County Championship Roundup: Hampshire youngsters keep unbeaten run going

There were some interesting games in the Royal London One-Day Championship today. With round four passing the midway, the points tables are starting to take shape. There was the odd shock and with today’s featured game ending in a tie here is the rest of the action.

Division One

Hampshire v Kent

A top of the table clash saw Hampshire come out on top in a close match that went down to the final over. Charlotte Edwards then hit the winning runs against her former side. Hampshire usually relies on their experienced players, Edwards being one and the influential Suzie Bates who was missing from this game due to the maiden Women's IPL game in India.

It was the young players that stepped up on Sunday. Providence Cowdrill the 18-year old allrounder took 3 for 13 as Kent were bowled out for 148. It was another teenager, Charlie Dean who top scored with 73 for Hampshire. In an innings of 135 balls, she only hit one four. With wickets falling at regular intervals at the other end it was just what her team needed as they won the game in the final over. For Kent Megan Belt took her 100th wicket in the County Championship.

Kent 148 all out lost to Hampshire 150 for 7 by 3 wickets.

Lancashire v Yorkshire

Played at the wonderfully named Bamford Fieldhouse, Yorkshire kept their hopes of beating Hampshire to the Championship title alive by beating their Roses rivals Lancashire by 12 runs. Both teams were without key players as England start to prepare for a busy summer. Without Lauren Winfield, they put on 99 for the first wicket. Jess Watson top scored with 65 from 77 balls.

Lancashire were without three frontline bowlers; Kate Cross, Alex Hartley and Sophie Ecclestone. The Yorkshire batter benefited from this as Leigh Kasperek scored a near a run a ball 55. Eve Jones and Emma Lamb continued their good form this season as they added 73 for the first wicket. Lamb continued in the runs and her innings of 78 contained 3 fours and 4 sixes.

Had Lamb and Ellie Threlkeld continued their partnership Lancashire might have got closer to Yorkshire's total. It was a win that kept Yorkshire in the title race. Next week they play Hampshire and whoever wins will be favourites to win the competition.

Yorkshire 226 for 7 beat Lancashire 214 for 9 by 12 runs.

Somerset v Middlesex

A Maia Bouchier 76 inspired Middlesex to a 63 run win. Coming in at 6 with the score on 90 for 4 there was every chance that Middlesex could have faltered. Lorraine Szczepanski dismissed both openers before Nicole Richards took the next three wickets. Middlesex got to 212 for 9 from their 50 overs.

It proved enough for the away side. Only Somerset captain Sophie Luff with 47 and Olivia Hamilton with 44 scored above 12. Emma Albery with 4 for 19 ensured that Somerset were bowled out for 149 and give Middlesex the win.

Middlesex 212 for 9 beat Somerset 149 all out by 63 runs.

Division Two

Devon v Northamptonshire

In a low scoring contest at Exeter, Devon made their home advantage count as they beat Northamptonshire by 41 runs. After being put into bat first, Devon were bowled out for 129. Amara Carr, the captain top-scored 41 before being run out by Patricia Hankins the Northamptonshire skipper.

Felicity Leydon-Davis and Hazell Garton ripped the middle-order out as Northamptonshire were bowled out for 88. Leydon-Davis finished with figures of 5 for 8 from four overs, while Garton took 3 for 6 from 7 overs. Meera Patel with 27 and Erica Turner 15 were the only batters to offer any resistance.

Devon 129 all out beat Northamptonshire 88 all out by 41 runs.

Berkshire v Surrey

Surrey beat Berkshire to ensure that they slay third in the table and keep the pressure on the top two sides who met in one of the other games of the day. Berkshire won the toss but found things difficult as only three batters scored over 20. Lauren Bell was the top scorer with 36.

Bryony Smith showed why she is on the fringes of the England squad with figures of 3 for 16 from 8 overs. From their 50 overs, Berkshire managed just 149 for 9. Surrey made light work of chasing the target down. Kirstie White with 58 and Aylish Cranstone 52 not out, ensured Surrey won with 21.1 overs left.

Berkshire 149 for 9 lost to Surrey 150 for 2 by 8 wickets.

Wales v Derbyshire

Rachel Preist and Gabby Basketter both scored fifties as Wales added 151 for the first wicket. It was only a matter of time before Priest played an innings of substance and she did just that with 88 runs from just 82 balls.

No one in the Derbyshire side could bat alongside Bess Heath whose score of 56 was only one of two Derbyshire batsmen to reach double figures. Basketter then followed her innings of 71 with figures of 3 for 22 as Wales completed a comfortable win that leaves Derbyshire in the bottom two.

Wales 248 for 8 beat Derbyshire 127 all out by 121 runs.

Sussex v Essex

Sussex lost their first game of the season as Essex overtook their South Coast opponents to go top of division two. It was a game to remember for Mady Villers who put in an all-round performance to sink Sussex. Villiers scored 68 before being bowled by Tara Norris.

Essex managed 159 for 9 from their allocated overs as Linsey Smith returned figures of 3 for 28. Megan Janman with figures of 3 for 6 from ten overs ensured that Sussex would not get near the Essex total. Villers also took three wickets to go with her half-century.

Essex 159 for 9 beat Sussex 114 all out by 45 runs.