Cricket

Durham Women's Cricket Club has secured a significant signing ahead of the inaugural season of the new county competition in 2025. England offspinning allrounder Mady Villiers has joined the club on a three-year deal, bolstering their squad with her exceptional skills and experience.Villiers, who has represented England on 20 occasions, brings a wealth of knowledge and talent to Durham. Her impressive bowling record includes 221 white-ball wickets, while her batting prowess has seen her surpass 2000 career runs with eight half-centuries. She has been a key player for Oval Invincibles in the Women's Hundred, helping them secure consecutive titles in 2021 and 2022.Villiers' move to Durham is a major coup for the club, which will become the North-East regional representatives in women's domestic cricket. She joins a talented squad under the captaincy of her England teammate, Hollie Armitage."I'm thrilled to be joining Durham ahead of the 2025 season," said Villiers. "The club's vision and the coaching staff's plans impressed me, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. It's an incredibly talented group of players, and I'm confident that moving up north is the right decision for me."Durham's Director of Cricket, Marcus North, expressed his delight at Villiers' signing. "We are thrilled to have Mady join Durham on a three-year deal," said North. "Our squad is shaping up nicely, and to recruit an England international of Mady's caliber is huge for us and the region.""Mady has consistently performed at the highest level for Sunrisers and Oval Invincibles, and we're excited to see her continue her journey with us in the North East. We believe her move to Durham will provide her with the platform to further enhance her England credentials and excel with both bat and ball."Villiers' signing is a testament to Durham's ambition and commitment to developing a competitive women's cricket team. With her experience and talent, she is expected to play a pivotal role in the club's success in the upcoming county competition.

Sunrisers' Mady Villiers celebrated her 26th birthday with a career-best bowling performance, leading her team to a three-wicket victory over Northern Diamonds at Chelmsford. Villiers' 4 for 36 and Sophie Munro's 3 for 25 restricted Diamonds to 188 for 9, despite Sterre Kalis' 36 and Katherine Fraser's 34.In reply, Grace Scrivens' 56 anchored the chase, sharing half-century partnerships with Cordelia Griffith and Jody Grewcock (40). Despite a late wobble, Sunrisers reached their target with 12 overs to spare, moving third in the standings.Diamonds, missing Lauren Winfield-Hill and Bess Heath, opted to bat first on a used pitch. Fraser provided early momentum with four boundaries, but Eva Gray dismissed her on the final ball of the powerplay. Villiers then took center stage, dismissing Hollie Armitage, Emma Marlow, and Rebecca Duckworth to leave Diamonds reeling at 97 for 4.Kalis and Beth Langston counter-attacked with a 50-run stand, but Villiers and Munro struck again to remove both batters. A stubborn ninth-wicket partnership between Maddie Ward and Katie Levick helped Diamonds reach a par score of 188.In the chase, Sunrisers lost early wickets, but Griffith and Scrivens steadied the innings with a 53-run stand. Scrivens reached her half-century with a towering six, but was dismissed shortly after. Grewcock was run out in a mix-up, and Villiers was dropped by Kalis.Fraser caused late panic with the wickets of Miller and Gray, but Lissy Macleod (23 not out) guided Sunrisers home. Diamonds' dropped catches proved costly, as they missed out on a chance to consolidate their position in the top two.

Sunrisers' Mady Villiers' spin wizardry proved too much for The Blaze as they cruised to a seven-wicket victory in a rain-shortened encounter at Chelmsford.The former England white-ball international spun her magic, claiming 3 for 18 from nine overs, as The Blaze, missing several key players, were dismissed for a paltry 87 in a game reduced to 42 overs per side.England U19 Jodi Grewcock complemented Villiers' efforts with 1 for 7 from eight overs, leaving The Blaze reeling at 52 for 6 after losing four wickets for four runs. Australian seamer Nicola Hancock then polished off the tail with 3 for 20.Sunrisers faced some early setbacks in their chase, but skipper Grace Scrivens' unbeaten 46 guided them to victory in the 21st over. Villiers fittingly sealed the win with the winning runs.The match was delayed due to overnight and morning rain, and the overcast conditions and grassy pitch favored the bowlers. Scrivens' decision to field first proved astute as The Blaze struggled to cope with the spin duo of Villiers and Grewcock.Marie Kelly, who was dropped early on, was dismissed by Hancock, while Teresa Graves fell to Kate Coppack. Daisy Mullan and Nadine de Klerk briefly threatened a fightback, but Villiers and Grewcock's introduction proved decisive.Villiers trapped de Klerk in front and bowled Mullan, while Grewcock dismissed Ella Claridge. Sarah Glenn's wicket gave Villiers her third scalp, and The Blaze's recovery hopes were dashed as Hancock and Coppack cleaned up the tail.Sunrisers, who had been bowled out for 150 in a heavy defeat to Thunder three days earlier, initially struggled in their chase. Ariana Dowse was dismissed by Grace Ballinger, and Cordelia Griffith was run out in a mix-up with Scrivens.However, Scrivens and Grewcock steadied the ship with a 40-run stand, and although Grewcock departed before the end, Sunrisers cruised to victory, with Villiers hitting the winning runs.