicket keeper, finished on 122 not out and her partner Helen Shipman on 93 not out.

On looking up Loughborough's record so far this season, they have played eleven matches and won them all. Tamsin Beaumont has now made five centuries, including one double century, 208 not out against Birmingham. She missed one match, has played ten innings, five not out, scored 920 runs and averages an amazing 184.00.

Quite an achievement and obviously a name to follow at international level in the future. So today's lesson is possibly to the effect that next time you see a womens cricket match taking place, do not pass by on the other side, stop to watch and you may be pleasantly surprised.