THE Handicap Cups turned out to be appropriately named as Wally’s Eleven turned the tables on Butchers Arms to claim their third trophy of the summer as the sun shone on a final day of action in the BSF Ladies Rounders League at Darcy Lever Cricket Club.
Wally’s carried a 40-run start into the H-O final by virtue of being two league sections below their opponents. But the Butchers went into the showdown with an even greater handicap, five of their regular team being away on holiday while a sixth had to dash to the airport after the first innings.
And Wally’s took full advantage, although they didn’t have the best of starts. Batting first, they had two players caught out at the first attempt but soon settled and scored a steady 115 runs, with only one rounder and their 40-run start.
Although all but one of the Butchers team survived the first round, they struggled for runs and, even with one rounder, they were all out for 34.
With the “follow-on” rule not applicable, Wally’s batted again, adding 128 to their score. Lauren Kirby was top scorer with 36, including four rounders, while Bethany Hodgkiss also hit a rounder.
Despite having a mountain to climb, Butchers Arms made a determined effort and scored four rounders to give them a second innings 77. But it was Wally’s who ran out 243-111 winners.
The A-G Handicap Cup final was a scratch game between the Section A champions Rupert Ladies A who beat runners-up Darcy Lever C&SC A by 145-134.
Rupert batted first and scored 109 runs with four batters in double figures, each scoring a rounder along the way. Lyn Carroll with two rounders top-scored on 27, while last batter Ann Truffas scored 22, Kerry Anderton 19 and Jayne Trevett 15.
Darcy lost three of their first seven batters, one at first base, one caught and one out for obstruction. Although Emma Holt hit a rounder to top score with 13, and last batter Catherine Crilly scored 12, Darcy were all out for 54 and chose to follow on.
Again losing three batters without scoring, Darcy looked to be heading for an innings defeat, but Sarah Gradwell (20), Sharon Buller (16), Catherine Crilly (12) and Lucy Chadwick (11) pushed them to 80, forcing Rupert to bat again, needing 26 to win.
Fielding much better, Darcy dismissed their opponents for 36, but it was not enough.
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