A teenager's first taste of first team cricket was enough to bowl a maiden over, and make history in the process.

Promising wicket-keeper Katie Brennan was asked to don the gloves for Langley Park first XI in their Durham County League clash at Tudhoe on Saturday.

It not only made her the first female to play in one of the North-East's leading leagues, it also put her up against international player Shahid Anwar.

Keeping to the Pakistani batsman, who has represented his country in one-day internationals, made Katie's big-game debut even more memorable.

Although no catches or stumpings came her way, 15-year-old Katie impressed everyone with her competent wicket-keeping, which helped to restrict the home team to 112-all out.

Langley Park reached their target with four overs and two wickets to spare, with Katie padded up to come in next had another wicket fallen. She earned a late call-up to the first team soon after returning from holiday, due to the absence of regular wicket-keeper Michael Robson. "I didn't have time to get nervous. I didn't think the game would go-ahead, anyway, because of the weather.

"I've been away for three weeks, so I've not had much practice.

"I've been in Canada and there's not much cricket there."

Katie, who has played for Langley Park's under-13s, 15s and 18s teams, has become the regular second team wicket-keeper recently, as well as being part of the Durham County women's squad.

Langley Park skipper David Gladstone said he had no qualms about playing Katie when the regular wicket-keeper went on holiday. "She played on merit, it was not a gimmick We have a policy at Langley Park of giving youngsters a chance if they're good enough, and Katie is good enough.

"My only concern was that she is 15, but she did really well.

Katie, preparing for her GCSEs at school next year, gained her interest for the game playing with her brother Tom and friends on the green in their home village of Esh, near Langley Park.