University of Exeter Women’s Cricket reach final at Lords

However, they then started to fight back and a Player of the Match innings from Aylish Cranstone, 50 from 85 balls, started to rebuild the innings and get Exeter back in the game. She was well supported by firstly Fi Morris (20) and then Lissie MacLeod (33) who both fell when looking well set just as Exeter were starting to gain control. Other useful contributions came after the dismissal of Cranstone, including a partnership of 35 between Freya Davies (15) and Becca Silk (23 not out). This battling effort allowed Exeter to post a competitive 186 – 7 off their 50 overs, a score which was certainly deemed defendable if things went their way.

In reply, Loughborough got off to a flyer, with their international experience shining through in a few quick and breezy opening partnerships. After Freya Davies got an early breakthrough, wickets were then difficult to come about until Captain Bryony Butcher managed to take another just before Loughborough reached the hundred mark.

Exeter refused to give up however, and another wicket fell courtesy of an outstanding piece of fielding from Silk, who was also responsible for getting a key wicket with the ball. Freya Davies then returned to pick up another wicket and was harshly denied a second the following ball. Loughborough passed their target with 5 wickets remaining.

Considering the strength of the opposition, this was a superb performance from Exeter, who made an extremely strong Loughborough side work all the way to the end to secure their victory.

This Silver medal for the University of Exeter Ladies Cricket Club, is a fantastic way to follow up their Indoor Gold medal they picked up earlier in the year. They convincingly beat Loughborough and the holders of the indoor competition Cardiff Met, to pick up their Gold Medals.

Trevor Griffin, Exeter’s coach was understandably very happy with the way his team played, “2015 has been a terrific season for the Team, not least as it resulted in indoor gold and outdoor silver medals to show for their hard work.

As ever, lots of challenges were faced during the year, with exams affecting availability and opposition teams in the early rounds of the competition not always providing the tough games that help with preparation. To end the year with a final at Lords against the strongest MCCU in the country and compete at this high level is testament to everyone’s effort. Progress can be demonstrated in no better way than the compliment paid to the team by Loughborough MCCU in the final, when they chose to select their strongest possible team for the match, featuring 7 full England internationals (5 of which on central ECB contracts), 2 England Academy players and an England development under-19 player.

As coach I am immensely proud to have worked with the team, and am grateful for their hard work and progress this year – as players they should all be proud of their accomplishments and have some great memories of all the team achieved.”

Julian Wyatt, Director of Cricket travelled with the team and was extremely proud of the players, “They can be extremely proud of their final performance against a very strong Loughborough side that included fully capped England internationals. Hopefully the day will have inspired those remaining to continue rising to the challenge that Loughborough continue to present”.

For more information about the Student Cricket Programme at the University of Exeter, as well as Cricket Scholarships please contact Julian Wyatt, Director of Cricket, J.g.wyatt@exeter.ac.uk or visit the website for more information. 

About the University of Exeter

The University of Exeter is a Russell Group university that combines world-class research with very high levels of student satisfaction. Exeter has over 19,000 students and is ranked 7th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide league table, 10th in The Complete University Guide and 9th in the Guardian University Guide 2015. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), the University ranked 16th nationally, with 98% of its research rated as being of international quality. Exeter was The Sunday Times University of the Year 2012-13.

The University has invested strategically to deliver more than £350 million worth of new facilities across its campuses in the last few years; including landmark new student services centres - the Forum in Exeter and The Exchange on the Penryn Campus in Cornwall, together with world-class new facilities for Biosciences, the Business School and the Environment and Sustainability Institute. There are plans for further investment between now and 2016.