Hampshire consolidated their position at the top of the Women’s County Championship – beating Kent by 3 wickets, with just 4 balls to spare, thanks to a hard-run half-century from opener Charlie Dean (70) and a critical late cameo from Charlotte Edwards (25*).

Yorkshire move up to 2nd, after beating Lancashire in the Battle of the Roses at Bamford Fieldhouse in Rochdale. Jess Watson and New Zealand’s Leigh Kasperek both made half centuries as Yorkshire posted 226-7. In reply, Emma Lamb hit 78 off 72 balls for Lancs, but no one else could quite keep up the pace, and Lancashire ultimately found themselves 12 runs short at the close.

Warwickshire were involved in a rare tie for the second(!) time this season, this time against Notts. Kirstie Gordon took a senior-level career-best 5-18 to bowl Warwickshire out for 160, but despite a solid-enough start (61 for the 1st wicket) Notts never got out of 2nd gear, batting through the 50 overs to finish on 160-7.

At the foot of the table, Somerset’s winless season continued against Middlesex. Maia Bouchier, coming in at 6, hit 76 off 82 balls to take Middlesex to maximum batting-points with 212; before spinner Emma Albery took 4-19 to bowl out Somerset for 149.

Next weekend’s Bank Holiday double-header could see the Championship pretty-much decided, with Hampshire visiting 2nd-placed Yorkshire on the Sunday and reigning champions Lancashire on the Monday. Meanwhile Warwickshire, who desperately need a win to lift them out of the relegation zone, host Kent and Middlesex at Edgbaston.