BPCC Women's Tour 2021

2 years in planning

3 x trials / nets session weekends at Trent Bridge and ECB L’Boro

16 players selected for June 2020

Result - COVID LOCKDOWN MARCH 2020….all Police Cricket cancelled until 2021

The following 12 months saw a further group of players identified and now available for selection so the decision was made to extend an invitation to include the new players meaning the inaugural Tour Party would consist of 22 players.However, the number reduced to 18 due to injury and unavailability.

The squad would be supported by a professional level 4 Coach namely Andy Brown,(former Derbyshire CCC player and Coach) and Sports Therapist Helen Paver-Brown. Further support came from Dave Fraser-Darling (Manager), Assistants Simon Young Paul Sims, Craig Greyvenstein, Officials Sarah Bartlett (Umpire) and Gavin Todd (Scorer).

Former Met Sgt Mandy McGachie would lead the team during this prestigious week.

TOUR PARTY

Mandy McGachie

Jessica Nixon (GMP)

Jodie White (Leics)

Lucy Johnson (Dyfed-Powys)

Vicky Mitchell (Suffolk)

Naomi Costley (PSNI)

Llawela Scale (Dyfed-Powys)

Shamaila Ahmed (Cheshire)

Erica Turner (Northants)

Lorna Jack (Scotland)

Jenny Coupe (Lancs)

Sian Phillips (Merseyside)

Jemma Phillips (Dyfed-Powys)

Kirstie Martin (Met)

Alice Clarke (Met)

Holly Hopes (Hants)

Sarah Witham (Derbys)

Laura Crofts (TVP)

MANAGEMENT / OFFICIALS

Dave Fraser-Darling (Sec / Tour Manager)

Simon Young (Asst Manager)

Craig Greyvenstein (Asst Manager)

Paul Sims (Asst Manager)

Sarah Bartlett (Umpire)

Gavin Todd (Scorer)

Nick Stratton (Umpire)

Helen Paver-Brown (Sports Therapist)

Andy Brown (Head Coach)

Bank Holiday Monday 31 May saw the squad assemble at Fleet Road Aldershot, the home of Army Cricket for a familiarisation and first ever outdoor practice session. The squad consisted of players with International / County experience all the way through to Club and those who were returning to the game after several years absence.

On a gloriously sunny & warm afternoon the players were soon bonding and forming solid friendships that would be instrumental in five days that followed. A number of ice breakers were followed by a good nets session and finished with fielding drills. The attitude and commitment shown at this early stage in the sweltering conditions were carried on through the rest of the tour.

Tuesday 1st June 2021 – BPPC v Army

Match 1

The Army Cricket Ground at Aldershot was the venue for the BPCC Women’s inaugural fixture where new Capt Mandy McGachie lost her first toss and BP were invited to bat first

At 11am Holly Hopes and Lorna Jack walked to the middle to create the first piece of history for the BPCC Women’s team.

The score progressed nicely to 13 before Hopes was out LBW for 8 at the end of the 3rd over. The BPCC Captain, Mandy McGachie, then joined Jack at the crease. The scoring rate raised for the next five overs with good running between the wickets taking the score to 40 in the 8th over until Jack went for a second run and was just short when the bails were removed. She headed back to the pavilion having scored 21 off 18 balls. Jodie White was next in to bat with McGachie. Both players batted well taking the score to 60 in the 14th over with some good bowling by the Army before McGachie was stumped off the bowling of Sullivan for 18 from 34 balls. Shamaila Ahmed joined White and the score progressed to 69 before White was clean bowled by Sullivan for a useful 11 runs. Jess Nixon was next to the crease (without getting lost) and helped Ahmed take the score to 78 before the former was caught by Deane off her own bowling. Jemma Phillips was the next player to stride to the middle and some good running late in the game helped Ahmed take the score to 85 before Phillips was run out for 2 runs. With four balls remaining in the innings Erica Turner and Ahmed scored a further 4 runs before the innings was done. Shamaila Ahmed ended the match 18 not out from 17 balls and Turner 3 not out.

