Women's cricket reach BUCS final

Cricketers at Leeds Met are celebrating further success with the women's side reaching the BUCS Championship final for the third successive year whilst the men have reached  the semi final stage.

The women faced Exeter in their quarter final match at Kirkstall and having won the toss, chose to put the visitors in to bat.  The decision proved to be the right one as Leeds Met took three crucial early wickets including that of the Exeter captain.  Exeter were bowled out for 99 in 32.5 overs with Kate Harvey the pick of the bowlers taking 4-25 in her eight overs.  Jess Scothern and Holly Richardson also took two wickets apiece to put Leeds Met in a strong position.

The home side reached their modest target fairly comfortably for the loss of four wickets with a crucial 50 partnership between Sarah Rigg and Jackie Hilton with Rigg top scoring with 26.  The side will now face Loughborough in the BUCS Championship final on June 16 in Sheffield, where they'll be hoping to avenge last year's final defeat.

The men's 1st XI faced Loughborough 3rd XI in their quarter final BUCS Championship match and chose to put the Midlands side in to bat.  Loughborough were bowled out for 154 in 48 overs with Ian Fisher and James Taylor doing the damage with the ball.  Fisher took 4-28 from nine overs whilst Taylor recorded figures of 3-13 from seven overs.

In reply Leeds Met reached the victory target in 21 overs for the loss of only two wickets.  Pat Roberts top scored with 50 non out whilst Charlie Swallow scored 41 not out.  The side will now travel to Loughborough to face the 1st XI on June 9 for a place in the BUCS Championship final.  Oxford and UWIC will play in the other semi final.

Speaking after both of the side's victories, cricket coach Andy Siddall said: "It was a business like performance from the men, we were expected to win and needed to make sure that we didn't slip up.  For the women they are focusing on achieving the goals they set themselves in October in winning the Championship final."