Allround Surrey ease past Kent in London championship opener

Strong bowling performances and a clinical third-wicket partnership helped Surrey beat hosts Kent by eight wickets in the first match of the London Championship at the Nevill Ground in Tunbridge Wells on Thursday (July 30). Spinners Danielle Gregory and Claudie Cooper starred with the ball for Surrey before the 107 unbeaten partnership between Alice Capsey and Aylish Cranstone took them home.



Kent won the toss and decided to bat first. Sarah Bryce, Scotland international, and Coco Streets made their 50-over debut for Kent. Indigo Gentry and Sydney Gorham were also given their maiden cap.



Having won the toss and chosen to bat first, debutante Sarah Bryce (27) and Grace Scrivens (18) got Kent off to a cautious start putting on a 35-run partnership for the opening wicket in the first nine overs. Surrey got their breakthrough when Beth Kerins had Scrivens caught by Kira Chathli.



The host's No. 3, Maxine Blythin, didn’t last long and was out for two runs when she became Gregory’s first wicket. Suzie Row soon joined her in the dressing room after getting injured when she was on 11. Leg-spinner Gregory then dismissed Bryce and Phoebe Franklin (5) in quick succession to leave Kent struggling at 80 for 4.



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Kent’s captain Tash Farrant then joined Kent's top-scorer Ryana Macdonald-Gay (28) in the middle. The pair tried to steady the ship with a 47-run partnership, but once the former was dismissed in the 36th over with Kent better placed at 127 for 5, Cooper ran through the tail to skittle them out for 138 in 42.4 overs.



Gregory finished with figures of 3 for 28 and Cooper’s figures read 3 for 19.



In the chase, Surrey didn’t have the greatest of starts with skipper Farrant trapping the opener Chathli in front with her swinging left-arm deliveries. The visitors were then reduced to 35 for 2 when fellow opener Kirstie White was nicked behind the wicket to Bryce off Megan Belt.



Capsey joined Cranstone took Surrey to fifty in the eleventh over. None of the bowlers seemed to trouble them and Capsey took on the role of the aggressor and hit boundaries at will. The pair brought up fifty partnership in 84 balls.



Capsey soon brought up her fifty in the 26th over from 67 balls. Her knock included six boundaries. She then continued her aggression and hit Sydney Gorham for four boundaries in the only over she bowled to take the partnership over 100 and Surrey over the line in just 27.2 overs. Capsey remained not out on 70 and Cranstone kept her company with her 36.



Brief Scores: Kent 138 in 42.2 overs (Ryana Macdonald-Gray 28, Sarah Bryce 27; Claudie Cooper 3-19, Danielle Gregory 3-28) lost to Surrey 142/2 in 27.2 overs (Alice Capsey 70*, Aylish Cranstone 36*) by eight wickets.