Durham’s girls prove up to test in play-off
Howzat for glory as county squad seals promotion
DURHAM won their promotion decider against Oxfordshire by 85 runs - and earned the right to play Division Two cricket next season in the ECB Women’s County Championship.
Durham’s spinners were clinical in the second innings to lead the team to a dominant victory in their play-off clash at Bicester and North Oxford Cricket Club.
Rachel Petherick was imperious with the ball to claim figures of 2-9 off 60 balls, while Helen Fenby contributed another four wickets (4-47).
Durham lost the toss and were asked to bat first.
Despite a slow start at 26-2 from ten overs, they managed to recover Rachel Hopkins stepping in to boost the score with 35.
Ami Campbell was ruthless with the bat at No 6 to add 46 to Durham’s total and became the highest-scoring batter in the game.
At the loss of a fourth wicket, Laura Ellison continued the good work with 35, including striking four boundaries, as Durham ended on 210 all out in 49 overs.
When Oxfordshire batted, Fenby made a quick breakthrough in the fourth over, having opening batter Genny Porter well caught by Campbell.
Durham restricted Oxfordshire to 32-3 in their first 15 overs.
The hosts’ runs began to dry up after Durham’s early surge as Durham’s fine fielding continued with two catches for Hopkins and another for Campbell.
The visitors’ spinners dominated the game with impressive figures for Fenby (4-47), Petherick (2-9), Hayley Falla (2-32) and Ellison (2-6) restricting the opposition to 123 all out in 44.4 overs.
Durham and Worcestershire will replace Derbyshire and Northamptonshire in Division Two next season.
Campbell, who ended the game with the highest batting score and two catches, said: “It is a great feeling to have done what I was meant to be doing at No 5.
“We lost two early wickets and the pressure was on to build a partnership halfway through.”
She added: “Our top four bowlers were unbelievable.
“We can thank them for this win as well because it would have been tight if we had been a little bit rocky on the bowling but we were not - we were spot on all the time.
“We need a higher standard and to improve we need to learn.
“It will be really good for us a team to train that little bit harder and push ourselves that little bit further.
“We deserve to be in Division Two so I am really, really happy.”
Fenby said: “This win means a lot because we are back in Division Two where we should have been this season - playing against a lot better opposition - and I hope it is going to be a good season next year.”
Durham Women’s head coach Paul Carrick said: “I am really thrilled for the girls.
“They have worked hard, they have tried hard, they have put into practice what we have tried to get across to them and it has worked for us.
“The girls will now be playing the standard I believe they all deserve to be at and they are keen to test themselves at that higher level.”