After a short Break the Army started their innings with Laura Crofts and Victoria Mitchell opening the bowling for BPCC. It took 7.5 overs for the BPCC women to take their first ever competitive wicket and that came when Lorna Jack had G Cant caught behind superbly by wicket keeper Erica Turner. Unfortunately the score was 54 at this stage and despite a brave determined effort the BPCC women lost by 7 wickets with the army getting the required score with 4 overs to spare. Pick of the bowlers was Holly Hopes 3-1-9-2.

This was a really positive performance for the girls first ever match and Coach Andy Moore was keen to work on certain aspects for the second T20.

Too many dot balls (66) was the issue and a break and team meeting outlined his aspirations for the next match.

Match 2

In the return match the Army batted first and steadily moved to 13 before Laura Crofts removed Deane in the 4th over with a good catch from Jodie White.

Holly Hopes bettered that in the following over removing Butler with a good stumping by wicketkeeper Sian Phillips, before bowling Polson the very next ball. There was much excitement at the prospect of a Hat trick with the last ball of the over but Luveitasau dug deep and managed to defend it. The score limped along to 24 before Lucy Johnson managed to remove two Army players in quick succession. The first was Luveitasau caught by Laura Crofts and the second was Vaggers-Webb clean bowled. In her second over Johnson had Marama Stumped by Phillips and the score was 27 for 6 off 8 overs.

The Army then progressed slowly to 33 off 10 and Naomi Costley was asked to bowl. “Irish”, as she was soon answering to, bowled Wall from her first ball for BPCC, which isn’t a bad start to your tour! She then removed Sullivan four balls later in the same manner. The Army scored slowly for the next three overs with their players keen not to lose their wicket. Unfortunately with the score 46 for 8 Lucy Johnson returned to the attack and removed Newburn-Johnson caught by Shamaila Ahmed and a wicket maiden to round it off. With one final wicket remaining Jodie White clinched it with a good catch by Victoria Mitchell to leave the Army 46 all out!

All the BPCC bowlers bowled well and this was backed up with some good fielding and catches.

In reply the BPCC knocked off the runs in just 7.4 overs with no wickets lost. Chasing a small score sometimes can be a bit of a minefield but Coach was very pleased how they set about their task. Sian Phillips top Scoring with 31 runs from 26 balls.

This was the team’s first ever win and was celebrated in style. Clearly it could be seen that this group was starting to form a good bond and hopefully things would continue to get better as the week went on.

Wednesday 2nd June 2021 – BPPC v Berkshire CCC U18s

Match 1

BPCC travelled to Camberley CC for their second day against Berkshire CCC U18.

Jess Nixon who was standing in as Captain for the injured Mandy McGachie won the toss and elected to bat first.

Sian Phillips and Jenny Coupe opened for BPCC and progressed to 7 runs before Docherty had Coupe caught for 0. Lorna Jack joined Phillips and the pair put on another 41 runs before Phillips was run out for 20 going for a quick single. Jess Nixon was next to the crease and between her and Jack put on 37 runs before Nixon was bowled by Pereira for 13. Erica Turner was next in to partner Lorna Jack. Shortly after completing her 50 off 39 balls Jack was bowled by Docherty. What a great knock and the first 50 for BPCC women for the record books! The score was now 97 for 4 and Turners new partner Naomi Costley only lasted four balls before being bowled by Tulloch with nine balls left of the innings. Llawela Scale was next with only nine balls left helped turner add a few more needed runs before being run out with two balls to go for 2.

A great effort and a first for the team achieving over 100 runs in an innings from their 20 overs. Final score 106 for 6 off 20.

After a short break Berkshire CCC U18s started their innings with Isobel Carson and Ruth Payne taking the score to 81 off 10 overs before Lucy Johnson bowled Isobel Carson for a well-constructed 50 off 47 balls. N Lee was next in but lasted only three balls before Lorna Jack had her stumped by Erica Turner for 1 run. Lucy Johnson had the next Berkshire player Holly Rider stumped by Turner six balls later leaving it 85/3 from 13 overs. Unfortunately new batter Swire-Thompson and opener Payne progressed the score to 102 off 16 overs before the former was IBW to Jack for 12 and Payne run out in successive balls. With 2 to win the two new players hit the winning runs for Berkshire CCC U18s.

