Suffolk Girls’ U18s finish on a high

August 13, 2025

SUFFOLK Girls’ U18s concluded their ECB Group 6 T20 campaign by securing the double over Lincolnshire U18s.

The home team won the first game by 33 runs before recording an emphatic nine-wicket win in the second match.

Suffolk won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening game at Ipswich School on Monday.

Callie Bradbury and Bea Nickell opened the batting and this new-look opening partnership got Suffolk off to solid start, getting to 56 before Nickell fell lbw for 24 to Rubie Slater-Rowley in the eighth over.

Bradbury was joined by Adithi Thayur, putting on a further 11 runs before Thayur was bowled, once again the wicket taker was Slater-Rowley.

Captain Megan Haynes joined Bradbury, adding 17 runs to the total before being bowled by Holly Vaughan leaving Suffolk 84 for 3 in the 14th over.

Henrietta Croot joined Bradbury and the pair accelerated the run rate, adding 35 runs before Croot was dismissed for 19, out lbw to Millie Townend in the 19th over.

Imogen Groves joined Bradbury and the pair pushed the total to 139 off the 20 overs. Bradbury finished top-scorer with 63 not out.

Lincolnshire got off to a flying start in their chase of 140 to win, posting 52 for 0 off their first five overs. Their rapid progress was halted by a smart bowling change by captain Haynes. Ismene Johnson took two wickets in her first over and then Alice Nickell matched Johnson with two wickets in her first over too, reducing Lincolnshire to 59 for 4.

Lincolnshire batters kept the pressure on Suffolk, chasing the target set and got themselves to 91 before Daisy Ditcham struck with her first wicket of the day in the 11th over before Johnson picked up her third wicket, leaving Lincolnshire 96 for 6.

Captain Haynes then made a further bowling change, bringing on Bradbury to bowl off spin and Groves from the other end. Once again, the bowling change by Haynes brought results with Bradbury taking two wickets  in her second over, Groves following suit with a wicket in her second over before Bradbury wrapped up the Lincolnshire innings, taking the final wicket to reduce Lincolnshire to 106 all out off 17.1 overs

Pick of the Suffolk bowlers were Johnson (4 overs, 23 runs, 3 wickets) and Bradbury (2.1 overs, 6 runs, 3 wickets).

Lincolnshire won the toss and elected to bat first in the second game.

Given the way the Lincolnshire openers started in the opening game, coach Johan de Silva and captain Haynes decided to open the bowling with Callie Bradbury and Imogen Groves. The plan seemed to work as Lincolnshire were restricted to 30 off their first five overs.

Haynes then brought on Daisy Ditcham and Erin Berry, with Ditcham taking two wickets in her first over to remove both openers and Berry taking two further wickets in her second over to reduce Lincolnshire to 39 for 4.

Berry added a third wicket in the tenth over before Haynes turned to Ismene Johnson and Alice Nickell: Johnson responded by taking a caught & bowled off her first ball. Nickell tore through the Lincolnshire lower-order, taking two wickets both bowled, and was ably supported by Adithi Thayur, who also picked up a wicket as Lincolnshire were all out for 75 off 18.2 overs.

Pick of the Suffolk bowlers were Berry (3 overs, 8 runs, 3 wickets) and A Nickell (3.2 overs, 13 runs, 3 wickets).

Callie Bradbury and Bea Nickell again opened the batting with Suffolk chasing 76 to win. The pair hit 40 off the first five overs before Nickell was run out at the non-striker’s end for 15.

Bradbury was, once again, joined by Adithi Thayur with Bradbury finishing 30 not out and Thayur 14 not out as they successfully chased down the target to complete a nine-wicket win.

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