Kelly and Co drop T20 hint for Bears
AS SKIPPER of county cricket T20 pace-setters Birmingham Bears, Marie Kelly would reasonably expect to play a role in the inaugural Kia Women’s Cricket Super League this month.
Instead the 20-year-old and her county have been overlooked – but she demonstrated exactly what the tournament would be missing on Sunday.
In a fine day for the women’s game in England, more than 2,500 people saw the 20-year-old hit 46 as the Bears beat Lancashire in a T20 double header with the men’s team at Edgbaston on Sunday.
Kelly and Anna Lanning (83no) helped the hosts post a total of 157-3, before England international Jenny Gunn grabbed 2-17 as Lancashire were restricted to 126-8.
The Bears are now one win away from the title, and Kelly admitted she was keen to show the ECB what the county could do following their Super League snub.
“I have not had any interest; I was put forward and was extremely disappointed not to get it because I felt I could contribute,” said the allrounder.“And we were also gutted we didn’t get a Super League franchise.
“During this match, at the back of my mind was showing that we did deserve a Super League franchise and we would have put on a good show.
“We had a lot of the girls that we coach performing the guard of honour, it’s about showing them what women’s cricket is about and the level they can aspire to get to.”
Loughborough Lightning – who open the tournament against Yorkshire Diamonds on July 30 – are the sole representatives of the Midlands and one of six franchises that will participate in the WCSL.
And while Kelly hasn’t given up on a future franchise coming to Birmingham, she’s set her more immediate sights on a county T20 and one-day cup double.
“If the WCSL teams get good crowds in, I am sure they will expand and after the way we have performed we would hope to be one of the first ones chosen,” she added.
“We need one more win; hopefully we can get that then move on to the one-day stuff. I think we have to be ambitious, we have got to try and do the double.”