The top of Division 2 is unchanged this weekend, after the key match between the top two was abandoned, and the game between 3rd and 4th was tied, leaving things very-much “as you were”!
Top-of-the-table Devon were left cursing the weather after Georgia Hennessy’s 78* helped them to 203-5 against second-placed Berkshire. The Beavers, whose batting hasn’t been their strong point this season, were then in some trouble at 4-2, with both their openers out for golden ducks. With no Heather Knight to rescue Berkshire, Devon must have been anticipating virtually wrapping up the title there and then, but then the rain came down and didn’t stop – the game eventually abandoned and the points shared.
Middlesex’s trip to Wales saw Sophia Dunkley hit her second century of the season – 114 off 126 balls – as Middlesex posted 163 all out. 43 from Rachel Priest set Wales on their way, but they ended up with numbers 9 and 10 – Lydia Clements and Naomi Davies – at the crease, needing 11 off the final over for the win, which they couldn’t quite do – running two off the final ball to leave the scores tied.
Further down the table, Essex made hard work of beating Somerset, despite bowling them out for 123 – a marathon 46 off 115 balls from Jess Bird helped get Essex over the line with just 3 balls to spare. Meanwhile up in Durham, Worcestershire captain Georgie Adcock top scored with 75, but it wasn’t enough as the Rapids went down by 31 runs to give Durham their first win of the season.
Next weekend sees Devon take on Essex and Middlesex, whilst Berkshire host Durham before travelling to Wales.
As we pass the half-way point in the Women’s County Championship, with 3 games left to play, Kent opened up clear blue water between them and the pack with a win over Hampshire, as their closest challengers Lancashire slipped-up against Yorkshire.
It wasn’t quite the perfect performance from Kent – at Polo Farm in Canterbury they missed out on maximum bonus points by taking just 6 wickets as Maia Bouchier top-scored with 64, and Suzie Bates hit 63, to help Hampshire to 233; but a frantastic (!) 74 from Fran Wilson, set them on course to win by 3 wickets and maintain their unbeaten record this year. (Full report here.)
At Harrogate, Lancashire went down to their first defeat of the season in the Roses match against Yorkshire. Katie Thompson and Beth Langston shared 3 wickets apiece as Lancashire were bowled out for 158. Lauren Winfield’s miserable county season for Yorkshire continued – her run of scores thus far: 2, 21, 0 and 2 – but it didn’t stop Yorkshire chasing down their target by 5 wickets, Katherine Brunt finishing 48* at the end.
The return of Danni Wyatt to Sussex didn’t help their struggling batting much – Wyatt made 2 off 7 balls, and it was left to Carla Rudd (36), Ella Mccaughan (33) and Freya Davies (23) to get them out of trouble to 176-7 against Surrey, which they might have defended had it not been for Nat Sciver, who made 80* to give Surrey their second win of the season.
Finally, Warwickshire endured another agonisingly close defeat to stay rooted to the foot of the table. Set 207 to chase by Notts, with Scotland’s Sarah Bryce making 51 and Georgia Davies taking 4-43, Warwickshire fell just 4 runs short – Amy Jones 89 and Jo Gardner’s highest ever championship score of 59 not quite enough to get them home.
Kent aren’t anything like home and dry yet – they’ve got a difficult road trip next Bank Holiday weekend to their two closest challengers – Yorkshire and Lancashire – but two wins there could potentially make them champions by Monday evening if bonus points and other results elsewhere fall their way.
An 18-point victory over Worcestershire took Devon past Berkshire to the top of Div 2, with 3 out of 7 games played in the second tier of the Women’s County Championship.
Spinner Becca Silk’s breakout season continued with 5-12 as Devon bowled Worcestershire out for 69, and Georgia Hennessy then hit 40* as Devon reached the target in just 16 overs.
Meanwhile Berkshire dropped a bonus point after they were bowled out for 160 by Somerset, with Heather Knight making 75. Knight then took 3-12 as Somerset were rolled-over for 86, with only keeper Nat Wraith (47) reaching double-figures.
Sophia Dunkley continued to prod England Head Coach Mark Robinson ahead of the international summer, with an all-round performance at Durham. Dunkley took 4-18 with her leg-spin as Durham set Middlesex 171, and then hit a half-century to set her side on course to victory, with veteran Beth Morgan closing the deal, finishing 44* at the end.
