Girls’ U18s in hard-fought win

August 5, 2026

SUFFOLK Girls’ Under-18s beat Leicestershire & Rutland by 38 runs in ECB Girls’ U18 County One Day Cup at Loughborough Town CC.

The hosts, who won the toss and elected to field, were soon rewarded for fielding first when Amelie Pettitt fell lbw to Salena Afzaal for 1 in the second over.

Alexa Melton came in at No. 3 and built a 28-run partnership before she was bowled by Ellie Rowley for eight.

Megan Haynes joined Anderson and the pair took the Suffolk total to 60 when Haynes was bowled for six by Imaan Effendi.

Captain Callie Bradbury came in at No.5 and, alongside Charlottee Anderson, staged somewhat of a comeback, adding 44 runs until in the 21st over Anderson (pictured above) was out, bowled for 63 off 68 balls by Hannah Toyne to leave Suffolk 104 for 4.

Alice Nickell was in next and hit a run-a-ball 19 before Toyne struck again. Suffolk lost two more quick wickets and Leicestershire & Rutland appeared very much in the driving seat with Suffolk 165 for 7 at the end of the 29th over.

However, Bradbury, alongside Izzy Gebhard, had other ideas as a partnership of 105 off just 81 balls turned the game back in Suffolk’s favour.

Gebhard eventually fell for 36, caught by Imaan Effendi off the bowling of Afzaal.

Lilia Cook and Bradbury took the Suffolk score to 287 before Bradbury was finally out for a magnificent run-a-ball 106. Cook was joined for the final wicket by Imogen Grove.

The pair added a further 18 runs before Cook was out, stumped by Faye Stanley off the bowling of Izzy Fisher, for 17 as Suffolk finished 305 all out off 49.2 overs.

Nickell made a great start with the ball, taking two wickets in two balls for Suffolk. Afzaal was the first victim caught by Cook for 3, then Toyne was bowled for 0.

Izzy Fisher and Elise Williamson set about reviving the Leicestershire & Rutland innings with a 143-run partnership as the Suffolk attack toiled in the heat.

Bradbury finally made the crucial breakthrough taking the wicket of Williamson, lbw for 61. Leicestershire & Rutland had recovered from 12 for 2 to 160 for 3 by the end of the 26th over and over half-way to their target with seven wickets still in hand.

Melton, with the final ball of the 29th over, got the other prize wicket of opener Izzy Fisher, caught and bowled for 80. Then the returning Nickell took the wicket of Imaan Effendi for 15. Leicestershire & Rutland were now 205 for 5 off 35 overs and the game was very much in the balance.

Erin Berry returned to the attack alongside Pettitt and bowled Faye Stanley for 22, with Pettitt striking in the very next over, snaring Kate Dunk lbw for 10. Leicestershire & Rutland now required 71 to win with 11 overs remaining.

Pettitt removed Sophie Lawrence for eight thanks to the safe hands of Alice Nickell, and when Abigail Tragen was run out three balls later for a single, the game was almost up for Leicestershire & Rutland, needing 48 with just one wicket remaining.

Melton finished off the innings by bowling Ellie Rowley for 24 to complete a hard-fought Suffolk victory in the blazing heat.

 

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