record first win of season.
Yorkshire girls U13s enjoyed an excellent start to their campaign as they recorded their first win of the season with a dominant display again Staffordshire at Meir Heath CC, Stoke on Trent.
After being put into bat the Staffordshire openers Sophie Frost and Luana Sims started solidly, offering few chances despite the fine pace attack of Bella Copley and Jess Thompson. However, a change of bowling brought on Poppy Moss and her second ball got the key breakthrough by removing Frost who was just starting to look comfortable.
Staffs swiftly moved the score onto 47 before Poppy got the rewards her bowling deserved with 2 quick fire wickets with excellent deep catches from Joanne Harrington and Frances Lonsdale in consecutive balls.
The early season nerves had now disappeared and momentum was firmly with Yorkshire as Jess Tully removed the next 3 wickets (all bowled) in 7 balls reducing Staffordshire to 54-6.
The Yorkshire side pressed home their advantage with Captain Bella Copley selecting an attacking option in spinner Katie Kay who ended her fruitful spell with 2 wickets (one an impressive caught and bowled). Daisy Stokoe finally finished any resistance with 2 wickets resulting from excellent catches leaving Staffordshire 65 all out.
Yorkshire’s run chase started very deliberately with openers Bella Copley and Jess Thompson getting accustomed to the conditions and the strong opening pace attack of Staffordshire’s Luana Mills and Lucy Shenton.
It wasn’t long before Bella’s natural attacking instinct took over and the run rate soon accelerated with her powerful hitting finally getting on top of the bowling attack.
Jess Thomson was not to be outdone offering excellent support, taking the sharp singles and the odd boundary in her 16 (not out).
The openers finally reached their target after 16 overs with Bella finishing excruciatingly short of her maiden county half century on 47 not out.
A fine all-round bowling, fielding and batting display in an excellent 10 wicket victory set the team nicely for their next fixtures on 31st May as they travel to Derbyshire and 1st June at Nottinghamshire.