Women progressing in T20 format

July 2, 2026

COACH Johan de Silva feels Suffolk Women should be able to push strongly in T20 cricket next season.

Suffolk finished second this year to Dorset in their Vitality Blast Women’s League 3 Division 2A campaign.

Dorset, who won both matches, were the only side to defeat Suffolk, who won five and tied one of their other six matches. Suffolk came third last season, after recording four wins and four losses.

De Silva declared that he was ‘very pleased’ with his side’s efforts in the format this season and said they are progressing well.

“The team have developed really well and are playing an exciting brand of cricket, and should be able to push strongly in the same campaign next year.

“I’m super excited by the talent we have and they were led really well by captain Maddy Reynolds on the field.

“Our cricket maturity and the hours put in over the Winter are showing, as well as new players added to the squad and the existing development of talent from within our CAG Girls’ Pathway.

“Credit here goes to the coaches working in that space who are doing brilliant things,” said de Silva.

He picked out the performance in the first match at home to Cambridgeshire as the highlight of the season, Suffolk winning by three runs despite Bella Howarth’s undefeated 64 off 52 deliveries.

“That was a brilliant team performance to fight back from a slower start and defend a low score despite a superb innings from Bella Howarth in reply,” he said.

So far as individual performances were concerned, de Silva selected Sophie Hughes (pictured above) for her 17 wickets and Amelie Clarke’s 72 off 49 balls against Cricket East at Ipswich School.

Evie Booker also impressed with her new ball bowling, Immy Sidhu got among the runs and de Silva felt the team’s general wicket-keeping and fielding was tidy.

And he was pleased with newcomers Alice Brand, who joined from Norfolk, and Analise Merritt, who both produced strong performances when they played.

The icing on the cake was the opportunity for the team to play a T20 match versus Cambridgeshire, which Suffolk won by eight wickets, at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground in Chelmsford last month.

The initiative was the idea of Essex Cricket Chief Executive Dan Feist, who wants to develop closer links with the neighbouring counties.

“It was great to play at a first-class venue and develop their understanding on those grounds and with those facilities.

“It was a brilliant day out and big thank you to Essex for hosting us for a special day for a lot of the players and their families,” said de Silva.

Suffolk Women now turn their attentions towards their Metro Bank One-Day Cup – League 3 campaign, starting away to Northumberland on Sunday, July 12th.

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