| Sophia Smale | |
| Female: | true |
| Fullname: | Sophia Ann Elizabeth Smale |
| Birth Date: | 8 December 2004 |
| Birth Place: | Newport, Wales |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Slow left-arm orthodox |
| Role: | All-rounder |
| Family: | Will Smale (brother) |
| Club1: | Wales |
| Year1: | 2021–present |
| Club2: | Western Storm |
| Year2: | 2022–present |
| Club3: | Oval Invincibles |
| Columns: | 2 |
| Column1: | WLA |
| Matches1: | 18 |
| Runs1: | 265 |
| Bat Avg1: | 26.50 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/2 |
| Top Score1: | 59 |
| Deliveries1: | 803 |
| Wickets1: | 14 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 43.71 |
| Fivefor1: | 0 |
| Tenfor1: | 0 |
| Best Bowling1: | 4/34 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 9/– |
| Column2: | WT20 |
| Matches2: | 41 |
| Runs2: | 141 |
| Bat Avg2: | 11.75 |
| 100S/50S2: | 0/0 |
| Top Score2: | 34 |
| Deliveries2: | 735 |
| Wickets2: | 29 |
| Bowl Avg2: | 27.96 |
| Fivefor2: | 0 |
| Tenfor2: | 0 |
| Best Bowling2: | 2/12 |
| Catches/Stumpings2: | 13/– |
| Source: | https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1860/1860624/1860624.html CricketArchive |
| Date: | 22 October |
| Year: | 2023 |
Sophia Ann Elizabeth Smale (born 8 December 2004) is a Welsh cricketer who currently plays for Wales, Western Storm and Oval Invincibles. She plays as a slow left-arm orthodox bowler and right-handed batter.[1] [2]
Smale was born on 8 December 2004 in Newport.[2] She attends Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls, and plays club cricket for Newport Cricket Club.[3] [4] She has also played hockey for Wales at age group level.[5]
Smale made her county debut in 2021, for Wales against Warwickshire in the Women's Twenty20 Cup.[6] She played four matches for the side in the competition, scoring 47 runs and taking 1 wicket.[7] [8] She was ever-present for the side in the 2022 Women's Twenty20 Cup, playing 7 matches and taking 5 wickets.[9] She took three wickets in four matches in the 2023 Women's Twenty20 Cup.[10]
Smale was named in the Western Storm Academy squad for 2021.[11] She scored 83 from 77 balls in a 50-over match against North West Thunder Academy in June 2021.[12] She was again named in the Storm Academy for the 2022 season, but was promoted to the first team squad in May 2022.[13] [14] She made her debut for the side on 18 May 2022, against Sunrisers in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.[15] She went on to play the rest of the Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign for the side, taking four wickets at an average of 28.00.[16] She was also ever-present for the side in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, taking two wickets, as well as scoring 133 runs at an average of 44.33.[17] She scored her maiden half-century during the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, scoring 59 against Northern Diamonds.[18]
In July 2022, Smale signed for Oval Invincibles for the 2022 season of The Hundred, as an injury replacement player for Emma Jones.[19] She played all seven matches for the side as they won the competition, and she was the side's joint-leading wicket-taker, with eight wickets at an average of 18.25.[20] During the tournament, she was named as the "summer's breakout star", citing her dismissals of players such as Alyssa Healy and Sophie Devine during The Hundred.[21] At the end of the 2022 season, it was announced that Smale had signed her first professional contract with Western Storm.[22]
In 2023, she played 19 matches for Western Storm, across the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the Charlotte Edwards Cup, and was the side's second-highest wicket-taker in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, with 12 wickets at an average of 28.66.[23] [24] She also scored one half-century, with 56 against North West Thunder.[25] She also played seven matches for Oval Invincibles in The Hundred, taking five wickets at an average of 21.60.[26]
In October 2022, Smale was selected in the England Under-19 squad for the 2023 ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup.[27] She took eight wickets at an average of 9.62 at the tournament, including best bowling figures of 3/11, taken against Ireland.[28] [29]