Sussex still unbeaten but Kent make late claim
Kent beat Yorkshire today to inflict the third defeat in four matches on the current Frizzell Women's County Champions at Fitzwilliam, Cambridge, and launch a late assault on Yorkshire's crown
ECB Media Release
29-Jul-2003
Division One: Yorkshire: 150 Kent: 151-3 Kent win by 7 wickets Sussex: 171 Notts: 114 Sussex win by 57 runs Surrey: 235-4 Berkshire: 167-8 (41 overs) Surrey win by 40 runs on D/L
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Kent restricted Yorkshire to 150 all out in the forty-sixth over, with Charlotte Edwards leading the run-chase, scoring an unbeaten 85 from 110 balls, including fourteen 4s.
For Yorkshire, England's Clare Taylor bowled with familiar economy registering four maidens in her ten over spell and taking the valuable wicket of England and Kent youngster, Lydia Greenway for 0. But Kathryn Leng and Melissa Reynard proved expensive, and Edwards was fully in her stride by the later overs of the match.
Yorkshire now find themselves in a relegation battle with Berkshire tomorrow, a huge turn around from last year when the teams finished first and second.
Nottinghamshire were making good progress chasing Sussex's total of 171, until Rosalie Birch came on to bowl and decimated the Nottinghamshire middle order, taking the wickets of Notts leading batters, Dawn Holden, Nicky Shaw and Jenny Gunn.
Sussex made a good recovery, having been 18-2, as Caroline Atkins played a magnificent innings at the heart of the Sussex batting order, forming good partnerships with Alexia Walker and Rosalie Birch, to take Sussex to 171. Atkins was finally run out for 64.
Dawn Holden made 41 before becoming the first of Birch's victims, and once the partnership between her and Jane Smit had been broken, Notts found further middle order partnerships hard to form.
If Sussex can beat Surrey tomorrow, they will secure the Championship in relative safety; if they lose they must rely on results from the Kent v Nottinghamshire game.
Berkshire face relegation from Division One having lost to Surrey at C.U.Press Ground today. Berkshire have endured a difficult week, and Surrey, who were also in potential danger, managed to register their highest score of the week reaching 234-4.
Surrey's Australia international, Melanie Jones, scored 124 from 114 balls including ten fours and two sixes and shared a third wicket stand of 219 with England U19 wicket-keeper, Laura Joyce (84).
England's Claire Taylor showed some resistance in the Berkshire reply, reaching 57 from 59 balls, but was bowled by Charlotte Dickenson.
Berkshire must beat Yorkshire tomorrow at Queen's Ground to have any chance of retaining their place in the top flight, but Yorkshire also need a win to ensure their safety. The match, tipped by many at the start of the Championship to be the title decider, will now decide relegation.
Division Two Somerset: 147 Staffordshire: 134-7 after 46ov Staffs won by 1 run on D/L Lancashire: 289-3 Hertfordshire: 44 Lancs win by 245 runs Middlesex: 173 Hampshire: 155 Middx won by 17 runs
Staffordshire have beaten Somerset by just one run at Trinity Old Field with the result decided on Duckworth-Lewis. The Somerset pair of Hannah Lloyd and Laura Harper made a second wicket stand of 62 to leave Staffordshire chasing 147. Despite an early breakthrough from Lucy Pearson, who had Steph Davies trapped l.b.w in her third over, Harper's 51 ensured a difficult target in overcast conditions.
When the rain arrived there were four overs remaining, with three Staffs wickets in hand and bowlers Pearson (8*) and Pugh (0*) trying to make the required fourteen runs. At the end, Staffordshire secured the victory by the narrowest of margins, finishing on 134 after 46 overs.
Lancashire have sustained their dominance of Division Two, with a massive 245 run win over relegation strugglers, Hertfordshire. Hertfordshire won the toss and elected to field, only to watch Lancashire amass the highest total of the week, scoring 289-3. Arran Thompson was not out on 99 at the end, with Rachel Walsh making 52 and Laura Newton 42. Thompson and Walsh reached 144 for the first wicket.
Lancashire need just two bowlers, White and Debeer, to dismiss Hertfordshire for a meagre 44; White taking 6-16 and Debeer 4-27 in the fourteenth over.
Lancashire face Staffordshire tomorrow to secure their place in Division One next year.
Middlesex beat Hampshire by 18 runs in a mid-table clash at Queen's College. The match was almost decided by Duckworth-Lewis, but Hampshire stayed on in drizzling rain in an attempt to secure the win. A Potgieter (Hampshire) scored 77 before being trapped lbw by Kelly Juster, who took 4-17 to ensure the Middlesex victory.
Division Three Warwickshire: 175-7 Cheshire: 105-6 Warks won by 24 runs on DL Essex: 189 Northants: 190-6 Northants won by 4 wickets Durham: 147 Derbyshire: 147 Match tied
Nothing could separate Durham and Derbyshire, as both sides finished on 147 after fifty overs. The Derbyshire batters formed useful partnerships throughout their innings, whilst Durham were dependent on Kari Anderson to make the bulk of their runs, scoring 47.
Northants registered their first win at the Frizzell Women's County Championships today, having gained promotion to Division 3 last year via The Emerging Counties Championship.