CHARLTON KINGS top the Moore Allen & Innocent CDCA Women’s League table despite the team having a week of highs and lows, writes Louise Findlay-Wilson.

Last Wednesday Charlton Kings had an emphatic win over Bourton Vale after scoring 159-1. There were notable performances from Phoebe Pearce (50 retired not out), Millie Ashford (39 not out) and Sally Doughty (32 retired not out).

In response Bourton Vale scored just 16 runs in less than seven overs, thanks to strong bowling from Charlton Kings’ Seren Mackenzie (4-1), Fiona Hayward (2-2) and Isobel New (2-1).

However, the team then suffered a big loss on Sunday to Poulton. A dominant fielding and bowling performance saw Poulton bowl Charlton Kings out for just 39, when Susie Hicks Beach (3-5) and Philippa Dunn (1-1) did most of the damage. Poulton chased the runs down in just seven overs.

Langford and Slaughters faced each other twice in the week and on both occasions Langford emerged the victors.

In the first match, Langford bowled Slaughters out for 51 with the visiting team fielding tightly. Justine Morris (2-1) and Bo Potter (2-3) were the pick of the bowlers. Langford chased down the total in 12 overs.

In the return match Langford’s Justine Morris once again was the scourge of the batting line-up (3-10). Katie Bennett also put in an impressive cameo (2-4) from just one over leaving Slaughters all out in eight overs for 32. Langford lost just one wicket achieving the total.

The rapidly developing women’s league does not play its matches on a fixed day of the week. As a result, neither Dumbleton nor Cirencester played last week. With many teams, having a match in hand, the league table could well change in the weeks ahead.