After nearly 12 months of meetings, planning and training, the fledging North Hill Ladies team joint venture between Noth Middlesex CC and Primrose Hill finally took the field for their first game of cricket.

The joint venture has the aim of giving both North Middlesex CC and Primrose Hill CC's girls the opportunity to play quality cricket once junior age-group cricket finishes at 15 years old. Both clubs are committed to establishing a team, and in time a second team, for and run by the women that play within it.

Captained by 'Lulu' Gaya Gole, the team arrived at Ickenham CC, currently top of Middlesex County League's Division One, excited to get started.

Lulu started well by winning the toss and choosing to bat on a pitch which looked like it had bags of runs. Openers Saskia Horley and Zarminee Raja got North Hill off to a steady start and quickly had to get to grips with a pitch which the bounce from one end barely got above ankle height.

A decent partnership between Lucy and Saskia took North Hill to 76 off twelve overs before the wicket of Saskia sparked a collapse to 94 for 6. The innings was steadied by Anisha who again took the game to Ickenham. Eventually all out for 142 with a number falling foul of the low bounce and the hope that we could extract the same in the second innings.

The second innings started well with Paloma and Lulu opening the bowling for North Hill. A moment of real quality removed their opener early on with Lulu taking a diving catch off her own bowling. Paloma bowled really tightly, but by now the pitch was playing much more true.

The innings progressed slowly and at halfway drinks the talk was of what might be a really good finish. Some really good work from Hana at long off saw one of their key batters run out but that wasn't enough to get North Hill over the line. The difference in the end was an inning of 39 off 55 from their No.3 which allowed them the anchor to score around and claim a four-wicket win.

In summary, a really good and very competitive first game. Loads of quality cricket on show and hopefully the start of a new chapter for the girls and women of both clubs.