Match Reports
Gunns win 2022 ECB T20 Cup National Final.
14th August 2022 - Gunns made history by being the first club ever to win the National T20 Cup for the 2nd time! It was a great day for all involved, with an outstanding batting performance topping off a successful and hard-fought campaign.
Gunns lost the toss and were put into field. On a great wicket and tiny boundaries it was tough to gain control with the ball and the oppo got away to a flyer. It looked like we may be chasing over 200 until Ruchi bowled an outstanding spell and took 2 important wickets to peg back the run rate. Gunns managed to keep Berkswell down to 184/5 with Callie, Wakers and Georgia also picking up wickets.
Cat carried on where she left off in the semi and raced to 60 including a fine opening partnership of 66 with Georgia. After 3 quick wickets, it was up to the youth and experience of Elsa and Esther to steady the ship still needing nearly 100 runs at 9 an over. They set about the chase with ease! Finishing on 46* and 42* respectively they reached the target inside 18 overs - an unbelievable achievement to become the best T20 team in the country!
This is a whole club achievement and every single person involved in the club has contributed, not just those playing on the day. So a huge thank you to all players, parents and supporters and well done to all of you! And to celebrate we want to take the opportunity while both teams are playing at home at OEs this Sunday, to celebrate the Cup win as a club following the matches. So please do stay around for a drink and to catch up with club mates.
Gunns win thriller in the ECB CUP National Semi-Final.
July 17,2022 was a proud day for Gunnersbury WCC as the girls fought hard to make it through to the ECB National Knockout Cup T20 Final against old WCSL Premier League rivals, Hursley Park.
In scorching heat, Gunns lost the toss and were sent into field, which soon backfired on Hursley Park as Ria Raval and Naomi Dattani worked in tandem to see HP struggle through the PowerPlay; Ria's movement and control causing trouble for all the batters, and Naomi's rapid pace looking threatening from her very first ball.
Strong middle overs from the Young Gunns restricted HP to 126/6 before Cat Dalton produced a top-class innings of 59 off 51 balls on quite a tricky wicket combining with Elsa Barnfather for a 77-run partnership before HP clawed back.
Needing seven an over for the last four overs, it was again down to our junior members to show maturity, coolly hitting the winning runs with two balls to spare. What a performance from the Gunns! We now play Berkswell Women in the National final at 3pm on Sunday, 14th August at Kibworth Cricket Club. A massive congratulations to the whole club for the efforts and sacrifices made to get ourselves into this position.
8 May 22: T20s - Gunns 2s (W) vs Stoke Newington; Gunns 2s (L) vs North London
It was a lovely day for our first 2's home matches at OECC this weekend. Against Stoke Newington in the morning T20, an epic batting display saw Gunns post an impressive 186/3. Congratulations to young Gunns Georgia (81) and Carissa (56) for putting on 144 for the first wicket! In reply Stoke Newington finished on 127/3 with Anja picking up 2 wickets, helping Gunns to a 59 run win.
In the second game of the day, Gunns came up against a very strong North London team. Unfortunately Gunns weren't able to replicate the same batting performance and were bowled out for 44, Georgia again top scoring on 17. North London chased our total with no wickets lost. Despite the second result, it was a really enjoyable day of cricket and well done to all who played.
15 May 22: T20s - Gunns 1s vs Bishops Stortford x2 (W/Split due rain)
The 1's got off to a positive start in the WCSL premier league, despite the wet weather!
In game 1, bowling first, Gunns restricted Bishops Stortford to 126 off their 20 overs. Opening bowlers Ria (2/5) and Sunrisers superstar Naomi (1/13) set the tone with a brilliant opening spell, supported well by Georgia, Wakers and Steph who all chipped in with wickets, plus 2 catches and a stumping for Kylie behind the stumps. In reply Gunns got off to a good start reaching 59/2 after 8 overs (Cat 27 not out) when the rain came. So Gunns won the first match on run rate! Unfortunately there was no prospect of any further play despite the best efforts of all at OEs so the points were shared in the second game.
