James belts double century in rapid time

Swing, Bella, swing.

Otago Sparks batter Bella James has become an instant hero at her county team in England.

Bella James.

James (23), opening the batting for the Stony Stratford First XI in its Home Counties Women’s Cricket League game against Berkhamsted yesterday, thrashed a double century in a 35-over game.

She was unbeaten on 222 off just 126 balls to guide Stony Stratford, a 150-year old club in Northern Buckinghamshire, to 311 for one.

James belted 42 boundaries off the shell-shocked Berkhamsted attack.

In reply, Berkhamsted managed just 123 for eight off 35 overs.

Stony Stratford plays in the first division of the league, established in 2019 to cater for women’s cricketers in Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire.

James is in her first season with the English club.

She captained the high-flying St Hilda’s First XI for two years, and has been a member of the Sparks squad since she was in year 11 at school.

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