Bedfordshire Ladies cricket team to play in men’s county league in ground-breaking development

The ladies’ home ground will be Pavenham CC in Oakley Road, Pavenham, and will play their first match on Sunday, May 11, away to Bedford Cricket Club IIs.

Chairman of the Bedfordshire County Cricket League Andy Watts said: “By allowing the ladies into our league competition, they will have the opportunity to develop their skills by playing competitive match cricket.

“We wish the team good luck and hope they enjoy their time in the BCCL Development Division.”

Bedfordshire Ladies’ achievements to date include winning the T20 competition twice in three years and regularly playing friendlies against teams that are four divisions above them and winning all bar one game.

Captain Katie Metcalfe said: “Bedfordshire Ladies are very pleased with the decision of the Bedfordshire County Cricket League Committee to allow the Ladies to enter the Sunday Development League.

“The league has shown a lot of support and the ladies are looking forward to a competitive year.”

The Bedfordshire squad will be made up of Wendy Bedeau (Queens Park), Chloe Dagless (Biggleswade), Laura Charter (Biggleswade), Claire Goldsmith (Langford), Emily Jackson (Harrold), Karen Bowyer (Kempston), Beth Healey (Bedford), Anisa Kayani (Luton), Natasha Bawa (Kempston), Paula Rastrick (Langford), Metcalfe (Kempston), Angella Bartlett (Kempston) and Amie Nicholls (Marston).

Meanwhile, Bedfordshire Cricket Limited’s chief executive Martin Darlow hailed it as a big move forward for women’s cricket.

He added: “This is a massive step forward for the profile and competitiveness of women’s cricket in the county.

“In terms of a county women’s team playing in a men’s league, it is certainly a first for Bedfordshire and as far as we are aware a first for the country.”