24 Apr 22: Gunns vs Hutton (away) - 35 over, friendly - Gunns lost by 7 wickets
Firstly a big 'well done' to all who took the field for Gunns in our first match of the season, looking smart wearing our brand new playing kit! It was a great way to start the season, with a friendly against Hutton played in a brilliant spirit.
Gunns batted first and scored 94 all out, captain Emma top scoring on 24. In reply, a strong young Hutton side reached their target in 15 overs but not before we saw two debut wickets from our superstar U13 bowlers Charlotte and Nidhi! It was also great to welcome Kylie back after her knee operation in the winter, and debuts also for Gracy and Tanith who both showed lots of Gunns determination with the bat and in the field. Finally a big thanks to Teresa and Karen for helping out, and Yolanda for her double act as both umpire and scorer. A great day all round!
'Ickenham Sixes' : Finals - Gunns are champions!
12 Dec 21
Having lost the toss and been put into bat, the Gunns mixed things up, playing the Jover (Joker over! points count double) in over 2.
Both Bex and Sue cashed in with some big sixes which put good runs on the board!
Callie and Sarah were the queens of the 3, knocking the ball around nicely and only using one wicket on their last ball!
Steph played some classy shots batting at the end with Emma to finish on 305.
The Gunns performance in the field was fab and worthy of a final. Sarah was a wall, and stopped everything in her sight! Dropped catches were turned into runouts as everyone backed each other up and turned some nervous middle overs around!
Wickets were shared around the team but a mention goes to Callie for 3 wickets and Bex for keeping the pressure up in the last over to finish with 4!
Beaconsfield were fantastic opponents but couldn't catch our total, although they definitely gave us a good run for our money with some fine batting and sharp fielding.
Massive thanks to Ickenham for their fantastic organisation and spreading enthusiasm!! And a big shout out to everyone from Gunns who has played and supported, especially Anya for coming to cheer us on in the final! It’s been great fun and everyone’s played their part to bring home our first bit of silverware!
Words by Emma Bernstein
Pics/vid by Suzi James
Ickenham Indoor: Round 5 - Gunns remain unbeaten!
5 Dec 21
On a rainy winter morning, Gunns indoor 6s took on Beaconsfield in a top of the table clash.
We batted first to put a score on the board and create pressure. Bex and Sue made a great start including 2 sixes in a row from Sue who was attempting a Carlos Braithwaite in her last over! Highlights also included a 4 which Bex did amazingly well to jump out of the way of and nutmeg herself in the process. Anje and Sarah then kept it steady through the middle phase, the runs ticking over and not losing any wickets. Emma and Steph finished off the innings with some well-placed shots and we ended on a score of 318.
Steph opened the bowling with her dazzling spin. Bex kept it tight with her left-arm pace bowling. Sue took three amazing reflex catches nonchalantly whilst the rest of the team could barely see the ball, flying off the bat at such speed that Lewis Hamilton would be proud. Beaconsfield’s middle pairing piled the pressure back onto the Gunns with some brilliant batting including many sixes. We *kneeded* a wicket and Emma duly provided, the ball deflecting off her knee onto the stumps.
Some excellent fielding and good catches kept it tight, resulting in Beaconsfield being kept to a net run total of 262, and another good Gunns win.
Onwards to a repeat game against Beaconsfield in the final next week - supporters welcome!
Go Gunns!
Words from Sarah Evans
Ickenham Indoor: Round 4 - Great Gunns, piling on the runs!
28 Nov 21
On a rather chilly morning in Harefield, Gunns took on our wonderful league organisers Ickenham in our penultimate league game of this indoor tournament!
Gunns were put into bat and adopted a new approach with first pair, Sue and Bex, taking the ‘Joker’ for early double runs. We welcomed new recruit Amy Weir to join Callie for the middle pair and they ticked the run rate along nicely before Emma and Steph brought the innings to a close on 319 runs.
Our pace duo, Bex and Callie, built up good pressure from the start and a quick piece of work from Amy secured a run out early on. Emma and Sue picked up catches in the middle overs with Sue’s bionic arm plucking a top catch high above her head, and stump to stump bowling by Steph helped restrict Ickenham to 247.
Well played all, bring on next week!
Words and pic from Emma Bernstein
Ickenham Indoor: Round 3 - "Rolling back the years..."
