Thanawala Leads the Way for Women's and Girls Foxes

The 2021 campaign for the Leicestershire County Cricket Club Women’s and Girls contingent got underway at the end of April with the first fixtures being played against Lincolnshire Cricket Board.

Both teams picked up a win and a defeat, meaning four points apiece were earned from the opening day of the T20 competition. Bennett led the way with the bat, posting 31 not out in the first game, whist Paramjothy and Weston both picked up two wickets each in the second fixture, for five and nine runs respectively.

Lincolnshire were able to field their full quota of Lightning players, whereas the Foxes weren’t due to injuries sustained.

The Derbyshire Cricket Foundation fixtures were weather affected leaving both teams earning a point each from each fixture, with fixtures against Nottinghamshire Cricket following.

The Foxes fell to close-knit defeats in both ties, however, impressive showings by Davison (2-7 from 2), Weston (2-14 from 4) and Harman (4-10 from 4) with the ball, and Ballinger (29no, 53b) and Harman (27, 41b) with the bat shined a light on the performances.

Fixtures against Shropshire Cricket Board have since taken place with both teams, as per the fixture against Lincolnshire CB, picking up a victory and a defeat.

Progress is also being made in the Under 18s side, as batting figures of 36 for Bennett, 33 not out for Marson and 31 for Vaseeharan, alongside bowling figures of 3 for 13 from Dickerson helped the Foxes to an emphatic victory over Lincolnshire CB.

Prisha Thanawala is leading the way as we make our way to the younger age groups, after posting a supreme knock of 104 not out from 100 balls against Derbyshire Cricket Board to help the Foxes on their way to victory.

Thanawala also took the catch of Derbyshire’s opening batter, Parkin, to dismiss her for 88 “ a crucial moment in the first innings.

Andy Hibberd, Senior Club Network Officer for Leicestershire CCC said: “It was without doubt the best performance I have seen since starting my Girls county age group coaching career 9 years ago.

“The girls showed amazing character fielding first to restrict Derbyshire to 189 when a score of 230 looked on the cards. Derbyshire had a very good player who scored a brilliant 88 but we dismissed her with an outstanding one-handed catch “ one of the best I have seen by Prisha Thanawala.”

Hibberd continued: “The chase was extra special, chasing down 189 in the penultimate over. A sublime 100 from Prisha [Thanawala] led the way which was brilliantly supported by Isla [Williamson].

“It was the first time a player has scored a 100 whilst I have been coaching Girls county age group, so it’s fair to say I was absolutely bursting with pride. I think the debrief was a blubbering mess to be honest!

“Prisha [Thanawala] had an outstanding day but it was a truly fantastic team performance which helped secure the win.”

On the special knock, Thanawala said: “I was inspired by the women’s ODI World Cup competition in 2017 and have been playing for the county since 2018.

“It was amazing to reach the milestone of 100 runs, and I will look to progress from this in the remaining fixtures."

All the Leicestershire Women's and Girls fixtures and results can be found HERE.