First match against Devon washed out
Newly appointed Wildcats skipper, Abbi Aitken, called correctly at the toss and inserted the hosts on a softish green-top. Veteran Kathryn White playing her 67th game for Scotland opened the bowling Olivia Rae who was playing her 1st. Aside from the occasional leg-side delivery, which are immediately punished by the umpires, neither gave anything away and gave good intent for the season bowling a nagging off stump line giving both openers little room to manoeuvre the ball.
On the occasions when either Devon opener sought to break free from the White-Rae shackles the fielders were up to the challenged swooping on and preventing any scoring opportunities. In the sixth over Rae got the ball to pop and all Devon opener Carr could do was parry the ball into the safe gloves of Charlotte Bascombe with the score on just 9.
White and Rae continued to press and force further mistakes from the home batters but Scotland’s advantage was not pressed home as two sharp chances – to slip and point failed to stick – with less than 20 on the board. It is a truism in cricket that ‘catches win matches’ but at this level chances that are created must be taken.
The introduction of Leigh Kasperek’s off-spin in the 14th over gave Devon some respite from the Scotland openers though, in truth, both had begun to tire in their final overs. However, although both Cranstone and Harris used their feet intelligently to Kasperek their running between the wickets left a lot to be desired and both Anderson and Kasperek (off the bowling of Aitken) had run-out chances that on any other day would have seen the batters back in the pavilion.
When Wilkinson replaced Aitken in the 21st over the heavens opened and put paid to any further action save for the frantic dash for cover.
National Coach Kari Anderson was pleased with what she had seen; ‘despite only twenty overs possible today I have seen enough to know that we are going in the right direction. I am now also clearer on a couple of issues that had been outstanding before the start of the days play.’
Ordinarily that would be that for this game but Devon sportingly agreed to replay the fixture later on with a trip to Scotland in August. The second of the double-header trip south for the Wildcats takes place again at Axminster Town CC tomorrow and, thankfully, the forecast is so much more promising.
