Report: Bears v Cricket Wales, Women’s T20 - Match One
Bears Women tasted their first defeat since 2019 after falling 11 runs short against Cricket Wales in their opening Vitality T20 fixture.
With Captain Marie Kelly sidelined through injury, Georgia Davis stood-in and chose to bowl first after winning the toss. Cricket Wales reached 125/5, with Gabby Basketter top scoring on 46.
When the Bears came in to bat, they lost early wickets through Isabelle Wong on 10, Bethan Ellis on two and Thea Brookes on five.
Ria Fackrell and Christina Gough started to create a partnership by getting three boundaries (two fours, one six), before Fackrell was bowled out by Lauren Parfitt and Gough closely followed after being bowled out by Claire Nicholas.
Bears Women struggled to find the rhythm and it wasn’t until the bottom end of the order who found a comeback.
Laura Smitten and Liz Russell, both struck five boundaries between them gave the Bears a glimmer of hope.
However, Cricket Wales carried on restricting Bears through their bowling and tight fielding.
Soon Russell was caught out by Alexandra Griffiths, after trying for a boundary off Georgia Hennessey’s bowl, which left Churms and Smitten to carry on the fight, eventually coming 11 runs shy.