County Championship Round: Opening round produces intense cricket

Today was the opening day of the Royal London One-Day Cup. It is a day fans of the Women’s County Championship have been waiting months for and it didn’t disappoint. Today’s feature match was Middlesex v Lancashire and a full report is available on here. Here is a roundup of the rest of the action.

Division One

Kent v Yorkshire

Last season Yorkshire came within a whisker of winning the County Championship; while Kent struggled. Kent today proved that they are still a very good side, beating last years runners-up by eight wickets a Beckenham.

Lauren Winfield top scored with 28 for the visitors as she looks to regain the form that drastically deserted her during the winter. It was her England teammate Laura Marsh that did the damage with 3 for 18. Megan Belt the young spin bowler also took three wickets as Yorkshire were bundled out for just 118 from 42.2 overs.

Tammy Beaumont showed her undoubted class as she scored 63 not out, as along with Alice Davidson-Richards Kent put on 110 for the second wicket to effectively seal the game with 16.2 overs to spare.

Yorkshire (118) lost to Kent (120 for 2) by 8 wickets.

 

Hampshire v Nottinghamshire

Hampshire adjusted to life in division one with a win on their first match in the top flight. At Havant where they had never played before they beat Nottinghamshire by 4 wickets with an over to spare.

On one of the best club pitches in Hampshire, Nottinghamshire never looked like posting enough despite a fifty from captain Sonia Odedra and 44 from Jodie Dibble, only two other Notts players scored in double figures.

In reply, Suzie Bates scored 54 before being bowled by Kirstie Gordon, and Emily Windsor scored 49. Hampshire didn’t make it easy for themselves although by the time Charlotte Edwards was dismissed with the score on 183 Hampshire were almost home.

Nottinghamshire (186 for 9) lost to Hampshire (187 for 6) by 4 wickets.

 

Somerset v Warwickshire

The most dramatic game of the day happened at Nailsea where Somerset and Warwickshire could not be separated.

Warwickshire was helped to a total of 124 all out from 47.5 overs with only England internationals Amy Jones (25) and Jenny Gunn (45 not out) reaching double figures for the Birmingham based side.

That, of course, did not look a total they could defend. Nicole Richards was the pick of the Somerset bowlers with figures of 3 for 21.

Both sides were guilty of bowling too many wides with Somerset bowling 23 and Warwickshire 21.

It was Liz Russell that kept Warwickshire in the game with figures of 4 for 23 from her 10 overs. With the scores level and Somerset looking like they were going to win by the smallest of margins, Jenny Gunn had Georgia Tulip caught for 3.

Warwickshire (124 all out) tied with Somerset (124 all out).

 

Division Two

Sussex v Derbyshire

Sussex are the clear favourites to be promoted to division one. They showed why in a ruthless display against their East Midlands opponents Derbyshire. The South Coast side eventually winning by 251 runs.

Batting first captain Georgia Adams whose family are from Derbyshire scored 106 as she batted around England internationals Danni Wyatt, Georgia Elwiss and Sarah Taylor. The England wicketkeeper Taylor was the only other Sussex player to pass fifty with 52.

Kayleigh Best was the pick of the Derbyshire bowlers with 4 for 68 to make sure Sussex didn’t score more than their eventual 316 for 7.

Derbyshire got nowhere near chasing down the total and was bowled out for 65. Freya Davies the Sussex opening bowler took 6 for 10 as Derbyshire struggled in the sun.

Sussex (316 for 7) beat Derbyshire (65 all out) by 251 runs.

 

Berkshire v Wales

It was a similar story for Berkshire as they comfortably beat Wales with England captain Heather Knight started the season with a century to her name with 105. As with the Sussex game, only one other player in the Berkshire innings contributed a score of more than fifty as Carla Rudd scored 55.

Rachel Priest last year played for Berkshire was one of four Wales batsmen to be dismissed for ducks. Lauren Bell dismissed both openers as she returned figures of 3 for 15. Emma Walker took 3 for 16. Knight capped off her performance with two wickets as well.

Berkshire (242 for 9) beat Wales (85 all out) by 157 runs.

 

Surrey v Devon

These two sides will feel with the right set of events that they can win promotion and it was Surrey that proved their case first.

Surrey batting first would have felt confident of posting a good total with two England Internationals in their side. Bryony Smith and Nat Sciver though only scored 8 runs between them and Sciver wasn’t responsible for any of those.

Kirstie White top-scored for Surrey with 41 as Stephanie Hutchins with figures of 4 for 35 accounted for the Surrey lower-order.

Devon had a few players that made starts with Felicity Leydon-Davis top scoring with 33, but no one went on and made the difference. Devon fell 36 runs short in the end.

Surrey (193 all out) beat Devon (157 all out) by 36 runs.

 

Essex v Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire was to rue conceding 31 wides at Southend as Essex won by 60 runs. Strerre Kalis the Dutch international top-scored for Essex. bowled out for 141 Essex struggled against Ciara Metcalfe the Irish international spinner who took 3 for 21 for Northants.

Poppy Timson the Essex opening bowler took 3 wickets for 14. Northamptonshire did not get going and eventually being bowled out for 81 using 41.2 overs to get there.

Essex (141 all out) beat Northamptonshire (81 all out) by 60 runs.