Round Up of the first half of the Metro Bank One Day Cup after 8 Rounds

The Women's Metro Bank One Day Cup - effectively the Women's County Championship, as there is no multi-day women’s cricket - takes a brief respite from 20th May, after eight rounds of games, to accommodate the T20 Blast fixtures. There is then a brief resumption for two rounds at the end of July, before the competition comes to a climax in September with the final four rounds, the semi-finals, and the Final. Blessed by great weather throughout April and May, no games have been lost and the majority of the England contracted players have played, when not ruled out by injury. It has been a great start to the tournament, with plenty of tight games (including two ties) and some great individual performances. There have already been 14 hundreds (a record number in 50 over domestic women’s cricket) and four five-fors.

This is how the table currently looks

Perhaps the biggest surprise has been the underperformance of Surrey. With a team stacked full of England-capped batters (Wyatt-Hodge, Smith, Capsey, Dunkley, Scholfield and Davidson-Richards) you would have expected them to have blown away their opposition through sheer weight of runs, particularly playing their home games at Beckenham - a true batter's paradise. In fact they have played four 50 over games there and won only won. They did also tie against The Blaze, with each team putting 346/9 on the board. They have scored plenty of runs, but defending decent-looking scores has been their big issue. 

At the top of the table a young Hampshire side have probably exceeded even their own expectations losing just one game to The Blaze, after tieing their first against Warwickshire. Their strength has been in their consistent bowling attack, bowling four teams out for less than 209, with leading wicket-taker left arm spinner Linsey Smith to the fore. Batting-wise young Ella McCaughan hit a magnificent 133* at Southport to beat Lancashire and has two other 50s under her belt. Maia Bouchier also has three 50s to her name, but has not gone on to the big score that both she and England probably wanted. Overseas import, Australian Charli Knott, has also scored three fifties and taken eight wickets.

Tight on Hampshire's heels are Lancashire, who have finally got the results people have expected of them in past seasons, and the majority of their wins have been without the injured Sophie Ecclestone in their ranks. Their success has been based around the consistent opening partnership of Emma Lamb and Eve Jones. Together they have had three opening stands of over 100 and two more of over 50. They are both right up there as leading run scorers this season, and Lamb, who has also taken wickets with her off-spin, has earned a recall to the England squad for the West Indies series.

The Blaze (Notts to you and me) overcame Somerset, right behind them in the league, in the last game of this bloc of fixtures to keep up their challenge. They were many people's pre-season favourites. They have lost both their encounters with Lancashire, but have won the rest of their games. The Blaze have had some good team performances led by stand-in skipper Kathryn Bryce, performing with both bat and ball; two hundreds from Tammy Beaumont; and Georgia Elwiss chipping in with useful runs when they have been needed most.

As for Somerset they have been led from the front by skipper Sophie Luff, who has hit a century and three scores over 50. Aussie Amanda Jade Wellington has also frequently shown her worth, both with the ball, and as a closer with the bat. She has hit 178 runs at a superb strike rate of over 145. Perhaps inexperience has let one or two games slip from their grasp particularly down at Taunton.

At the other end of the table Durham got their season off to a perfect start with a crunching nine wicket win over Essex, during which Phoebe Turner took 4-33. With 17 wickets she is currently the league’s top wicket-taker. In the return fixture the result was equally emphatic with a six wicket win. But that, and a tight victory over Warwickshire, are their only wins. Perhaps it is no surprise that both of those defeated teams are the others propping up the table. Runs have proved hard to come by for Durham with a lot depending on Suzie Bates, Hollie Armitage and Mady Villiers at the top of the order. 

Almost the opposite is true of Warwickshire whose blushes have been saved by their lower middle order in several of their games. Emily Arlott, Charis Pavely and Georgia Davis have all scored over 50 batting at 7 and below. In fact Arlott went on to post 130 against Essex. Arlott has also been consistently in the wickets, which has resulted in her too getting a call-up to the latest England squad, as new England Head Coach Charlotte Edwards is true to her word that form matters.

And firmly rooted to the bottom of the table are last year's 50 over champions Essex (when they were called Sunrisers). They have managed just the one win, over Lancashire. Grace Scrivens scored back-to-back hundreds against The Blaze and Hampshire, but both were in a losing cause. They have got into winning positions in a few games, but have failed to get over the line. Their season looks done with just six games to come.

