Bramwell and Malamed Shine as Ladies Leave Stalybridge in the Soft-Dust

It turns out you don’t need hard leather to inflict a bruising defeat. Our Ladies 1st XI hit the road to Stalybridge and returned as conquering heroes, dismantling the hosts with a performance so clinical it should have come with a medical degree. We finished our 16 overs on a sturdy 102-7, setting a target that Stalybridge found about as comfortable as a pair of two-sizes-too-small cricket whites. The batting effort was anchored by the incomparable Emma Bramwell, whose 27 runs were worth their weight in gold—or at least worth a very large gin and tonic at the pavilion. She found the gaps with the precision of a master surgeon, ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking while the opposition fielders were left chasing shadows. When it was Stalybridge’s turn to reply, Holly Malamed decided she wasn’t in a sharing mood. Tearing through the line-up like a whirlwind in a gift shop, Holly’s 3-24 left the hosts reeling at 67-9. It was a bowling masterclass that proved pace and placement beat optimistic swiping every day of the week. A fantastic victory for the girls, who remain the undisputed queens of the DCCL Division 2. Rumour has it Stalybridge are still looking for the ball; we suggest they check the boundary ropes.