On Sunday, the historic Wheel Eliza ground in St Austell played host to a fantastic celebration of girls’ cricket as five Under-13s teams came together for an action-packed festival of fun, skill, and sportsmanship.

In a round-robin league format, teams from St Austell, St Stephen, Wadebridge, Stithians, and a combined St Gluvias/Falmouth side competed in a fast-paced version of the game: six-a-side pairs cricket, with six overs per side. Each bowler delivered one over, and batting pairs facing two overs—keeping the action dynamic and engaging throughout the day.

This energetic format has grown in popularity over the past two years, capturing the imagination of young female players and driving increased participation across the county. The rise in club involvement and player numbers is a positive sign for the continued development of the female game in Cornwall.

Among the standout stories from the day:
St Stephen brought a team of Dynamos girls, playing two years above their age group in the U13 category. Their enthusiasm and commitment are a clear indicator of exciting potential ahead, especially in the upcoming U11 festivals.

Stithians returned to the Wheel Eliza festival for a second year and showcased some brilliant cricket to win the tournament. Coaches Lacey and Nathan praised their group for inspiring success across the club—including a senior women’s team that now sits second in the league and has reached the West Cup final.

Wadebridge demonstrated their trademark discipline with the ball, taking a festival-high 19 wickets. Their consistent development of female cricket pathways continues to set a high standard in the county.

St Gluvias and Falmouth joined forces to field a strong side that achieved two impressive victories. St Gluvias, previous U13 festival winners, are eyeing entry into the Women’s Softball League in 2026, while Falmouth continues to grow its women’s cricket offer through well-attended Friday evening sessions, and also entering to a festival at the end of the year. 

St Austell, the hosts, showed the remarkable progress of their girls’ section—growing from just four softball players to a thriving group of 12 hardball cricketers in the space of 2 yers. A mix of U11 and U13 players made up their team, playing with great energy and cohesion.

The event highlighted not just the talent on display, but also the community spirit and commitment that underpin the game’s growth. Festival organiser and Cornwall Cricket Boards Women and Girls Lead Nick Matthews offered a huge thanks to the volunteers, coaches, managers, and parents who make girls' cricket possible. “We understand that all clubs are exceptionally lucky to have all the volunteers they do, however, always looking to increase this number with the ever increasing number of roles and responsibilities within clubs. We recognise and appreciate all our coaches, managers, parents and general volunteers who come together to provide the pathways for our Women and Girls sections to happen in Cornwall. The hours and commitment they put in is incredible. We will continue to work with clubs and support more volunteers into the game to help grow and expand where we can, providing more opportunities, games and coaches for our women and girls sections. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who are currently in these roles”

For more information about Women and Girls Cricket, please contact: Nick Mathews, [email protected].

Cornwall Cricket Board remains committed to fostering opportunities for individuals aged 5 and above to engage with cricket across the county. As the official governing body for cricket in Cornwall, the Board is dedicated to promoting a love for the sport among players of all ages and backgrounds.