PHOTO:
Pictured are Tasker Milward School’s U13 girls’ cricket team, which represented Pembrokeshire recently at the Lady Taverners U13 Welsh finals in Cardiff.

Tasker Milward School’s under-13s girls’ cricket team has been congratulated for reaching the semi-finals of Lady Taverners U13 Girls Indoor Cricket competition in Wales.
 
The team won four out of their five matches played at the SSE Swalec Glamorgan indoor centre and were praised for their attitude as well as their fantastic cricketing skills.
 

High praise for girls’ efforts

 
Coach Craig Butland said: “The girls have represented the County exceptionally well, and they are all a credit to their school after such a marvellous day. Da iawn, girls!”
 
Cricket Development Officer for Pembrokeshire, Martin Jones, added: “This was a tremendous result for the Taskers team and well deserved.”
 
The squad was made up of Maisey Davies and Tilly Field (joint captains), Niamh Smith, Erin Davies, Millie Tamilia, Gracie Morris, Evie Charles, Shannon Rees (all year 7), Ffion Scriven, and Millie Arnold (year 8).
 

Getting off to a good start

 
The first match was against Newtown High School where a brilliant batting display from openers Maisey Davies - a Welsh international - and Evie Charles, got the team off to a flying start and allowed for wickets in hand for the later overs.  The game ended on a tie (87 each) and as Tasker Milward lost the fewer wickets, they were awarded the game.
 
After a break, the second game of the pool saw the team play Abertillery Comprehensive. Tasker Milward kept their counterparts restricted to a score of 76, after wickets for change bowlers Millie Tamilia and Ffion. In reply, openers Maisey and Evie again got off to a flyer and once Maisey had to retire, Tilly came to the crease and the runs kept coming. Again with wickets in hand the school ended up 93-4 off their allocated 10 overs.
 

Keeping up the good work

 
The third game against Monmouth Comprehensive saw the girls continuing to bat well, finishing up on 93 again. As Monmouth Comp tried to chase the score they were restricted to just 63 as tight bowling and good fielding saw Millie Tamilia catch a couple of their players out in quick succession.
 
A ‘friendly’ fourth game against a school from Pool B was followed by a semi-final match against Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaff. The winner would face highly anticipated favourites Radyr Comp in the final.
 

Just missing out on a final place

 
The semi-final got off to a slow start, which saw opener Maisey bat the whole innings as the tight bowling from Glantaff restricted the Tasker Milward innings, but was boosted by a superb cameo from Tilly and they finished on 66. Having no pressure the girls went out to bowl and field just as they had for the previous four games and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. However, Glantaff were an experienced indoor league side and passed the score in the seventh over with only two wickets down and a couple retiring.
 
“After a brilliant day the girls ended up third overall and had a fantastic day out!” said Craig Butland. “Each game the team had two changes to it, as I tried to allow everyone to play at least two to three games, and it was just fantastic to see the girls enjoying themselves, having fun and playing so well.”