New Milton's Charlotte Taylor caps Southern Brave debut with a wicket

NEW Milton’s Charlotte Taylor made it a debut to remember with a superb wicket after making her Southern Brave debut in the nationwide 100-ball cricket tournament The Hundred.

The wicket helped her side to an eight-wicket win over Welsh Fire to maintain their perfect start to the inaugural competition after a 23-run win over Trent Rockets last Saturday.

Taylor’s wicket was a vital one, ending Welsh Fire skipper Sophie Luff’s innings after eight runs. Luff hit a boundary while aggressively stepping down the pitch looking to reignite her side’s innings, but two balls later, she was on her way.

Taylor punished Luff’s aggressiveness. After spotting her advancing down the pitch, she delivered a slightly wider ball that the Welsh Fire skipper missed allowing keeper Carla Rudd to whip off the bails in a flash.

Taylor had been struggling until that point, and the stumping was her first dot ball.

The former Arnewood School pupil, who started her cricket journey with New Milton Cricket Club, has been a revelation since she started playing for the Southern Vipers last year.

After only making the team as a late injury replacement, she ended the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy competition as the leading wicket-taker, with 15, despite playing only in half of the tournament.

The 27-year-old spin bowler has become a leading all-rounder for Hampshire women after a cruciate ligament almost ended her career.