Girls make King’s cricketing history

On Thursday, 22 May 2025, a squad of twelve girls made King’s cricketing history as they played the school’s first ever all-girls hardball match. 

Held at The King’s School, the girls took the historic match in their stride as they stepped out against a team from The Grange School Cheshire, who were also making their school’s hardball debut, in the U13s Cheshire Cup.

Director of Sport, Richard Lunn, was incredibly proud of the girls who won the match after posting an impressive first innings score. 

He said: “What a match! Captain Lucy Graham hit 50, and Flo Davies 37 not out.

“The Grange batted bravely in their innings, but our bowling line-up performed brilliantly, with six different bowlers taking wickets. Evan Watkins also showed great skill in her debut behind the stumps.

“The girls – and I –  are now looking forward to their next game in the County semi-final.”

Director of Cricket, Mark Baker, added his congratulations to the girls and reflected on the growth of the girls game at King’s in recent years. 

He said: “I am delighted that our first ever all-girls hardball match ended in victory for this enthusiastic and talented team. 

“Girls’ cricket at King’s has grown hugely in popularity over the last couple of years. Today’s match was a natural next step in the development of the sport in school and I am really excited for the future.”

This week alone, King’s has hosted two exciting cricket festivals, giving girls from schools around the region an opportunity to play against each other, develop their skills and enjoy some friendly competition. In addition, King’s girls are competing in Cheshire softball cricket tournaments at U13 and U15 level this summer, as well as entering an U13 team in a hardball sixes competition held at Wrekin College.

Mr Baker continues: “We have girls at all levels in school who act as fantastic role models to their peers. These are girls who regularly play prominent roles in our boys’ hardball cricket teams, as well as playing for their clubs and county. 

“We are also, of course, lucky at King’s to have a brilliant role model in former pupil Kate Coppack (OKS 2012) who has had a brilliant career and currently plays First Class cricket for Essex. This is such an inspiration to our girls who aspire to follow in her footsteps on the cricket pitch.”

The history-making match ended in victory for King’s at 114-48. The full squad consisted of:

1. Eleri Bartley
2. Imogen Carway
3. Florence Davies
4. Ellory Dean (Vice-Capt)
5. Sophia Jenkins
6. Lucy Graham (Capt)
7. Purdey Hamer
8. Tilly Kitchen
9. Imogen Lowry
10. Emily Singleton
11. Evan Watkins (W)
12. Farah Younis