King’s Claim Seven-Wicket Victory in Historic Fixture

King’s Girls’ 1st XI made history as they welcomed the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) for their first-ever fixture against the prestigious club – and what an incredible day of cricket it proved to be.

The MCC elected to bat first on a sunny afternoon, and King’s got off to the perfect start. Opening bowler Sophie S-G set the tone with a maiden over to begin the match, immediately applying pressure on the visiting side. Captain Tilly C followed up with a tight spell of her own, maintaining the early pressure.

King’s were sharp in the field, cutting off angles and restricting boundaries. The breakthrough came in the 8th over thanks to a sharp piece of fielding from Grace J-V, who executed a brilliant run out to remove one of the MCC’s openers. Spinner Effie S-T continued to apply pressure and was rewarded with a well-earned wicket shortly after.

Despite King’s disciplined bowling, the MCC began to rebuild through one of their powerful all-rounders, who constructed a composed partnership with the remaining opener. But King’s stuck to their task – Charlotte B claimed the prized wicket of the MCC opener on 49 with a superb caught and bowled. Tilly C returned in the 28th over to take another wicket, before Eva T produced another run out in the 29th – a testament to King’s excellent work in the field. The MCC closed on 176 for 5 from their allotted 30 overs.

In reply, King’s began brightly, rotating the strike well and managing the run rate effectively. The MCC bowlers came hard, generating impressive pace and bounce, including a maiden in the second over that tested King’s top order. Captain Tilly C was dismissed early in the third over, bringing Grace J-V to join Bryony at the crease.

Together, the pair steadied the ship and built a well-constructed partnership, cleverly using the pace on the ball to work singles and dispatching loose deliveries to the boundary. Grace eventually departed for 20 in the 10th over, but not before helping lay a solid platform.

Phoebe B entered and kept the scoreboard ticking, combining quick running between the wickets with some confident strokes. A pivotal 13th over saw King’s collect 18 runs, shifting the momentum in their favour. Phoebe was eventually dismissed for a valuable 16 in the 17th over, but with Bryony still at the crease and growing in confidence, King’s remained in control.

Sophie S-G joined Bryony and the pair saw the game through with composure. Bryony was in sublime form, reaching a magnificent unbeaten *102, capped off with a six from the final ball of the day to seal the win. King’s chased down the target in just 20.1 overs, finishing on 178 for 3 and claiming a memorable seven-wicket victory.

This fixture marked a significant milestone for King’s cricket, and both teams showcased excellent sportsmanship and skill throughout the day. Special mention must go to Hermione P, who received the Spirit of Cricket Award from the MCC. Called upon unexpectedly when teammate Florence was struck by cramp mid-over, Hermione stepped in calmly, delivering two dot balls to finish the over and then returned later with a composed spell – a testament to her adaptability and character.

The match was not only a celebration of cricketing excellence but also a valuable learning experience for the King’s squad as the girls 1st XI head into the quarter-finals of the National Schools Cup next week.

We wish the girls every success for the rest of the season – and reflect proudly on a day that will live long in the memory.