Lives in Cricket No 49 - Enid Bakewell

5 Introduction During the summer of 2015, MCC Women played against a Felsted School Combination Eleven. The report says the Felsted Combination XI needed a strong start, but the early loss of Berkshire’s Carla Rudd during an impressive spell from the School’s Kieri Samaranayake was a blow. Nevertheless, at 41 for two off 11 overs, a target of a further 114 off 14 overs was tough but still possible. Then Enid Bakewell got to work. Bowling slow left arm with impressive flight, two wickets followed in her first over as several of the School’s girls found themselves beaten by Enid’s guile. Some hushed conversations were overheard on the boundary’s edge as several returning batsmen expressed surprise at the slowness and loop of the bowling – to which of course could be added ‘straightness’. A third wicket followed with a smart catch by Beth Wild at point, and although there were some late flurries from Felsted’s captain for the day Salliann Briggs, and Beth Absolon of Suffolk, who finished with an impressive unbeaten 44 off 46 balls (including ten boundaries), MCC eased to a 40-run victory as the School closed on 114 for eight. An enjoyable afternoon’s cricket, but no doubt who the star turn of the day was (in my opinion anyway). Pausing to thank the officials, Enid reminded us of her age before making her way to the changing room. Well played indeed – if I’m still scoring after 50-plus years in the game (let alone playing) then I’ll be more than happy. Enid Bakewell at this time was 74, and had set records in the 1960s, playing for England Women between 1968 and 1982. Apart from this game, she is at the time of writing still playing occasionally for Purley Women.