Wildcats A today suffered a defeat at the hands of a Laura Jackson inspired Cumbria. The Lancashire squad player bowled an exceptional spell of inswing medium pace to have the ‘cats reeling at the idyllic setting of Kirby Stephen CC.
Alisa Lister with the bat and gloves, Lois Wilkinson and Abtaha Maqsood with the ball showed some fight for Scots as they lost by 5 wickets in the ECB County Championship encounter that was overseen by stand in head coach Gordy Allan and assisted by Stormers head coach Iain Stewart.
Scotland ‘A’ batted first on a firm looking wicket, but did look to offer some help to the bowlers, as did the over head conditions, which where initial cooler before warming up. The swing of Jackson saw the Wildcats A slump to 21 for 5, all clean bowled by the brisk in duckers of the Sedbergh School startlet.
A run out broke the cycle, with young Gala opener Charis Scott falling victim to a sharp through by Pai. At 39 for 8 it was ex-Huntly and now Stoneywood-Dyce ‘keeper/bat, 15 year old Alisa Lister, who led a gritty and determined fight back. She was ably supported by Abtaha Maqsood and Caitlin Ormiston as she ended top scorer on 21 (2x4s) as the Wildcats scrapped to 73 all out in 28.1 overs. Jackson ended on 10 overs 5 maidens 9 runs 7 wickets.
After the break, a fired up ‘cats line up needed early wickets and to keep it tight. Wilkinson got Hutchison clean bowled with a big turning off break getting through the gate to make it 10-1.
Liz Priddle, a familiar face to the Scots, built a partnership with Pai and took the score to 48 as three catches went down. The ground fielding was sharp and a couple of near run out chances were created but it took captain Wilkinson to make the breakthrough with Pai (LBW) and White (caught & bowled) falling to give the Scots a chance come the 11th over.
Priddle upped the ante and played some fine shots and it was not until the introduction of Maqsood with four required that she fell clean bowled to an absolute beauty of a delivery. 70 for 4 became 70 for 5 when Maqsood cleaned up Blindsen.
A boundary ended hopes of anymore wickets and the ‘cats were defeated by 5 wickets. Next up is Northumberland away this coming Sunday when head coach Steve Knox returns to the helm.
