Yorkshire retain County Crown

Yorkshire have retained the ECB Women's County Championship title, dominating the tournament, which finished today, with five wins from five games. Yorkshire have won the title ten times in eleven years.

The side, which includes England Vice-Captain, bowler Clare Taylor, and several other players who have represented their country including Kathryn Leng, beat relegated Kent by 10 wickets in their final match to add to their wins against Berkshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and Surrey.

Taylor, who received her MBE for services to sport and was named Vodafone Bowler of the Series against Australia this summer, took five wickets with an economy rate of 1.72.

Yorkshire Captain Melissa Reynard, who scored the winning runs, said "women's cricket is strong in Yorkshire, and we're very happy to win the tournament again. The level of competition at these Championships increases every year, and it's a credit to our team that the youngsters who are coming into the side are able to continue the winning ways".

England and Sussex Captain Clare Connor has led her county to promotion from Division II, and will face Yorkshire next year. Connor's side were the run away winners of Division II, also securing a 100% record from the five games. Middlesex have won Division III.

Next season sees a new County in the tournament as Durham secured victory in the ECB Emerging Counties competition to take them into the Division III.

With the increase in women and girls playing cricket, a number which has doubled in the past two years, the emergence of teams such as Durham will ensure fierce competition for places at Cambridge in the future.