So the season finally got underway, firstly with the ability to start to train and then eventually to matches. I still remember sitting at home trying to work out how 20 girls were going to fit into pair sessions on a Friday evening. Of course i was delighted that 20+ girls were super keen to return to cricket, but the logistics of fitting in everyone and give them enough time was rather taxing. Thankfully, I have a great team of coaches. I think I ended giving people 25 minutes each and the overall sessions went from 5-9pm. It was quite dark by the end!! Luckily groups soon went to 6 and we managed to finish by 8.30pm.

We decided not to enter into a mini league this year, but push ourselves with training and friendlies. I've no doubt that this was the right decision as the girls are a team on the up and this was an ideal time to test them. Oh boy did it all work out in the end.

We are a squad rather than a team and I have no issues in playing the younger girls up. Infact, you'll see from the matches that we pushed the girls against older and top teams throughout our 7 fixtures.

We have a standing fixture against Gerrards Cross boys U14s and this kicked off our season. GX batted first and made 137. In reply we made 111. Emma B on debut took two wickets. Amelia retired on 31 and Youie scored 20 not out.

Our second game was away to Dinton U15 boys. The game was played on a full adult square. Dinton scored 118 and we scored a very creditable 103. Gurleen took 2 wickets and Youie scored 39 not out (our top score of the season).

Holmer Green U14 boys were up next. Due to other commitments we only had 2 players who would normally play this game. A team largely made up of U12 girls restricted Holmer Green to 119. Such good bowling and fielding. Alice took 2 wickets. Unfortunately, their bowling was way to strong for our young team, but we managed to get to 58.

Next up was the girls U15 cup semi final. We weren't at full strength and again our young guns stepped up. Beaconsfield had several full county players, but were no match for our girls. We batted first and after a shaky start where we lost 2 wickets we settled down and Emma P (22) and Sophia (29) put on a great partnership of 53, before Emily (20 not out) and Gurleen took us up to an amazing 132. Beaconsfield never really got going. Tight bowling from Emma B (2 wickets) and one of the most amazing performances of the season from Jesal with 2 overs of leg spin in which she took 3 wickets for 4 runs, including 2 wickets in 2 balls of 2 county U15 girls!! All this with Jesal being just 8 years old. The final score was 79 all out. We had made it to the final - amazing stuff!

We managed to get our revenge on Dinton when we played their girls U15 team. Dinton made a respectable 96 from their 20 overs. We then lost 3 wickets for 11 runs. Enter Sophia and Caitlin. Both U14s, but actually the oldest playing in this game for Chenies, so the pressure was on. Well they didn't let anyone down, walking off 85 runs later to high fives from their team mates.

With friendlies done we have another tradition at the end of our season where we play an intra game. I match up teams as evenly as I can and then we play pairs barrington rules. It's great fun and we gave 20 girls a game. Team Emily batted first and scored 134. Team Amelia was on track but lost a few wickets at the end meaning the game went to the last ball. Sophia on strike with 4 runs for a draw. The ball was bowled and Sophia hit her first 6 to win the game by one run. Amazing finish.

The intra game was on the Friday night and then the Sunday was the first ever Bucks Girls U15 cup final. There is a separate blog on this with the full commentary, so all I need to say is that the girls delivered a complete team performance. To beat a super strong Stony Stratford team full of county players by 16 runs was the pinnacle of an amazing half season. We are now in possession of the trophy as pictured below with myself and skipper, Amelia.

I said at the beginning that this year was about pushing the boundaries. I knew the girls would step up and they've done it all the way. From freezing cold training shifts finishing at 9pm to a glorious sunny cup final. I couldn't be prouder of this group of girls and next season, look out ....... we will only get better!

I can't write this blog without thanking my team. Julie has scored and kept Bucks happy. I often look over at her with her layers on. She's cold but delighted with the way her dream of getting girls cricket at Chenies on the map, is going. Anna has sent millions of messages and is my ever present sounding board. I couldn't do this without these ladies.

Coaching over the long Friday sessions has been team work. Tom has taken on a lot of the sessions and been assisted by Shan. Both have worked on technique and made the sessions fun. This year I also wanted to get the senior girls coaching too. Amelia has run several early sessions for me and towards the end Youie was running wicket keeper training and Emily was also coaching.

So the season finishes on a massive high. I really hope cricket can be played next season. There is a huge passion amongst this group for it and I have no doubt that will continue. Thank you to the parents who have been so supportive this season. It can't happen without you.

It's great being the coach of the county champions!

Nick