Kentish Express Ashford & District
Women capture title with a game to go
Kent claimed their eighth
Royal London Women’s County Championship title with a game to spare on Monday after following up Sunday’s win at Yorkshire with victory away to Lancashire.
The Horses started their Bank Holiday weekend by beating Yorkshire by five runs having endured a difficult start with the bat. Captain Tammy Beaumont went for a four-ball duck in the first over before Alice Davidson-Richards fell soon after to leave Kent 26-2.
Fran Wilson (32) and Maxine Blythin (32) then delivered a third-wicket stand worth 55 to settle things down as the visitors worked towards a score of 121 all out from 36 overs. Laura Marsh dismissed wicketkeeper-batter Lauren Winfield for 20, before Megan Belt (3-20) flourished with the run out of Abbey Freeborn (13) and the wickets of Katherine Brunt (1) Leigh Kasperek (0) and Alexandra MacDonald (3). Leah Dobson added 30 to the chase, however Yorkshire eventually ran out of overs on 116-7.
Knowing a win at Lancashire would secure their first title in three years, Kent elected to field first after winning the toss.
Davidson-Richards struck early on to dismiss Lancashire captain Evelyn Jones for six thanks to a catch from Marsh.
Chelsey Rowson (4-24) then ended a 45-run partnership between Emma Lamb and Georgie Boyce when the former clipped to wicketkeeper Beaumont.
Boyce was next to fall to Rowson when she was also caught behind, followed by a first wicket in Kent colours for Kalea Moore to send Sophie Ecclestone on her way from a Blythin catch.
Lancashire were finally bowled out for 161 after 49.2 overs.
Beaumont (22) and DavidsonRichards (21) started Kent’s chase with an opening partnership worth 48. Wilson then top scored with an unbeaten 54 to help her side hunt down a winning total of 162-4 in 43.5 overs.
Kent are scheduled to finish the campaign against Sussex at The Spitfire Ground on Sunday.