Hampshire cricket club victorious in national T20 competition

A local cricket club in Hampshire has become national champions after securing a six wickets win in the ECB Women’s National Club T20 Cup. 

St Cross Symondians Women were up against Dorridge, from the West Midlands, in the final of the competition that took place on Sunday 16 August at the Sir Paul Getty ground in Wormsley. 

It was the Winchester club’s second final appearance, having won in 2023, also against Dorridge. This time their opponents were strengthened by ex-Wales player Gabby Basketeer and Warwickshire captain and 2024 England ODI player Georgia Davis.  

Dorridge batted first and totalled 135 for 8, a respectable score that looked far more of a challenge than it should have after a slow start by the West Midlands club. Wilson (3 for 21) and Lawler (2 for 16), both off four overs, were the standout bowlers for St Cross.

St Cross suffered an early blow in their reply, losing Darcey Clarke, who had hit 82 in its semi-final win, for 2. However, they rallied to finish on 138 for 4 after 17.2 overs, with Alex Avoth’s 68 (off 49 balls) and teenager Emma Moore’s 30 (off 27 balls), getting the team over the line.

The celebrations went for a while at Wormsley, before continuing at the clubhouse in St Cross later, where the Men’s 1st XI were also celebrating, having beaten Wimborne and then Finchampstead in the Area Finals of the Men’s ECB Club T20 Cup. 

To add to the joy, news came through that the St Cross Symondians Women’s 2nd team had won the Women’s Hampshire Cricket League Division Two thanks to their nearest rivals losing.