Finally at Panteg, half centuries from Rachel Priest (67) and Dani Gibson (57) set up a big win for Wales, posting 211 against Essex, who could only make 139-8 in reply, Gabby Basketter finishing with figures of 3-10.
The top two meet next weekend at Sidmouth in a match which could decide the season, while Middlesex head to Wales, Essex entertain Somerset, and Durham play Worcestershire in a match which will give one or the other their first win of 2019.
Kent and Lancashire pulled ahead in the Women’s County Championship this weekend, both taking maximum bonus points as they remained unbeaten at the top of the table.
Kent visited Surrey at Reed’s School, and the home side got off to a good start with the bat – Bryony Smith (55) and Kira Chathli (35) putting on 98 for the first wicket. But after Megan Belt dispatched both in quick succession, Surrey collapsed to 148 all out, with Tash Farrant taking 4-26. Tammy Beaumont then hit an unbeaten 79 to steer Kent home in 30 overs for the loss of only 3 wickets.
Lancashire entertained Notts at Carnforth, where Ellie Threlkeld hit a rapid 72 off 70 balls to help set Notts a target of 241. Kate Cross then continued her good form, taking 3-36 as – despite a half-century from Sonia Odedra (67) – Notts fell well short on 195-9.
Sussex moved into 3rd with a 1 wicket win in a rather attritional match at Hampshire, with England bowler Freya Davies saving the day for Sussex after their top order failed again – full report here.
Meanwhile Yorkshire inflicted a third defeat of the season on Warwickshire. After putting Yorkshire in, Warwickshire had them 6-4 early-doors; but New Zealander Leigh Kasperek shepherded the tail to a semblance of respectability at 112 all out, as Warwickshire speedster Issy Wong took 4-25. The Bears then found themselves in almost as much trouble as they’d had the Yorkies in, at 9-3 as Beth Langston got to work on their top order – Langston finishing with 5-8 as Warwickshire were bowled out 5 short for 108.
Looking forward to next weekend, the big game will be the Roses match between Yorkshire and Lancashire at Harrogate; while Kent draw the short straw of having to play Hampshire with Suzie Bates back in yellow after her stint at the Women’s IPL out in India. Both will be looking for a win to set up a potential title-decider when the two sides meet on Bank Holiday Monday May 27th as the Championship draws to a climax.
Old habits reappeared for both Hampshire and Sussex at Totton & Eling, but it was Sussex that came out on top as England bowler Freya Davies showed her mettle with the bat to grind out a 1-wicket win. Coming in at 67-7 chasing 128, after Sussex’s top order had let them down for the second time in a week, Davies ground out an undefeated 29 to take her side to an unlikely victory.
Sussex had doubtless felt confident going into the innings break, after Hampshire’s batting had collapsed to 128 all out – 3 less than they had made at the same ground in last Monday’s loss to Yorkshire.
Sussex opened with pace at both ends from Freya Davies and Tara Norris, and soon got the breakthrough when Maia Bouchier was caught by wicket keeper Carla Rudd, getting an inside edge off Norris with just 10 on the board.
Hampshire plodded on to 29-1 at the 10 over mark, when Linsey Smith’s left arm spin was introduced at one end; but Sussex continued with pace at the other in the shape of Cassidy McCarthy who was rewarded with three quick wickets – Ella Chandler feathering a catch behind to Rudd for 5; Emily Windsor bowled playing outside a delivery that dipped late into her stumps; and last weekend’s top scorer Fi Morris also caught behind the stumps.
At the other end, Charlie Dean had plugged away to 27, but was caught at slip off Linsey Smith to leave Hampshire 66-5.
Lucia Kendall and Katie George started with a little more intent, trying to inject some pace – and some much needed runs – into the innings; but they too were soon bogged down by Smith in particular, who bowled 10 overs straight for just 13 runs.
Nonetheless, they took the score on to 90 before Kendall was run out after a mid-pitch mix-up; while George was given out tummy-before-wicket playing all around the returning Davies, who then bowled Alice Monaghan off a thin inside edge.
A 9th wicket partnership of 27 between Clover Crosse and Providence Cowdrill took Hampshire on past 100, but was broken when Crosse was run out by McCarthy going for a sharp single. The innings closed a few balls later on 128, with Cowdrill LBW to Paige Scholfield.
