The sun shone at last for Kent and Hampshire on Saturday 11th September at Hatherley & Reddings CC, Gloucestershire, for the Under 15 girls National Finals. While Hampshire Captain, Hannah Timmins won the toss and chose to bat, this suited Kent who, had they won, would have fielded first anyway.

On a warm but quite windy day, Kent got off to a tight start with opening bowlers Grace Gibbs and Charlotte Pape and Hampshire were restricted to 8 for 1when opener Childs was clean bowled by Pape in the 4th. Gibbs and Pape continued to tie the batters down but the Hampshire 2 and 3 started to build a partnership.

Kent continued to find wickets hard to come by when left hander Tash Farrant replaced Gibbs and Olivia Price came on after Pape. However after a mix up with their calling in the 17th over which left both batters in the middle and with a clear call to ‘bowlers’ by Kent, a straight forward throw from Emma Waters went to Farrant who took off the bails to run out Ransley for 11. Hampshire were now on 45-2.

Price, who was struggling with illness, had to come off after 2 overs and was replaced by spinner Waters. It was clear that the number 4, Ingram, was going to go after the bowlers, but despite 3 good shots off her first 3 balls, (good fielding preventing any runs), Waters 4th ball spun round her legs and bowled her off stump for 0, Hampshire 45-3 in the 18th. Farrant then took an incredible forward diving catch off her own bowling to dismiss Harper and then clean bowled Captain Timmins for 0 in the same over leaving Hampshire 53-5 in the 19th.

With partners running out, Attrill got to 28 before she stepped too far forward (lifting her heel) and a tidy piece of wicket keeping by Katherine Long sent her back to the pavilion (stumped off the bowling of Waters) but to a great round of applause from both sets of supporters. With Hampshire now on 59-6, Farrant soon struck again with Long, catching F. Barber behind.  Hampshire then lost 2 wickets in the same over, the first a straight forward catch by Olivia Barber off Waters, then a high one handed catch for a caught and bowled by Waters herself,

With Farrent bowled out, Philippa Skelton-Hook came on to bowl and with Waters looking for her 5th wicket, she had 4 chances in her 5th over but Skelton-Hook denied her by finishing it off, bowling Lynch with the score on 70 all out in 27 overs. Kent helped the Hampshire score with 18 extras and while the best of the bowlers (regarding wickets) were Waters (5 overs, 2 maidens, 7 runs and 4 wickets) and Farrant (6 overs, 22 runs and 3 wickets), all the bowlers were economical and bowled well putting the Hampshire batters under pressure from the start.

Everyone thought Kent were on top at this point but having been involved in some very close low scoring matches over the past 2 years, nothing was guaranteed. After all Hampshire were no slouches with the ball as they proved in the semi finals, dismissing Devon for 88.

Because of the short first innings, it was decided by the ECB representative that Kent would bat 10 overs of their innings before the tea interval. After a 15 minute break, Kent openers Long and Emma Marsh walked out to bat. Sadly Marsh was soon returning after getting caught off a leading edge facing her first ball and after Long was clean bowled by one that kept low in the 4th, Kent were on 14-2.
Pape was also dismissed in the first 10 over spell, a second catch for Childs but Gibbs and Skelton-Hook stayed till the tea break when Kent were on 28-3.

After tea, Kent had to start again but despite playing well prior to the break, Gibbs was trapped LBW first ball before she could settle. Wickets continued to fall with partnerships never reaching double figures. Farrant gave Childs her third catch and with Lottie Bryan also caught Kent were 41-6 in the 16th. With Kent needing 30 runs and Hampshire needing 4 wickets, Kent were behind the Hampshire score at the same point, but with lots of overs in hand they just needed to stay out there.

Luckily Skelton-Hook did and though not scoring quickly, she was making the most of the bad balls and accepting the extras being gifted by the Hampshire bowlers in their efforts to take wickets. After putting on 10 with Olivia Barber (before she was caught in the 21st ) and 6 with Kayleigh Roscoe (who hit a 4 off a no ball before also being caught in the 21st), Skelton-Hook was down to her last 2 partners and they still needed 14 to win. 

With number 11 Price still feeling ill, Waters came to join Skelton-Hook at the crease. They dug in and saw Kent home, with Skelton-Hook deservingly hitting her 4th boundary to finish on 20 not out and get the winning runs. Kent finished on 71 for 8 off 24.2 overs, with the extras top scoring on 24.  Wickets were pretty much shared out by the Hampshire bowlers, but Ransley had the best figures (7 overs, 4 maidens, 7 runs and 2 wickets).

Hampshire celebrated their appearance at the finals with bubbly but Kent had to wait for someone to go to the shop to buy some to celebrate their victory!
The under 15’s were soon joined in their celebrations by the under 13’s who had beaten Lancashire at the clubs other ground, a few minutes away. Frantic phone updates by parents with daughters in both teams kept us informed of the progress of the under 17’s and a great cheer went up when we heard they had also won, making it the first time all three competitions had been won by Kent.

While the stars of the show will always be the girls, who have shown a growing maturity in both their cricketing skills and team spirit this year, under the captaincy of Grace Gibbs, we must not forget the people who work behind the scenes.

Coach Nick Bier has supported, cajoled, sometimes felt like tearing his hair out and has been so nervous at times, even he’s been lost for words. Behind every good coach is a good manager and Dagmar Healey has worked tirelessly behind the scenes, organising, communicating, scoring and on 2 occasions doing the teas as well. Thanks also to Brooklands CC and Sevenoaks School for the use of their pitches for our home matches.

Finally a word for the parents who between them have a few more grey hairs, shorter finger nails and lighter purses, but who cares it was all worth it! I think I can speak for us all, we are so proud of the girls and are looking forward to next year. Go Kent!!