Championship Roundup: Yorkshire and Hampshire win in tight title race

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Jamie Ramage
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Championship Roundup: Yorkshire and Hampshire win in tight title race

Smith hits 50 as Surrey win Northants. ©Kia Oval

In the county championship roundup, we look at the penultimate round of Royal London Women's One-Day Championship which threw up some interesting results. Hampshire got back to winning as their tussle for the title goes down to the final day as Yorkshire kept up their pursuit.

Division One

Yorkshire v Somerset

Having beaten Hampshire the day before Yorkshire didn't let their performance drop as they dispatched Somerset. Beth Langston and Katie Thompson reduced their visitors to 33 for 6. Megan Hodkinson offered resistance with 26 before being bowled by Thompson. Langston was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 26.

Lauren Winfield continued her return to form with 45 not out, in an innings that contained 10 fours. Jessica Watson finished with 22 not out as Yorkshire reached their target of 77 from just 12.3 overs.

Yorkshire go into their final game knowing that a win may not be enough for them to overhaul Hampshire.

Lancashire v Hampshire

Hampshire had a Suzie Bates hundred to thank for their win over last years champions Lancashire. The home side set a target of 200 for the championship favourites. Emma Lamb top-scored for Lancashire. It was Lamb's third fifty of the season and with an average of 61.2 at a good rate she must be in the conversations for England selection.

At one point Lancashire were 123 for 2 and will have been disappointed to finish on 199 all out. Fi Morris was again among the wickets before Danielle Ransley produced career-best figures of 3 for 9.

It took Hampshire 45.5 overs to chase down the win. Bates scored over half of the Hamshire total. Each partnership added at least 50 as Alex Hartley was the only Lancashire bowler to take a wicket, although Lamb did run out Emily Windsor for 21.

Warwickshire v Kent

With heavy rain in Birmingham over the weekend that saw Warwickshire's game at the same venue abandoned the day before it came as a pleasant surprise that any play was possible. In a reduced game of 30 overs aside, Warwickshire needed to win in order to fight off relegation. Marie Kelly the Warwickshire captain put Kent into bat.

Sophie Devine playing in her first game of the season made the early breakthrough. Tammy Beaumont was the star of the Kent innings with a brisk 98 from 85 balls before being bowled by Devine. Alice Davidson-Richards continued a fine weekend with the bat with 40.

Warwickshire were up against it. Amy Jones helped navigate a difficult start as fellow opener Georgia Davis with 1 and Devine a two-ball duck left Warwickshire 25 for 2.

Thea Brookes with 41 from 39 balls was the only other batter to get going. Grace Gibbs with 3 for 12 however extinguished any threat from the home side. Warwickshire were bowled out for 184 to give Kent an 18 run win.

Division Two

Devon v Sussex

Sussex had their game the day before washed out before a ball to be bowled.  They made up for lost time to keep a grip on top spot in the table. Devon won the toss and batted first. Georgia Elwiss with four wickets was the pick of the Sussex bowlers although Linsey Smith was economical conceding just 9 runs from her ten overs. Devon scored 129 for 9 from their 50 overs.

The target never troubled Sussex and they won by 7 wickets. Hazelle Garton was again impressive with figures of 3 for 33.

Northamptonshire v Surrey

Northampton, like Birmingham, had seen torrential rain over the weekend. For a long while, it looked as if this game would not go ahead. It was reduced to 29 overs a side game. Bryony Smith the Surrey opener scored 55 from 42 balls before being bowled by the equally impressive Emily Starr. Starr returned figures of 3 for 25.

Surrey managed a total of 181 for 8 from their overs. it would prove to be enough as they restricted Surrey to 94 for 7.  Beth Soloman top-scored with 32 not out as Northamptonshire could only manage 94 for 7.

It is a result that puts Surrey in a great position to be promoted. Northamptonshire look as if they will be relegated.

Wales v Essex

Wales beat Essex to retain hopes of winning promotion with a 95 run win. Gabby Basketter with 78 top-scored for Wales. Captain Lauren Parfitt also pass fifty with 63 as Wales posted 212 for 4.

Ffion Cartwright with career-best figures of 5 for 14 ensured that Essex never reached the target as they were bowled out for 117 all out.

Derbyshire v Berkshire

Having conceded over 400 the day before Derbyshire came back fighting to dismiss Berkshire for just 63 runs. Kayleigh Best with 4 for 10 insured her side put their previous game well and truly behind them.

Sarah Glenn with 24 not out top-scored for Derbyshire as they took only 19 overs to complete a 7 wicket win.
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