CRICKET: Smith shines in county success

From the Oxford Mail, first published Saturday 2nd Jun 2007.

Oxfordshire Under 13 girls made the most of a short break in the rain to defeat Isle of Wight by 43 runs at The Recreation Ground in Newport.

Asked to bat first, Oxfordshire sprinted to 30 in four overs before losing openers Elspeth Walker (run out) and Rose Beck (bowled) in quick succession.

The innings never regained that initial momentum, but the remaining batters - with some help from the extras column - saw the visitors finish on a respectable 113 all out after 26 of the allotted 30 overs.

The Isle of Wight reply got off to a quiet start with tight bowling from captain Walker and early wickets for Linsey Smith, who removed both openers.

Rhian Todd then took two wickets, crucially removing impressive all-rounder and captain Alex Barton, who fell to a fine tumbling catch from wicket-keeper Abi Currie.

That proved to be the turning point of the match, and Oxon gently turned the screw.

Smith mopped up the tail, claiming wickets with her final two balls to leave herself on a hat-trick in her next match.

Archive Home