Yorkshire Regain County Championship on Final Day
Yorkshire won the Women's Cricket County Championship today on Wednesday 2 August with a 100 per cent record from the five-day tournament at Cambridge
ECB Media Release
04-Aug-2000
Yorkshire won the Women's Cricket County Championship today on Wednesday 2 August with a 100 per cent record from the five-day tournament at Cambridge.
Yorkshire, fielding three current senior England players, including their captain and England vice-captain Melissa Reynard, opener Kathryn Leng and medium pace bowler Clare Taylor secured the title against Surrey I this afternoon following wins over Sussex I, Kent, Berkshire and the holders Nottinghamshire.
Yorkshire had won the title eight times in succession until Nottinghamshire ended the run last year. A convincing win against the holders yesterday of 75 runs put them in pole position to regain the Championship and they finally finished 18 points clear of Notts in second place.
Melissa Reynard said "We are delighted to win the Championship. It's been a fantastic tournament with some really good cricket played in all divisions. We've got some great players at Yorkshire and the added pressure on top players to secure places at the World Cup later this year made the tournament even more competitive."
Division Two was also decided today, with Staffordshire beating second place Lancashire by 25 points taking them straight back to Division One following their relegation last year.
Their Captain, England batsman Barbara Daniels, who won the Vodafone Batsman of the Series Award with England against South Africa this summer, admitted "It was important after the disappointment last year to go straight back up. Women's cricket just keeps getting better and with teams like Lancashire and Somerset chasing for promotion, it's a fantastic achievement to secure Division One status in our first attempt".
Yesterday saw the battle of the teenagers as Somerset played Lancashire and England team-mates Arran Thompson (18) and Leanne Davies (15) of Lancashire took on Somerset with Laura Harper (16). Lancashire won the tight game in a thrilling finish by 8 runs. Arran Thompson picked up the best batsman award in Division Two, finishing with 97 runs today.
Derbyshire, with a 100 per cent record in Division Three, are promoted to Division Two.
The final points tables finished:
Division One Yorkshire 102 Nottinghamshire 84 Kent 54.5 Berkshire 53 Surrey I 43.5 Sussex I 42
Division Two
Staffordshire 99
Lancashire 74
Somerset 73.5
Yorkshire II 53.5
Cheshire 43
East Anglia 34
Division Three
Derbyshire 100
Middlesex 76
Surrey II 73
Hampshire 69
Sussex II 42.5
Northumberland 20.5
The top team in each Division is promoted, and the bottom team from Division One relegated. There will be no relegation from Division Two this year as Yorkshire will not field a second team next year. There is no relegation from Division Three.
Results from the final (5th) day - 2 August
* Match had revised target due to rain
* Match had revised target due to rain
Division One
*Yorkshire I 135 - 4 in 31 overs (S Metcalfe 46 not out) beat Surrey I 151 - 7 in 50 overs (S Clarke 43 not out; L Spragg 3-32)
*Nottinghamshire 153 - 1 in 40.5 overs (K Smithies 64, J Cassar 59 not out) beat Kent 164 - 8 in 50 overs (P Arnold 65, M Davis 30)
*Berkshire 103 - 9 in 33.5 overs (R Birch 3-24. A Hills 4-26) beat Sussex I 110 all out in 44.5 overs (K Oakenfold 34, A Thorose 4-25)
Division Two
*Staffordshire 116 - 3 in 28.5 overs (B Daniels 67 not out) beat Somerset 175 - 5 in 50 overs (S Dinn 53 not out, J Hawker 68 not out)
Lancashire 200 - 6 in 50 overs (A Thompson 97) beat East Anglia 105 - 9 in 50 overs (P Knibbs 58 not out; A Thompson 3-13)
*Cheshire 157 - 6 in 40.2 overs (L Newton) beat Yorkshire II 190 - 4 in 50 overs (J Helliwell 47, J Tedstone 52)
Division Three
*Derbyshire 65 - 1 in 14.3 overs beat Northumberland 112 - 7 in 50 overs (R Cowans 32; S Green 3-34)
Hampshire 129 - 4 in 40.4 overs (B McNaught-Davis 35, E Rainford-Brent 3-22)
beat Surrey II 127 all out in 35 overs (S Bayton 34, B Dawson 33; B Rowe 5-12)
Middlesex 249 - 6 in 50 overs (A Cram 51, J Joyce 46 not out, K Bury 32, M Quale 33 not out) beat Sussex II 129 all out in 41.2 overs (F Block 42 not out, K Juster 4-8)
Awards for top players in each Division
Division One
Batting: Charlotte Edwards, Kent
Bowling: Jill Hennessy, Kent
All rounder: Jane Cassar, Nottinghamshire
Batting: Charlotte Edwards, Kent
Bowling: Jill Hennessy, Kent
All rounder: Jane Cassar, Nottinghamshire
Division Two
Batting: Arran Thompson, Lancashire
Bowling: Katharine Winks, Somerset
All rounder: Sarah Collyer, Cheshire
Batting: Arran Thompson, Lancashire
Bowling: Katharine Winks, Somerset
All rounder: Sarah Collyer, Cheshire
Division Three
Batting: Suzanne Redfern, Derbyshire
Bowling: Sue Whittam, Derbyshire
All rounder: Frances Block, Sussex II
Batting: Suzanne Redfern, Derbyshire
Bowling: Sue Whittam, Derbyshire
All rounder: Frances Block, Sussex II