Round Up of first weekend in Div 2 of the Women's County Championship

Devon made the ideal start to their 2016 campaign to get into Division One of the County Championship, with back-to-back wins against Hampshire and Essex, and with Aylish Cranstone

1st ton for Aylish Cranstone

hitting her first century for the county, and the first century of the WCC 2016 season!

On Sunday newly promoted Hampshire opted to take first use of a fairly spongey pitch against Devon. Opening bowlers Sophie Mackenzie and Rebecca Donohue asserted control over the innings. Mackenzie bowled Charlotte Taylor with a no-ball, who then went on to score an assured 32. Devon built pressure and took regular wickets, despite some resistance from Emily Windsor who stuck around for a 58-ball 13. Lydia Clements bowled tightly in the powerplay to take 1-12 off six, as Hampshire reached 127 all out in the 48th over.

Amara Carr with 53 anchored the Devon innings, which was a stop-start on a pitch where a bit of time was needed to feel comfortable, and Hampshire's bowlers tied up Devon by bowling straight.There were small contributions from a number of batsmen, but Alli Kelly was the pick with 16, and Devon crawled over the line in the 41st over, winning by three wickets.

On Monday Devon racked up 265/5 with Cranstone hitting a magnificent 134* off 140 balls. Essex were unable to string any partnerships together and subsided to 98 all out in the 30th over (for a fuller report see CRICKETher).

Elsewhere Wales ensured that Essex had a thoroughly miserable weekend as they defeated them by 37 runs. Bowled out for 150 (Parfitt 41), Wales proceeded to bowl out their opponents for 113 with Anwen Morgan claiming 4/19.

In the only other game of the weekend new kids on the block Leicestershire were bowled out by relegated Notts for 97. Sonia Odedra took 4/12 in her 10 overs and Kirstie Gordon 4/24 in her set of 10. Former England keeper Jane Smit led Notts to an easy victory with 42*. 
Results

Wales 150 all out beat Essex 113 all out, by 37 runs
Hampshire 127 all out lost to Devon 128/7, by 3 wickets
Leicestershire 97 all out lost to Notts 101/3, by 7 wickets

Devon 265/5 beat Essex 98 all out, by 167 runs
Leics v Wales - abandoned
Lancs v Notts - cancelled

MD
04/V/16