In reply, Georgia Adams and Ella McCaughan opened the batting for Sussex and played out an attritional powerplay against the pace of Katie George and Maia Bouchier, taking the score to 26-0. The opening partnership was broken in the 13th over, bowled by Charlie Dean, who had Georgia Adams well caught by a diving Lucia Kendall at extra cover. Izzy Collis soon followed, run out by a sharp throw from square leg from Alice Monaghan.
After a patient 24, McCaughan chipped a regulation catch to Katie George at midwicket off Fi Morris; and Morris then took a wonderful caught and bowled the very next ball to dismiss incoming Chiara Green for a golden duck and leave Sussex in deep water at 53-4.
After Paige Scholfield had lobbed a skier to Kendall at mid on, Morris – who finished with 4-24 – then added former Berkshire colleague Carla Rudd to her list, LBW for 9; and Morris was in the thick of the action again as Linsey Smith’s eyes lit up at a full toss from Providence Cowdrill, which she smacked hard… straight to Morris at midwicket!
With 62 still required by Sussex at that stage, Hampshire looked odds-on for their first win of the season, but Davies made sure it wasn’t to be as she played out 48 dot balls for her 29, in partnerships with Ella Wadey (7), Tara Norris (8) and Nancy Harman (9*).
Sussex therefore pulled off their second tight win in the first three rounds of the Championship, while Hampshire have probably thrown away their chance of retaining their title, with three straight defeats.
A big century from England captain Heather Knight drove Berkshire to the top of Div 2 on the opening weekend of the Women’s County Championship.
With Berkshire batting first against Worcestershire on Women’s County Cricket Day at North Maidenhead, Knight came in at 3 and hit 131 off 121 balls, in a double-century partnership with captain Lissy Macleod, who finished on 95 – bowled in the final over of the innings, going for her hundred with a big heave! Anya Shrubsole (3-8) and England Academy quick Lauren Bell (2-15) then smashed through the Worcestershire top order as the Rapids were bowled out for 77.
It had been a slightly different story the day before for Berkshire – having bowled Essex out cheaply for 100, with Shrubsole (2-9) and Bell (3-21) again doing most of the damage, their batting struggled without Knight, and although they eventually won by 5 wickets, thanks to 35* from veteran Amanda “Steamer” Potgieter, it was a lot squeakier than the margin of victory makes it sound!
In second place, Devon also took two-from-two over the Bank Holiday. Western Storm off-spinner Becca Silk took 4-6 as they bowled Durham out for 97; but they made it difficult for themselves, losing 7 wickets on their way to overhauling the total, with Ellie Mitchell finishing 42*. Silk was again in the wickets the next day, taking 3-31 as Devon’s match against Wales followed a very similar pattern – Wales bowled out for 132, with New Zealand superstar Rachel Priest bagging a golden duck the first ball of the innings, which Devon chased for the loss of 7 wickets in 41 overs.
Elsewhere, Middlesex’s Sophia Dunkley hit an even bigger hundred than Knight’s, with Worcestershire again the victims as she smashed 138 off 116 balls. Set a target of 271, Worcestershire were then rolled over for 103, Dunkley also chipping in with the ball with 2-11.
Wales also halved the weekend with a win at Somerset, thanks to half-centuries from Rachel Priest (63) and Lauren Parfitt (58) in a total of 232-9. Somerset went the distance, but ended up well short on 180-8, with only Sophie Luff (71) giving the scorers much to do.
Kent and Lancashire set the pace on the opening weekend of the Women’s County Championship, both winning two-from-two with Kent just edging ahead on bonus points.
Kent’s weekend began at Polo farm, batting first against Notts. With none of the top order quite able to convert starts into big scores, it was left to Laura Marsh to shepherd the tail on her way to 55*, taking Kent to 192-9 off their 50 overs. It wasn’t enough for maximum bonus points – you get them for reaching 200 – but it was enough to win the game, with spinner Megan Belt taking 3-20 as Notts were bowled out for 143.