Stand out bowlers for BP were Lorna Jack 2-14 and Lucy Johnson 2-20

Match 2

As agreed Berkshire U18s batted first in the second game with Isobel Carson and Ruth Payne opening. Shamaila Ahmed had Payne caught by Naomi Costley for 6 runs at then end of the 1st over of play. This was quickly followed by the wicket of Carson off the bowling of Holly Hopes in the next over for 7 runs. With the score 14 for 2 off 2 overs the BPCC were on a roll. Lucy Beal and A Lee took Berkshire to 29 runs before Beal was caught by Naomi Costly off the bowling of Lucy Johnson for 6 runs. Next in was Carissa Pereira but she was out to the bowling of Lucy Johnson again for just 1 run, well caught by Holly Hopes, leaving the score 35 for 4 off 6.2 overs. N Lee and A Lee then dug in and started to accelerate the runs going at over six an over before Llawela Scale had A Lee Stumped by Sian Phillips for 29 at the start of the 14th over. The run rate continued with new batsman Swire-Thompson smashing a number of fours in her quick fire 16 from 10 before being run out by Jodie White. N Lee and Poppy Tulloch hit another 30 runs from the final three overs leaving Berkshire CC U18s 130 for 6 from their 20 overs. N Lee was the top scorer finishing 37 not out off 43 balls including 5 fours. Once again the standout BP bowler was Lucy Johnson with 2-4

In reply BPCC opened with Laura Crofts and Holly Hopes with the knowledge that 131 to win was a score that the team had not achieved yet on tour.

The opening pair played brilliantly over the first nine overs scoring 62 runs leaving the game set for a potentially tight finish. Then the momentum was halted as Hopes was bowled for 23 by Wragg at the start of the 10th over. Sian Phillips joined Crofts but was out next over bowled by Stearns for 1. Jodie White joined Crofts and there was still hope that with 9 overs to go that 62 runs to win was not unachievable. With the score on 106 for 2 off 17 and BPCC needing 25 runs from 18 balls, Crofts was given out LBW to Rider for 52 off 48. This was a massive blow at this stage in the innings and the BPCC women finished their innings an agonising 7 runs short of their Target.

A great effort by the team and again a big improvement in areas from days one and two which was pleasing to see how the squad was progressing.

Thursday 3rd June 2021 – BPPC v Club Cricket Conference

Match 1

BPCC travelled to Odiham & Greywell CC for their third day against Club Cricket Conference. On a beautiful sunny day BPCC won the toss and decided to field first. CCC openers took the score to 14 in the fourth over before Lorna Jack had Nat Mitchell bowled for 4 runs. Next in was Anje Lague for CCC and along with Dani Ransley progressed the score to 43 off 8 before Ransley was caught behind by Sian Phillips off the bowling of Victoria Mitchell for an excellent 30 from 29 balls. Charlotte Schooling was next to bat and along with Lague hit 29 runs from the next five overs including a number of well-timed shots to the boundary. Jenny Coupe then had Lague superbly caught by Jess Nixon for 23 runs and this was quickly followed by Schooling being caught behind by Phillips off the bowling of Laura Crofts for 9 runs at the end of the 14th over. The score was 77 for 4 off 14 and with six overs to go and two new batters at the crease the game had swung back in the favour of BPCC.

Another 9 runs were scored before another wicket brought two. Rebecca Hartnett out for 8 caught by Sarah Witham off the bowling of Crofts. This was followed by Hanna James being clean bowled by Coupe the following over leaving the score at 86 for 6 off 16.3 overs. Batters Mel Storey and Rebecca Tyson dug deep and scored some vital runs at the end of the innngs to take to score to 106 in the last over before Tyson was out with three balls to go for 7 and leaving Storey 11 not out. Final score was 112 for 7 off 20 overs.

Pick of the bowlers for BPCC were Laura Crofts 4-0-3-22, Holly Hopes 3-1-10-0 who helped put the breaks on the run rate and Jenny Coupe 4-0-18-2 who bowled very well as well as taking the wicket of the dangerous looking Lague.

