Ava Lee takes 9-2

Southern Vipers Academy off-spinner Ava Lee returned astonishing figures of 7.3-5-2-9, the best figures in senior women’s cricket since 1962, against Thunder Academy in a Regional Academy Friendly match at the Bamford Fieldhouse Cricket Club in Rochdale.

Thunder Academy made good progress after Southern Vipers Academy won the toss and opted to field as openers TN Kesteven (26) and G Hemsted (32) put up 64 for the opening stand.

But once Kesteven fell, Thunder collapsed in spectacular fashion, losing 10 wickets for 16 runs in 14.1 overs. The star of this collapse was Vipers off-spinner Ava Lee, who took the first eight wickets of the innings. MSL Taylor ended her streak by dismissing Thunder No.10 H Snape, but Lee got the final wicket to finish with 7.3-5-2-9.

Barring the openers, only two other Thunder batters were able to score, though there were 14 extras (including five penalties).

Lee registered one of the best figures in any recorded senior women’s cricket, and the best since Rosemary White’s famous 10-0 against Wallington Women against Beaconsfield Women. Beaconsfield were bowled out for five that day – a total that included four byes.

These do not include age-group cricket. At that level, Jincy George is the only known bowler to have taken all 10 wickets in an innings – and is the only one with better figures than Lee’s 9-2.

Vipers were 226-6 at stumps on day one after AEM Norgrove (76) and ML Sturge (69) added 155 for the opening stand. Lee is yet to bat.

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