Bowden Ladies (aka the 'Pinks') hosted Thrapston Ladies in the final of the Last Woman Stands League. Bowden were put into bat by the visitors, the run rate was slow in the first few overs and a quick wicket was lost, Lucy Kirk. Flora England came in next and for a couple of overs Sian Pyne helped to bat patiently before being bowled on leg stump by an inswinging delivery. More quick wickets of Kirsty Matthews and Ema Garcia were lost and at this point it was looking like we were going to have to do something special to finish on a score of more than 60. Emily Wilford came in next to join Flora and together they added a few runs to the scoreboard with some good running between the wickets before Emily (12) was bowled by a ball which hardly bounced. Colette Wale then joined Flora, who still remained, at the crease. They batted well, managing to up the run rate in the final overs. Flora then retired on an unbeaten 50. Elizabeth Page (4) came in for the final over and helped Colette (22 not out) to finish off the Bowden innings with a total of 99 runs off their 18 overs.
Thrapston then went into bat. Bowden knew we were going to have to bowl and field tight if we were to win. Colette opened the bowling taking a crucial wicket in her first over. Elizabeth followed suit by taking the second wicket LBW despite the rather tentative appeal. The third wicket also fell to Elizabeth with another good over of bowling from her. The Thrapston run rate was slow however they were occasionally picking the gaps in the field, before Flora chased down a ball to the boundary and a spectacular piece of joint fielding from her and Kirsty led to a run out which really set Thrapston back. The next few overs no wickets fell but the bowling was accurate and Thrapston’s run rate was slow which allowed us to just have to protect the boundaries for the final few overs. Thrapston finished on 71 off their 18 overs which meant that Bowden won by 28 runs. It was a great achievement by everyone to win the league for a second year running and Bowden ladies are now unbeaten in two years.