Girl power fuelled Mersham Sports 2nds when Katie Jordan taught the men a lesson in her first league match.

The Highworth Grammar School pupil, who turns 16 next month, had only ever played three friendlies for the Ashford villagers after taking up the game last year.

But she had a league debut to remember, bowling Mersham to a 21-run Kent Regional League 2A East victory over Old Williamsonians on Saturday.

She finished with stunning figures of 4-19, including three in her first spell, before returning to take the wicket of opposition top scorer Stephen Murray (33), stumped by Stephen Darlington, to win the match.

Not bad for a girl who only started playing colts cricket a year ago.

She is already on the Kent girls radar but after finding out she was two weeks too old to play for the under-15s, she now plans to trial for the under-17s next year.

She said: “I only knew I was playing on Friday, so it all happened quickly. All my
team-mates were pleased and supportive.

“I played softball cricket at school but only played my first game for Mersham under-15s last June.”

Skipper Geoffrey Fagg added: “Katie bowls medium swing off a six or seven pace run-up.
“I brought her on first change but had to take her off due England and Wales Cricket Board directives.

“I then brought her back and three balls later she won the game.

“She’s a wonderful kid, talented, and not scared of the ball, walking in confidently every time.”

Away from cricket, Katie is busy revising for her GCSEs, sitting her first – biology – earlier this week, the first of 23 papers – either side of the half-term break later this month.