It is with great sadness that we have to report that Vipers Champions and Cricket Without Boundaries supporter, Bethan Watkinson, died on Sunday, 24th October after a battle with cancer. Bethan was a huge part of the women and girls cricket family in Hampshire, having played for Portsmouth CC since she was an under 9 and coming up through the Regional and County pathway.

Bethan was a talented bowler and useful bat, was an integral part of the County U11 squad for 2 years and had just been selected for the County U13s when she fell ill. A part of the Vipers Champions Programme, Bethan produced a fantastic batting video for girls in the Regional Cricket Performance programme to keep them busy during lockdown.

Bethan was also a supporter of the Hampshire Cricket Board Indatwa project, a programme in Rwanda that is empowering girls with life skills through cricket. The programme is organised through the charity Cricket Without Boundaries. Bethan's batting video was also sent to Rwanda for the girls in the Indatwa team to use whilst they too were in lockdown.

Donations collected here in memory of Bethan will go directly to supporting the Hampshire Indatwa team, growing opportunities for girls in Rwanda to develop through cricket. Our thoughts and prayers go to her family and friends.