Sussex women win Championship

Sussex won the women's County Championship this year, remaining unbeaten throughout their campaign to lift the trophy.

"To be County Champions again feels amazing," Sussex captain Alexia Walker said. "For two years we've narrowly lost to Kent so to win by a clear twenty points and without losing a match this season is fantastic. It was a shame the rain intervened but it doesn't feel any less special.

"This is my first year as captain and it couldn't have gone any better. The future of Sussex cricket looks really bright with plenty of young players pushing for places. There's no reason why we can't stay at the top for many years to come."

In a rain-affected finals week, the previous holders Kent didn't have the chance to bat in their final game against Sussex on Thursday July 31 to make a stab at taking the title and so finished second. Nottinghamshire came third while Berkshire lost all six of their games and finished last.

Charlotte Anneveld, the New South Wales bowler, showed her class as a bowler for Kent throughout the final days taking 4 for 18 against Berkshire on the Wednesday and following that up with 4 for 32 against Sussex on Thursday.

In Division Two, Surrey finished top after losing just one of their six matches while Somerset came second. Lancashire came third with Warwickshire fourth after not winning any of their matches.

Surrey's Laura Joyce smashed 95 as they overcame Warwickshire on Wednesday by 61 runs. In the same division Rachel Walsh hit 81 for Lancashire but to no avail as her side went down by four wickets to eventual winners Surrey on the last day. Elwyn Campbell made 80 for home side Somerset during their 172-run victory over Warwickshire, again on the last day of the championships to secure second place.

In the bowling department Izzy Westbury from Somerset took 5 for 20 against Lancashire on Wednesday and then pulled out a phenomenal performance to record figures of 4 for 4 against Warwickshire on the last day.

Yorkshire took the honours in Division Three after finishing unbeaten with Middlesex coming second. Cheshire finished third while Derbyshire brought up the rear.

Danielle Hazell took 4 for 1 for Yorkshire as they played Derbyshire on Tuesday in a match that was eventually abandoned due to the inclement weather. She continued in fine form the following day as she claimed 4 for 18 as Yorkshire narrowly beat Middlesex by 3 runs.

Essex won six out of six to take division four, finishing ahead of Staffordshire. Worcestershire finished third with Hampshire coming last. Elsa-Marie Evans was pivotal in Staffordshire's ten-wicket victory over Hampshire on Wednesday as she finished with a six-wicket haul for just eight runs.

Changes are afoot for next year's County Championships. The three or five-day festival element will be replaced by a ten-week long championship with all matches held over ten Sundays in the season. Teams will be in divisions of six rather than four and will play five home matches and five away.

This will produce a longer county season with less chance of rain affecting the results. Teams will also benefit from playing on pitches of higher quality and the longer county season will give teams more time to prepare and review their performances providing a more competitive tournament in years to come.