Plympton women first to reach final of Kia Summer Smash

Winning captain Stephanie Hutchins holds the West Festival trophy aloft surrounded by her Plympton team-mates

PLYMPTON’S women cricketers are the first in the country to reach the final of the Kia Summer Smash.

The new 10-overs-a-side competition, with a national final at the Kia Oval in September, aims to inspire women across the country to take up the sport and emulate their England heroes.

This summer the car company has partnered with The Cricketer magazine to launch the Kia Summer Smash, a nationwide competition for amateur female cricket teams and players of all ages.

Plympton and arch rivals Cornwood entered the Western Festival, which was hosted at Millfield School in Somerset.

Nine teams entered the competition and Plympton emerged victorious, beating Newport in the final.

To reach the final Plympton defeated Bath, Huntley and Cornwood in the last four.

Three more regional festivals are booked for the South, North and Midlands to complete the make-up of finals day on September 20 at the Kia Oval.

The next festival is the South’s  at Wellington College, Berkshire this Sunday.

Stephanie Hutchins, the team captain, said: “It was a hectic day with so much going on there was hardly the chance to look at the scorebook.

“Most of our matches we won quite comfortably. Emily Edgcombe got a 50 in the game against Huntley and there were lots of wickets taken.

“I don’t think any of us have played anywhere like the Kia Oval before so the final is going to be a special occasion.”