HAMPSHIRE'S cricketing bosses have bowled their maidens over and out, disbanding the women's league after team numbers dwindled to just three.

But female cricketers are fuming. They say they were hit for six by Hampshire cricket's apathy towards an all-female league and run out by the men's game.

Anne Craft, secretary of the New Forest women's cricket team, pointed the finger at a lack of support among the sport's leaders.

"Women's cricket comes at the bottom of the hierarchy," she said. "There's lots of work being done with youngsters in cricket, but the girls are not going to have any teams to go to. There isn't so much emphasis placed on the women's game and we just do not feel we have had any support. They say there's no money for the adult game, but we aren't asking for money, we're asking for some encouragement."

Despite the soaring popularity of women's football, currently the UK's fastest growing sport, Mrs Craft says it has been tough attracting ladies to the genteel game, long associated with the clunk of leather on willow and a smattering of applause round the village green.

She said her dedicated team, made up of women whose ages range from 17 to the late 40s, were "really fed up" with Hampshire Cricket - and they see the all-out declaration on their league as the final blow.

"I agree that maybe the women's game isn't the most watchable - but that's because they haven't the experience," said Mrs Craft.

"The county say we can play in the national league but we don't have the strength in the team and it's not practical to travel all the way to Kent for a game. The solution is to work on a league in Hampshire."

Claire Slaney, the county's women's cricket development officer, admitted the men's game often took priority for Hampshire cricket bosses.

But she said the league was disbanded because many women's teams had switched to the national competition.

"Men often get preference on pitches more often than not, but the women's game is filtering through," she said.

"This is not really the end of the league because if new teams come through we will start it up again. Plus, more are going on to the national league, which means they're playing at a higher level. I don't think it's the demise of women's cricket, I think it's a positive step."