Crows Coyotes make strong start to Berkshire softball title defence

CROWS Coyotes made a great start towards their defence of the ‘Berkshire Women’s Softball League’ title.

The first of the four-way West Berks tournaments took place under a hot sun and in an idyllic setting. The Coyotes put on an excellent team performance to beat Binfield, Warfield, and the hosts West Ilsley.

In the Binfield match there was particularly sharp batting by Gabi Jones (scoring 20) and Gillian Finucane (13).

Best bowling stats went to Helena Jones (2-4) and Gill O’Loughlin (2-7).

In the Warfield match the dynamic opening pair of Gabi Jones and Lou Roberts scored an impressive 38 runs off their 18 balls.

Then the fielding innings ended with three powerful wickets off the last three balls from Gillian Finucane (bowled, run-out, caught).

In the final game, against West Ilsley, top batting stats belonged to Gill O’Loughlin (18), Lily Mansfield (18) and Gabi Jones (17); and in the field Lily Mansfield bowled 2-9 and Lou Roberts 1-6.

All 10 squad members were pivotal to the success of the day, with positive attitudes and boundless energy throughout.

The Coyotes played in their Super 8’s third double header hosted by Binfield CC on Sunday.

With everything to play for, having won two and lost two, they were fully charged to face their hosts Binfield CC and East & West Hendred.

Binfield (293-3) beat Crowthorne & Crown Wood (226-7)

The Crows lost the toss and were sent in to bat against sharp bowling that the hosts were confident would keep the run rate down.

Attacking fielding left Crowthorne with little wriggle room and, although Jones, with the highest runs, gave the Coyotes hope it was not enough to present a challenge. Restricted to 226-7 in the innings, unfortunately the valiant attempts from skipper Finucane with a wicket and maiden over and two further wickets from Roberts the Crows’ women’s push for survival was a stretch too far.

East & West Hendred (278-1) beat Crowthorne & Crown Wood (269-6)

Winning the toss, a revived Crows team batted first and started positively with H.

Jones and G. O’Loughlin pairing up to run 11 off 16 balls.

The Crows women then defended until Pobjoy and Blake stepped up to give the team a much needed boost.

O’Loughlin and Finucane walked up for the last four overs; a partnership that secured a further 27 runs for the team to finish on a respectable 269-6.

The fielding innings saw the Coyotes push hard to keep the run rate down.

Maiden overs from Nair, Jones and Finucane and a first league wicket from Pobjoy took the Coyotes on a winning trajectory, only to be sent off course by the final batting pair, one of whom tidied up with 30 runs for the narrow win.