Charlotte top-scores on Suffolk Women’s debut
April 30, 2025SUFFOLK Women defeated Ipswich School by 37 runs in a T20 friendly on Saturday.
Opener Charlotte Anderson, one of four full debutants in the Suffolk side, top-scored with an undefeated 40 off 60 deliveries in her side’s 149 for 4 after they batted first.
Ipswich School closed their 20 overs on 112 for 8, with Evie Booker top-scoring with 40 from 29 balls with six fours.
She was one of six players in the Ipswich School side who have represented Suffolk at age group or Women’s level, along with Imogen Bennett, Megan Haynes, Laila Hollis, Ella Morgan and Molly Talbot.
Following an uncontested toss, it was agreed Suffolk would bat first, meaning Anderson was straight into action while fellow full debutants Imogen Hill, Amelia Mahoney and Zaynah Rehman had to wait to get on the field. Zaynah Rehman, Imogen Hill and Amelia Mahoney are pictured above.
Opening the innings with Anderson was Jess Board, the two highlighting the strength and depth of the 2025 squad with an age difference of over 15 years.
Board was dismissed by Haynes in the fifth over with the score on 30, before going on to take the wickets of Immy Sidhu and Hill in the same over.
With the score now 31 for 3 and not yet out of the power play, a rebuild was necessary for Suffolk as Ipswich School started to put the pressure on.
New batter Rehman joined Anderson at the crease and the two steadied the ship, before an injury retirement saw Rehman replaced at the crease by Sophie Hughes.
The latter’s batting epitomised the free flowing and risk-taking style most would associate with modern T20 cricket. Supported ably by Anderson’s ramp shot switch hit for four, the two put on a spectacle for the assembled spectators at the ground.
Hughes’ dismissal in the 17th over left Suffolk on top going into the final few overs. The incoming Liv Hyndman’s three subsequent boundaries meant Suffolk finished the innings on 149 for 4, with Anderson carrying her bat throughout.
Amber Bradnam claimed the first wicket to fall with the total on 14 in the fourth over. A wicket maiden in the fifth for Lauren Swinburne put Suffolk right on top as the powerplay ended with Ipswich School 15 for 2 after six overs.
The incoming Booker and Hollis then compiled a 54-run stand, before debutant Hill removed Hollis with the final delivery of her spell in the 12th over.
That left Ipswich School 69 for 3 and needing to more than double their score in the last eight overs to challenge Suffolk’s total. Suffolk’s bowlers continued to threaten the bat, as Hill, Hughes and Lara Neild all had aerial shots pass closely by fielders but not to hand.
With four overs left in the game and wickets required, on came Poppy Sidhu to ensure a comfortable win for Suffolk. Her excellent figures of 3 for 6 removed the threatening Booker at a crucial moment and ensured the tail could not score freely as she bowled a tight line and length.
Supported ably by her sister Immy’s 2 for 5 from the other end, Suffolk ended the game with Ipswich School eight wickets down and 37 runs shy of the imposing Suffolk target.
Lara Neild, the Suffolk Women’s captain, said: “It was a strong performance from the side which sets us in good stead ahead of our upcoming T20 cup and league fixtures.”
Suffolk Women will be away in two weekends’ time to either Devon or Dorset in their first round of the new national knockout ECB T20 Cup competition.
Tags: Amelia Mahoney, Charlotte Anderson, Imogen Hill, Ipswich School, T20 friendly, Zaynah Rehman
Categorised in: Suffolk Women