Opening for the BPCC innings was Lorna Jack with Laura Crofts. Both had hit 50’s the previous day so there were high hopes. Unfortunately in the first over Hayley Arrol had Crofts caught for a duck and Holly Hopes was next in to partner Lorna Jack at the crease. The score was 4 for 1 and was not the start BPCC had wanted. Jack and Hopes played well for the next number of overs with good running between the wickets and some excellent boundaries before Arrol bowled Jack at the end of the 5th over for 19 runs. The score was 34 for 2 off 5 overs. Unfortunately Hanna James had new batsman Sian Phillips out the following over for a duck leaving BPCC on 35 for 3 off 6 overs. With wickets falling Jenny Coupe was next in and playing a more defensive role helped to support Holly Hopes to stabilise the innings and start to score runs. At the end of the 12th over with the score on 69 Coupe was caught off the bowling of Tyson for 16 runs. Captain Mandy McGachie now joined Hopes (26*) at the crease and both Hopes and McGachie’s experience showed as the scored progressed to 93 before Hartnett caught McGachie off her own bowling for 13runs.

20 runs now required from 24 balls victory was in sight for BPCC but that required Hopes to bat through the next four overs. With the loss of Lucy Johnson at the end of 18th over for 6 runs and Jess Nixon the following over for a duck it was a nervous finish but with 3 balls to spare Holly Hopes hit the winning runs to give BPCC their first victory of the day and second of the week. Holly Hopes scoring 45 not out off 47 balls was yet another impressive innings and showed the depth of talent the squad had and was starting to show.

Match 2

BPCC batted first in the second T20 of the day as Sian Phillips and Laura Crofts walked out to open the batting.

A record opening partnership of 110 was achieved in 14.4 overs before Crofts was bowled for 52 runs from 42 balls (8 x fours & 1 Six). At this same time Phillips also had to retire with an injury having scored 41 from 50 balls. This left BPCC 110 for 1 with new batsmen Shamaila Ahmed and Lorna Jack at the crease. With 9 balls of the innings left Jack was caught off the bowling of Hanna James for 10 runs and left Ahmed and new batsman Holly Hopes to play out the final balls of the innings. BPCC finished with their highest score of the week 149 for 2 off 20 overs.

A target of 150 was going to be no easy task for Club Cricket Conference but Dani Ransley had other ideas. She single handedly attempted to ruin the perfect day for BPCC scoring a magnificent 67 off 54 balls whilst supported by Lenice Downham and Mel Storey scoring 14 and 19. A good tight bowling display from Holly Hopes (3-0-14-2) and Victoria Mitchell (3-1-10-1) along with Laura crofts bowling the important wicket of Ransley the Club Cricket Conference came up just short of the target in 20 overs scoring just 138. BPCC Women had won their second game of the day and third of the week.

This left them with a 50% win ratio from the week so far going into the final two games against the RAF on Friday.

Friday 4th June 2021 – BPPC v RAF

Both T20 games at Vine Lane were abandoned due to rain which became heavier throughout the day.

SUMMARY

P6 W3 L3

Whoever would have thought it…..some 48 years after British Police CCC was formed Women’s cricket would now be at the centre of Police cricket, and not before time. It is long overdue!!

Bank Holiday Monday 31 May saw 18 individuals arrive at Fleet Road not really knowing one another nor any idea how the week would turn out. The following 3 days saw them develop into a tight knit group with improvements being made in every match.

Despite the disappointment of the Friday “washout” the team reflected on the Tour which had seen them grow and develop both individually and as a team throughout the week. The departing Group were leaving far better players from the ones who arrived on the Monday and the investment made by the manager in employing the first ever professional coach for a BPCC team had proven to be an inspired decision.

It was clear to see the camaraderie and work ethic from day one. The coach and team all the Management team was proud of what the squad had achieved in their first ever tour.

The future of women’s cricket is definitely positive and once word gets out about the achievements made during the tour week I am sure that we will see numbers increase and hopefully in the not too distant future we will see the beginnings of a National Competition.

To all players….please go back to your Forces and spread the word as there will be players out there who have no idea that Women’s BPCC exists.

From a personal point I would like to extend my thanks to all the Management Team of Simon, Paul & Craig, Umpires Sarah Bartlett and Nick Stratton (who joined us to officiate the CCC day), Scorer & Statistician Gavin Todd, Coach Andy Brown and Sports therapist Helen Paver-Brown whose hard work kept the majority of the players on the field.

Plans are already being made for the 2022 Tour plus other requests for the Team to play 1 off fixtures.