21 Nov 21
As the dreaded lurgy raised its head again, former Gunns stalwart Hannah Stobbs was called to the colours, together with the redoubtable Kate Brown. Wembley elected to bowl and our batting was opened by Kate and Anja, who made a solid and steady start. Stobbie and Stephanie went in next and kept the score rolling forward, including a 7 that involved running 3. It was noted that Steph doesn’t run 3s outdoors! The final pair of Bex and Sue Benson really put the foot down. A combination of 4s and 6s, including the Joker over, took the score to 131 (331).
Wembley’s innings never really got going. Tight bowling at the start by Sue and Anja restricted their scoring. Stobbie provided an over, after consulting with Air Traffic Control. Bex and Steph bowled the final overs to restrict Wembley’s scoring even further. Wembley finished on 68 (268).
However, the highlight of today’s proceedings was a catch on the back wall by Stobbie, which she took at full stretch, one-handed above her head… outstanding!
Another great win; well done everyone.
Words from Steph - pic from Bex
Ickenham Indoor: Round 2 - another win for Gunns
14 Nov 21
Today, Gunns played in another fast and frantic match in the Ickenham Indoor League, this time against Actonians.
Following a 2 min silence on Remembrance Sunday, Gunns promptly lost the toss and were put into bat.
Sarah and Callie made a great start, despite some good swing bowling from Actonians. Bex and Emma knocked the ball around with some quick running, and Steph and Sue brought the innings to a close at 114.
Quick opening bowling from Callie and Bex proved difficult to keep out, and line and length proved key to Steph picking up two wickets in two balls. Tight fielding from a returning Sue was accompanied by a top catch taken by Sarah to take Gunns wicket tally to 7.
Actonians totalled 67 off their 9 overs - another fun game, bring on round 3 next week!
Words and pics from Emma Bernstein
Gunnersbury win opening indoor game
7 Nov 21
The Gunns opened their account in the Ickenham indoor competition with a win against Chesham Women‘s.
The fast indoor pace had the Gunns on their toes from Callie’s opening ball through to Ruchi’s final over. Wickets were spread around the bowlers, with Anje and Sarah keeping the runs down in the middle overs, which meant that Chesham were restricted to 48.
The batters kept their heads, not losing a wicket throughout their innings, and Steph and Emma managed to sneak 10 runs off one ball in the “Jover” (joker over) to reach 133.
A cracking start to the tournament and a thoroughly enjoyable morning!
Words and pics from Emma Bernstein
Gunns win 2024 ECB T20 Cup National Final.
18th August 2024 -
The final took place at Wormsley, without doubt one of the most beautiful grounds in England! The 1s faced Midlands-based Dorridge in the National T20 Knockout Cup final. With over 250 people watching on the grass hills, Gunns batted first on a great batting wicket and carpet of an outfield. Club legend Naomi fresh from the Hundred got us off to a great start with a classy 41, followed by an equally impressive 54* by Scottish international Chloe, ably supported by Elsa (24) and a cameo from Shae (12 off 7 balls) to help Gunns up to a strong total of 155/3. In reply, openers Ria and Shimako prevented our oppo from getting off to the flyer they needed with a very tight spell of 23/1 off the powerplay. 2 wickets a piece from Aussies Shae and Chloe helped to halt any momentum the batters could find, not to mention an unbelievable one handed catch from Wakers! Dorridge could only muster 127/5 off their 20, taking Gunns to their 3rd T20 National title since 2018. What a win!
Gunnersbury Womens CC (play-cricket.com)
The most special part of the day was the whole club coming together in yellow and green on the beautiful hill at Wormsley and willing the team on to take the win, followed by some wonderful celebrations as a group. As Kylie eloquently said in her post match speech, this really has taken a whole club effort to bring home the trophy. To have so many representatives from OEs there to support (and run the warm up!) meant a great deal, and the fact that our 2's players and others that missed out on the final 11, came along to show their support and be part of the Gunns family, shows what a special club it is. Not to mention all the friends and family to add to the clan! Special thanks to Fiona, Mark, Louise and Tom who were an all-Gunns officiating team at the 2's game, and to Paul for his scoring efforts (supported by Cam!) - what a great day.