Edinburgh South/Stewart’s Melville and Royal High Corstorphine share the lead after Round Three of the 2019 Women’s Premier Division. With 22 points each after two wins and a loss so far, the capital-based teams hold a two-point advantage over McCrea FS West of Scotland Women, who, in their first season of competitive cricket, stand unbeaten with two wins out of two in third.
The opening match of the season saw the West triumph over ES/SM at Inverleith after an impressive all-round performance from Neyma Shaikh. After contributing 34 to her side’s total of 178 for 3, an innings which also featured an excellent knock from Neha Mahatma (64 not out), the all-rounder took 4 for 9 from five overs to seal a 21-run victory. A six-wicket win over Carlton the following week cemented what has been an excellent start to the season from the newcomers, who will go into this weekend’s fixture against George Watson’s College in confident mood.
ES/SM recovered from their early setback to see off both GWC and Watsonians Women in their next two matches. A magnificent innings of 102 from fourteen-year-old Kathryn Fraser was the foundation of their 99-run win over GWC, while Catherine Holland followed up her unbeaten half-century with 2 for 10 as Watsonians were beaten by a 93 run margin.
Kitty Levenson has been the star of the show for RHC. After opening her account with an unbeaten 154 in the 186-run win over Stirling County, Levenson carried her bat for 59 not out as the Edinburgh team secured its second win of the campaign last weekend. With the top two due to play this weekend (Sunday 26th May), all eyes will be on what promises to be a fascinating encounter.
Carlton, so long a dominant force in Scottish women’s cricket, got their first win on the board last weekend thanks to a five-wicket win over Dumfries and Galloway Women, while 3 for 10 from Megan Taylor and 2 for 9 from Eagles bowler Phoebe Beal saw GWC open its account with a nine-run win over RHC on May 12th. One of Dumfries and Galloway and Stirling County will claim their first win of the season this weekend as they go head-to-head in Dumfries, while Watsonians also look for a change of fortune at home to Carlton. It is the potential changes at the top of the table which are most intriguing, however. With four rounds to go and three teams still very much in the race for the title, the climax of the league season on June 23rd promises to be the most exciting one yet.
