FRENCHAY made a flying start in WEPL’s new Women’s Premier Division, overwhelming local rivals Golden Hill by eight wickets.
All eight sides taking part in the ground-breaking competition were in action on the weekend. And Frenchay could not have played much better to get their campaign off to a perfect launch after losing the toss.
Golden Hill were assured in the early overs thanks to openers Prarthana Reddy (25) and Beatrix Willis (18) and were building nicely at 54-1.
But captain Rachel Le Poidevin and Emily Austen began to turn the screw and kept the pressure on, both returning 4-13 as the visitors’ innings fell away to 76 all out.
Frenchay, in reply, lost an early wicket but opener Ellie Donaldson remained composed and helped guide her side to the points with an unbeaten 36 from 48, Isobel Patel hitting 14 and Liv Daniels unbeaten on 15 as victory was secured in the 15th over.
Dumbleton, meanwhile, were bowled out for 121 at home to Bath, Katie Jones top scoring on 50 from 41 while Issy Huggett was unbeaten on 25.
But the total proved well within range for an experienced Bath line-up which got over the line in the 14th over.
The next round of matches is on June 11 when Golden Hill host Dumbleton and Frenchay travel to Taunton Deane.
Frenchay, meanwhile, romped past Briton Ferry Steel by ten wickets to reach the group quarter-finals of the ECB Girls U19 Club T20.
The Welsh side were pegged back to 108-4 on home soil after winning the toss, Tilly Forsyth taking 2-18 from three.
And openers Jemima Smith (59) and Ellie Donaldson (38) then saw their side over the line with more than five overs to spare.
Frenchay will next be home to Abergavenny or Dumbleton.
Main image, left to right: Left to right: Kannan Jagannathan, Frenchay captain Rachel Le Poidevan, Golden Hill captain Emma Hunter and Simon Parsons