THE first ever Ladies versus Girls fixture at Chard Cricket Club saw the Girls bat bravely to claim the Shrubsole Cup.

The Ladies got off to a flyer, as Fran Griffiths and Julie Saxby tore into the youngsters’ pace attack, but wickets from Zoe Hunt and Freya Hibbard pegged the Ladies back.

The ship was steadied by Chloe and Becky Grinter, and some late order hitting from Marie Handel and Rachel Derham took the Ladies’ score to an impressive 271.

The Girls had a rocky start in reply, as Addie Douglass claimed a triple-wicket over thanks to some excellent catches from Vicky James.

But impressive partnerships between Holly Griffiths and Emily Handel, then Phoebe Grinter and Daisy Russell, brought the Girls within reach of the target.

Late wickets from Linda Driscoll and Rachel Derham nearly derailed the Girls’ charge, but it was left to young Marcie Russell and captain Zoe Hunt to steer them to victory.

It was a superb effort from both teams, with Vicky James and Phoebe Grinter taking the individual awards, in a thoroughly entertaining match which proved a fitting finale to a fantastic season for both the Ladies and Girls at Chard CC.