Burgess Hill girls reach national final at Lord’s after remarkable cup run

The Sussex side arrived at the Home of Cricket having already overcome the odds throughout the competition. To reach the final they successfully navigated nine rounds, travelling away from home in every match and bowling first on every occasion.

Although Duffield eventually claimed a 16-run victory, Burgess Hill left Lord's as one of the leading U13 girls' teams in England, having showcased the strength of a rapidly growing girls' cricket programme that continues to thrive across Sussex.

For many of the players, simply walking on to the famous Lord's outfield was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Having travelled to London together the day before, sharing team activities, meals and the build-up to the biggest match of their cricketing lives, the final became the culmination of a journey that began months earlier.

Played in front of a large travelling support from both clubs, the match proved a fitting occasion. Families, friends and supporters travelled from Sussex and Derbyshire to create a fantastic atmosphere, with the game itself remaining finely balanced until the closing overs.

Burgess Hill made the perfect start after being asked to field first. Jess Parker struck in the opening over to remove Darcey Yellott before Violet Bassett claimed two quick wickets to leave Duffield 29-3.

However, Duffield responded superbly through Charlotte Newsome, whose unbeaten 52 proved the match-winning innings, and captain Autumn Beavan, who contributed 39.

Burgess Hill continued to fight. One of the key moments of the innings came when Cora Saunders broke the important Newsome-Beavan partnership with a clever slower ball, while Neve Felton added a smart catch as Hill maintained pressure.

The bowling display from the Sussex side was particularly impressive. In a National Final played at Lord's, Burgess Hill conceded just three wides and no no-balls across the entire innings, forcing Duffield to work hard for virtually every run.

Clever field placements and disciplined bowling also restricted the dangerous Newsome to facing only 11 of the final 30 balls of the innings as Burgess Hill limited Duffield to 126-5.

At the interval, there was genuine belief the target was within reach.

Openers Cora Saunders and Neve Felton took Burgess Hill to 49 without loss. Saunders made 22 and Felton contributed 20 before Duffield fought back with three wickets in three overs to reduce Hill to 57-3.

Momentum swung again when Evie Peskett and Orlaith Jarvis combined in an excellent partnership. Jarvis struck a fluent 24 from just 17 balls, while Peskett played with composure and intelligence as Burgess Hill recovered to 93-3.

Even after Jarvis's dismissal, the target remained well within reach. The decisive spell came from Autumn Beavan and Eva Benstead, whose accuracy and discipline built pressure and restricted scoring opportunities.

The turning point arrived in the 18th over. Peskett was caught after an excellent innings of 20, before sharp fielding led to the run out of Violet Bassett. A second run out later in the over completed a dramatic passage of play that swung the contest in Duffield's favour.

Burgess Hill were dismissed for 110, the first time they had been bowled out during their entire National Cup campaign.

The scorebook cannot fully capture how competitive the contest was. Momentum shifted repeatedly throughout the match and neither side managed to establish complete control until the closing overs.

Duffield are worthy national champions who demonstrated resilience after their early setbacks and composure under pressure.

For Burgess Hill, however, the achievement remains extraordinary.

Every member of the squad played a part in a campaign that saw the club reach the biggest match in its girls' cricket history. Along the way they overcame nine consecutive away ties, represented Sussex with distinction and earned the right to compete on the most famous stage in world cricket.

The travelling support remained positive and warmly applauded the players as they collected their runners-up medals in front of the Lord's Pavilion, recognising not only their efforts in the final but the remarkable journey that had brought them there.

Perhaps the most important legacy of this achievement is what it says about the future of girls' cricket at Burgess Hill Cricket Club.

The club's girls' and women's sections continue to grow year on year, providing opportunities for players of all ages and abilities to learn, develop and enjoy the game. This National Cup run has already inspired younger players within the club and Burgess Hill hopes it will encourage even more girls and families across Sussex to pick up a bat and ball and get involved.

For a group of players who began the summer simply looking forward to another season together, finishing as national runners-up at Lord's represents an achievement that will live long in the history of Burgess Hill Cricket Club.

One footnote – all 18 players involved across both squads in the U13 Girls National Final attend state schools. Given the historic perception of cricket, this was a wonderful reflection of how much the girls' game has grown and how opportunities are now available to young players from all backgrounds.

National runners-up. Lord's finalists. Nine away victories. A remarkable team, a remarkable journey and a club with every reason to be proud

The club remains committed to developing players, creating opportunities and ensuring every girl has the chance to enjoy cricket in a supportive, inclusive and ambitious environment. Contact Rob Gaunt, head of Woman’s & Girls Cricket at BHCC, on [email protected] to get involved.