At Beckenham the following day, Kent then inflicted the second of two defeats endured by Warwickshire over the Bank Holiday. Warwickshire posted 232, all out off the final ball, with Amy Jones (67) and Bethan Ellis (74) hitting half centuries; but it wasn’t anything like enough on the First Class pitch at Beckenham as Tammy Beaumont (83) and new signing Fran Wilson (87) made short work of it for a 7-wicket victory.
Lancashire began their Bank Holiday road trip with a visit to the Ageas Bowl to face champions Hampshire. Both sides had lost players to the Women’s IPL currently underway in India, but Hampshire missed Suzie Bates just a bit more than Lancashire missed Sophie Ecclestone, with Kate Cross taking a career best 4-14 to bowl Hampshire out for 163, defending a slightly under-par 179.
Women’s County Cricket Day then dawned bright and sunnydawned bright dawned at Guildford for the match of the weekend, and possibly of the season, between Lancashire and Surrey, with Surrey falling an agonising 1 run short off the final ball to give the Red Roses their second win of the weekend. (Full report here.)
The previous day, Surrey had made short work of Yorkshire – bowling them out for 118 in 26 overs, with Bryony Smith taking 3-14. Smith (37), Kirstie White (44) and Aylish Cranstone (26*) then finished the job as Surrey strolled to victory by 8 wickets.
Yorkshire however picked themselves up to beat Hampshire on the Monday, as spin-twin Katies – Thompson and Levick – took 3 apiece to bowl Hampshire out for 131 chasing 190.
Meanwhile Sussex, weakened by the absence of Dani Wyatt (Women’s IPL), Georgia Elwiss (injured) and Sarah Taylor, scraped an opening-day win over Warwickshire by 1 wicket – Ella Wadey top-scoring with 38; but their batting then imploded against Notts, with Notts skipper and England one-cap-wonder Sonia Odedra taking 4-11 as Notts successfully defended 150.
An undefeated 35 off 56 balls from Amanda “Steamer” Potgieter took Berkshire to a 5 wicket victory over Essex at North Maidenhead Cricket Club, in the first round of Division 2 of the County Championship.
Chasing just 100 to win, Berkshire got off to a wobbly start, losing openers Emily Cunningham and Millie Allerton cheaply to leave them 8-2 after 8 overs. But captain Lissy Macleod (30) and new signing Anya Shrubsole (22) steadied the ship to put the Beavers on course to victory, hitting through the aggressive fields set by Essex, which at one point included two slips and a short leg.
Nonetheless, there was still work to do after Shrubsole was adjudged to have nicked behind to to keeper Scarlett Hughes off Mady Villiers and Macleod was bowled by opposing skipper Kelly Castle.
But from 74-5, with plenty of time in hand, Potgieter (35*) and 19-year-old Scottish glove-butler Ellen Watson (5*) kept their cool to guide Berkshire home with 14 overs to spare.
Earlier, England prospect Lauren Bell had taken 3-21 as Essex had been bowled out for exactly 100, with extras making up all but half the total at 47, and no Essex batsman reaching double figures.
Bell opened the bowling with Anya Shrubsole, with the ball swinging under heavy skies, and it wasn’t long before Shrubsole was in the scorebook at her new county, bowling both Essex openers – Beth Harmer and Kelly Castle – for 1 apiece.
Bell then accounted for Mady Villiers, bowled for 4, and Catherine Dalton, run out for 8, to leave the visitors in real trouble at 28-4.
By that stage, the battle for Essex was just to hang around long enough to make it interesting, and that they just about did – Jess Bird seeing off 31 deliveries on her way to 8, and Hayley Arrol lasting 35 balls for 3 – as Essex collapsed over the finish line to close on 100: Bell cleaning up the tail by bowling Arrol and keeper Scarlett Hughes for 4 off 21.
It made it interesting… but not quite interesting enough from an Essex perspective, and they will be hoping to get a few more runs on the board when they travel to Wales next weekend.
Meanwhile Berkshire will go into tomorrow’s Women’s County Cricket Day fixture against Worcestershire with a degree of confidence, bolstered by the return of Heather Knight to their lineup, hoping to make it two-from-two from the opening weekend.
In a last-minute surprise move, just days before the start of the season, England allrounder Jenny Gunn has re-signed to play for Nottinghamshire in this year’s Women’s County Championship.
Gunn played for Notts almost her entire career, barring a couple of games for Yorkshire back in 2011, scoring over 3,000 runs and taking 95 wickets over 13 years, up until 2015 when they were relegated from Division 1 of the County Championship.
