Women complete county double at Headingley

YORKSHIRE are gearing up for a double celebration at Buckingham Palace.

Hot on the heels of Andrew Gale’s men lifting the County Championship, the Yorkshire women’s team followed suit by winning the ladies’ County Championship.

Both sides are set to be honoured at the traditional end-of-season ceremony at the Palace, with a provisional date of October 15.

It was a magnificent display by the Yorkshire women, who clinched the title against arch rivals Lancashire at Harrogate.

After captain Lauren Winfield lost the toss, Yorkshire’s bowlers made a splendid start.

Two wickets for Katherine Brunt and one for Katie Levick left Lancashire 6-3 and with a mountain to climb.

With Winfield providing excellent support behind the stumps – and with borrowed wicketkeeping gloves to boot – Yorkshire maintained the pressure as Lancashire fell to 35-8, Levick returning season’s-best figures of 6-25.

But fighting innings from Sophie Ecclestone (42) and Megan Fairclough (30) helped Lancashire to 113 all-out, Winfield contributing five dismissals.

On a slow, low pitch conducive to spin, Winfield then excelled with the bat, combining in a fine stand with Brunt, who scored 34 from 39 balls.

Winfield finished unbeaten on 65 from 75 deliveries as Yorkshire romped home with eight wickets to spare.

Former England spinner Monty Panesar is one of four players to have been released by Essex. The 33-year-old joins Saf Imtiaz, Matt Salisbury and Greg Smith in leaving the Chelmsford club.