WHAT a wonderful night it was on Monday, July 10, when Salma guested for North Wales club Hawarden Park in their women's T20 match against Oakmere of Cheshire.
Who else would drive down from Birmingham after a long hospital shift to North Wales to guest in a cricket match! No-one can beat the Queen of Speen for passion or dedication.
The game was due to be played at the Castle Ground in Hawarden, but the rain had started to fall heavily and there was no chance of any action.
However, at Oakmere the weather was better and although time was of the essence, Hawarden agreed to travel to mid-Cheshire to play the fixture.
It turned out to be a really good game at a beautiful ground.
Oakmere batted first and made 88 off their 15 overs. Salma bowled beautifully. Her first ball turned a county and beat everything, almost the perfect start!
Salma's first over was a maiden, her second over produced a wicket - bowled and so did her third over - bowled again. Her final figures were 3-1-9-2 - brilliant.
The rest of the team produced some good deliveries, Becky Moss, Naela Ahmad and 12-year-old Sammi Short was really impressive, showing some fine control and taking a lovely caught and bowled. Sammi is one for the future.
It must be said all the Oakmere players batted well too, especially their opener who retired after making 25. They found the gaps and played intelligent cricket.
Hawarden's batting never got going and a lot of that was down to the accurate, sensible bowling of Oakmere.
Salma made six, hitting one four, but she was dropped twice before being caught the third time she skied the ball.
There was some good hitting from Naela and the final team total was 40.
Well played Oakmere, a really good all-round side and a lovely welcoming club.
It was a great night. All the Hawarden team really appreciated Salma's presence and while she was there she managed to give some coaching to a beautiful little girl, Aahilya Ahmad, daughter of Naela, who shows a real interest in spinning the ball. Hopefully she will keep playing and improving and will not forget the day she met the Queen of Speen.
Mention too for Naela's wonderful sister Shamila, a lovely person who is developing a career in nursing and also loves her sport.
Salma can now put an appearance for a North Wales team on her cricketing CV!
This weekend she will hopefully get in two games for Worcestershire who are top of Division Two of the County Championship. Worcs are currently top of the table with Salma taking seven wickets in three matches, including a county best 4-25.
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