With the competition standing at one win apiece from the previous two annual meetings, this year's cricket match between Chatsworth Ladies and the WRAC Lionesses was always going to be keenly contested, as our Lionesses team captain Elaine Smith reports.

As well as celebrating Armed Forces weekend, the Chatsworth Ladies are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, so it was a double celebration. The Lionesses came together on a very hot Friday evening at the Chatsworth Cricket Club for a practice session and afterwards a catch up and a few refreshments at the campsite.

On Saturday morning players and supporters gathered bright and early. We were blessed with good weather, albeit very hot, for a third year running. Chatsworth House offered the most idyllic, quintessentially English backdrop. The scene was set for a perfect day's cricket.

The Chatsworth Ladies won the toss and decided to field first. The customary shot of port was offered to each batter before walking out to the tune of The Lass of Richmond Hill. We got off to a slow, but steady start with Andie Cole and Wendy Summerell and avoided losing any early wickets. Mary Woollard batted at no.3 and played some great shots before having to retire due to the heat. Thankfully she resumed her innings for the 30th over, once everyone else had batted. The pace picked up once Kym Lofthouse and Debbie Sutton came to the crease and the run rate started climbing. Both played brilliantly and retired on the pre-agreed maximum 25 runs. Maxine McQue and Phyl Mattinson continued the progress and together with Kaz Smith and Julie White pushed the scoreboard past 100. Jackie Walton, Lynn Doubtfire and I batted and took the team total to 145 off 30 overs - leaving us feeling we may be just 20-30 runs short of a competitive total.

Following a lunch interval, we commenced the second innings with the Lionesses taking to the field. The fielding was excellent with catches held and the bowling sublime - a definite improvement on last year! The standout bowlers were Julie White with 2-18, Phyl Mattinson with 2-24 and I managed to pick up 3-19. Chatsworth Ladies were all out for 91; a win for the Lionesses by 54 runs and only 20 of the 30 overs played.

Chatsworth were amazing hosts and we appreciate the hard work that goes into organising the event. At the prize giving, every player together with the umpires, scorer and lunch-preparers were presented with a commemorative mug. I was very proud to accept the winners trophy from the opposing captain on behalf of the Lionesses.

Thanks to everyone who came to support the team - it is a true spectacle to see you all enjoying your picnics in the sunshine.

Special thanks to Sandy Saxton-Warne for providing water and to Wendy Hooton, Helen Meades-Davies, Mary Blake and Anne Patterson who raised £578 for the WRAC Association on the day in the raffle.

The Saturday evening is when friendly rivalries are put aside, and to celebrate their 25th Anniversary, Chatsworth Ladies invited some past players to the party. There was more cricket on Sunday with a round robin competition of softball. A special mention to Beryl Sidebotham, an original Lioness cricketer, now 79 years young, who joined the competition.

Thank you Chatsworth Ladies - enjoy the rest of your 25th Anniversary year!