Wanderers win West of England title for third year running

Bath Wanderers 1st XI have secured the West of England Premier Cricket League Women’s Premier Division championship for the third year running.

Bath Wanderers won their third successive league title when they prevailed here at Frenchay | Photo © Richard Briggs

The unbeaten city side recorded the expected victory over lowly Frenchay 1st XI on Sunday 24th August to win the title with one match to go. But the South Gloucestershire outfit certainly did not make life easy.

The Wanderers – champions in 2023 and 2024 – emerged 48-run victors, although Frenchay defied the form book by dismissing the visitors and getting close to 200 in the chase.

Asked to bat, Bath lost two wickets in the 30s. But opener Katie Dolman (33) and Maddie White restored order with a third-wicket stand worth 50.

White (28) went on to add 53 for the fourth wicket with captain Charlotte Phillips, who finished as top-scoring batter with 55 off 51 balls. Phillips, who was fifth out, struck nine fours.

However, the leading contributor was extras – 70, including 45 wides – and the Wanderers were removed for 240 in 37.1 overs.

Frenchay’s Emily Austen claimed 5-44 in 7.1 overs, her victims including tail-enders Connie Osborn, Jenni Hargreaves and Katie Shields as Bath slipped from 234-7.

And the Wanderers really had a battle on their hands as the home side recovered from 2-1 in response to reach 72-1. Then two wickets from Shields and one for Dolman had Frenchay reeling at 78-4.

The home side crashed to 139-8 but a ninth-wicket stand of 45 frustrated the Wanderers.

When last batter Nina Clegg was bowled by Phillips, Frenchay were all out for 192 in 39.2 overs and the Wanderers could celebrate their title treble.

Opener Sindhu Rani made 41 but there were 52 extras.

Lily Day was Bath’s bowling star, capturing 4-20 in eight overs.

The Wanderers’ final league game will see them travel to Hatherley & Reddings 1st XI, based near Cheltenham, on Sunday 31st August.