A BOLTON student has had a whirlwind few months from winning awards to excelling on the cricket pitch to becoming the first female to get a call-up to the Horwich RMI senior side.

Nalisha Patel is the current second-team skipper and made her first team bow against Eagley at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.

She follows in the footsteps of Kate Cross who started for Heywood recently and took eight wickets.

The 17-year-old said: "It was a bit of shock as I did not expect it to come so soon as I have been playing for the second team.

"It is going to be a challenge but I think along with Kate it will raise awareness of women's cricket in Lancashire if they can see us playing for the first team and might inspire them to others to play the sport.

"I think being a captain has given me leadership skills and that has obviously helped me get in the team.

"Also being with players such as Kate has rubbed off on me too.

"I am delighted to be getting the opportunity to keep developing at Horwich."

The 17-year-old has enjoyed a successful start to the season by taking 3-24 for Lancashire Women against Nottingham last month.

She also caught the eye in a recent match for Astley Bridge women's team opening the battling and scoring 102 against Stockport Trinity.

The all-rounder got in on the act of wicket-taking in the same match taking 2-23.

Patel said: "It was a really good knock and I do not usually get the chance to bat for a long time.

"It was good practice for me to get some time at the crease."

If that is not enough Patel was also celebrating winning the Kumon Achievement in Sport award.

She said: “I am just shocked to be honest and didn’t think l would win, with cricket not being a very female dominated sport. I think the game is up and coming now.

"It is important for young girls to realise there are opportunities now to be making a career out of playing cricket.”

Patel was part of the Lancashire Thunder side that won the Division Two ECB Royal London One Day Cup in 2014 and was a key member of their Division One winning campaign last year.

She is also part of the England Women’s Development Programme at Under-19s level and captained the LCB Girls Under 17s to the National Final last year.

First-team captain David Morris said: "It will be a great moment on Saturday for the club and Nalisha in making her first-team debut.

"She has played for us for a number of year and will get the chance to play with three players who have come through the ranks with her – Tom Billington, Matthew Morris and Lewis Haydock."

Plaudits have also come in from her coaches about her recent award.

Jen Laycock, LCB’s Women & Girls Development Officer, added: “It’s great to see our junior players being recognised in the community through awards such as these.

"Nalisha has spent many hours refining her game both on and off the pitch. She has shown great leadership qualities and captains the LCB Girls Under-17s with respect from her team mates.

"Nalisha is balancing her dual aspirations with studying at college alongside looking to make waves in the cricketing world.”

Looking ahead, Patel has her sights on success nationally too.

She said: "I want to keep taking wickets and contributing to all of me teams I am playing for.

"I am part of the England women's development programme and there are some fixtures this season so hopefully I can make an impression there."