Following Notts’ demotion, Gunn joined Warwickshire for 3 seasons, but made just 15 appearances due to England commitments.
With over 250 England caps, Gunn – who was awarded an MBE for services to cricket in 2014 – has more experience than Jimi Hendrix; and although she’s played more of a supporting role for England recently, she was retained on a central contract this season and looks likely to be part of England’s plans for the World T20 in Australia early next year.
A 98-ball marathon from Beth Dodd took Essex to an upset victory over much-fancied Middlesex on the opening day of Div 2 of the Women’s County Championship at Chelmsford.
On a gorgeously sunny Easter Sunday at the County Ground, Essex won the toss and elected to bowl on the same pitch these sides’ respective men’s teams had hit nearly 700 runs on in a Royal London Cup game just two days before.
Middlesex openers Cordelia Griffith and Naomi Dattani made a steady start, moving to 45-0 after 10 overs, as Essex seamer Grace Poole bowled well with no luck – passing the edge several times in the powerplay.
A loose over costing 17 runs from the tiring Poole then allowed Dattani to race ahead, with the Middlesex captain reaching her fifty off 48 balls in the 14th over.
The breakthrough for Essex came of the last ball of the 14th over – Griffith brilliantly caught by former Middlesex player Cath Dalton at cover, bringing Sophia Dunkley to the crease for her first Middlesex knock since she became an England player at the World Twenty20 in November.
After a couple of close calls between the sticks, Dattani’s luck ran dry as she was run out by a direct hit from Poole for 57 off 56 balls.
New batsman Beth Morgan quickly followed in the most unfortunate fashion – run out at the non-striker’s end, after Anje Lague put down a fairly straightforward caught-and-bowled chance from Dunkley which then ricocheted onto the stumps, with the umpire adjudging that Morgan was out of her ground at the point of impact.
Lague made better work of her next caught-and-bowled opportunity, sending Emma Albery back to the pavilion for a 6-ball duck, as the visitors began to falter to 104-4 and then 107-5 as Dunkley was given out for 20, caught off what she was clearly convinced was a bump-ball.
Middlesex keeper Iqraa Hussain hung around for 28 balls for 16, before popping up a 3rd catch of the innings to Dalton, as Middlesex’s lower order crawled onward, passing 150 for the loss of 8 wickets in the 37th over.
Middlesex were eventually bowled out for 160, with Kelly Castle picking up 3-16 off 4 overs at the end, including a lovely caught-and-bowled to dismiss Rebecca Tyson – the last wicket to fall for 5.
Despite having not batted, Middlesex’s Katie Wolfe was soon into the action with the ball – opening the bowling, as she took advantage of new regulations which allow all 12 named players to be interchanged freely in and out of the on-field eleven.
First blood however went to Middlesex’s other opening bowler – Gaya Gole, who bowled Kelly Castle off an inside edge for 7 with 12 on the board.
Having negotiated the powerplay to take Essex to 32-1 at 10 overs, the two Beths – Harmer and Dodd – began to play a few shots, keeping well on top of the required rate, which soon fell to a strollable 3-an-over, with Middlesex needing wickets to stay in the game.
It was Naomi Dattani who provided the breakthrough – Harmer bowled for 29, trying to hoik the deceptively quick Dattani across the line.
Dodd however remained rooted to the crease, taking Essex past the 100 mark in 25 overs, together with Cath Dalton who maintained a Strike Rate of 100 despite largely playing second-fiddle to Dodd as the partnership built past 50.
With just 32 needed by Essex for the win, Dattani brought herself back into the attack with immediate results – bowling Cath Dalton for 34 with the first ball of her new spell.
Dodd’s marathon innings then finally ended after 98 balls, caught by Rebecca Tyson off Dunkley for 46; and Middlesex saw a chink of light as Megan Janman was run out shortly afterwards for 1, with 26 still required.
But while wicket-keeper Scarlett Hughes blocked for her life at one end, Jess Bird picked up where Dodd had left off – letting the runs find her as the target was slowly but surely whittled away – Bird finishing on 17, and Hughes on 7, as Essex reached their objective in 42.3 overs to set the early pace in Div 2.
CRICKETher 