With the England internationals presumably available and encouraged to play again in all the remaining matches in the competition, you would expect Surrey to perform better in the second half of the season and join Hampshire, Lancashire and The Blaze in the semi-finals come September.

 

Martin Davies
20/V/25

Hampshire steal another win in Taunton

When Maia Bouchier caressed the first of her seven boundaries to the fence in the second over of this important clash between top of the table Hampshire and unfancied high-fliers Somerset, it looked like this was going to be another run-fest at Taunton....nothing could have been further from the truth.

A tempered start by Hampshire, who chose to bat on a used wicket, became a workmanlike first 25 overs - 107/2, and then a grinding first 40 overs - 164/4, and a disappointing end - 213 all out off the last ball of their innings. 

Bouchier flattered to deceive with a relatively fluent 39 off 43, but beyond her it was a hard slog. Charli Knott worked the hardest at the coalface and came away with 64 off 102 balls, and for a while she and Rhianna Southy (46 off 65 balls) seemed to be setting some kind of platform for Hampshire to go on and make 250+, but having been 151/3, albeit in 36 overs, Hampshire contrived to lose their next seven wickets for just 62 runs. 

True Somerset bowled accurately and fielded pretty well, giving away just 6 extras in the Hampshire innings, effecting two run outs and taking their catches, albeit with a bit of luck for Sophie Luff as she clung on to a rebound off a skied Knott drive at mid-on with the use of her right thigh. But Hampshire will have been disappointed with only 213 runs on the board.

Somerset needed a positive reply and for two overs they looked to have made just that - 13/0. But some accurate bowling from Freya Davies, who picked up the early wicket of Emma Corney, and then left-arm spinning duo Linsey Smith and Bex Tyson, put the brakes on, which lead to Knight pushing a ball to Bouchier at short cover and running. At the other end Sophie Luff gave it some consideration and then quite rightly rejected the opportunity to get run out herself. Bouchier's direct hit left Knight floundering well short of her crease.

Just 9 runs came from the next 17 balls before Fran Wilson spooned a catch to Bouchier at short extra cover; 18 balls and just 3 runs later Charlie Dean swept Tyson into deep square legs' hands. Somerset were 63/4 in the 19th over. Somerset skipper Sophie Luff watched on with exasperation and horror as the procession continued at the other end and her team were reduced to 109/8, after a brief interlude for rain which apparently reduced the innings to 49 overs, but kept the DLS target exactly as it had been before - 214 to win.

It all looked pretty academic until number 10, Ellie Anderson, found her own bottom-handed way of keeping her skipper company for more than five minutes. For the next 13 overs Anderson shovelled and drove, and Luff used her feet and occasionally took to the air, to get Somerset to 178/8, a stand of 69, which meant that Somerset needed 36 runs to win from 28 balls. But with an improbable victory in sight Anderson pulled a decent length ball from Tyson straight to Bouchier at midwicket. There was no great celebration from Hampshire, just an audible team sigh of relief. In the next over Georgia Adams brought Luff's valiant solo effort of 74 to a conclusion, as she sneaked a ball under her bat, as she once again danced down to hit the ball through wide mid-on, but this time missed. Somerset were all out for 182 to lose by 31 runs. A comfortable victory for Hampshire on paper, but a lot closer than Hampshire will have liked.

But this is just the type of game that the girls need to be involved in to learn the ups and downs of a 50 over game of cricket, and how to handle pressure both with the bat and the ball, and in the field. It wasn't a classic, but it was a good game of cricket.

Martin Davies
13/V/25

Metro Bank One Day Cup - Round Six

Durham v Warwickshire
Warwickshire 243/9 v Durham 244/7 (46.3 ovs)
Warwickshire, who elected to bat, never really got their innings going as they lost five wickets within the first 22 overs, with a brief cameo from Davina Perrin (32) ended by a fine return catch from Mady Villiers (2/35). When Katie George (42) and then Emily Arlott (29) departed Warwickshire looked in trouble at 152/7, but as in previous games their tail wagged with some purpose. Charis Pavely (57) and Issy Wong (32) added 83 for the 8th wicket before both succumbing in the final over of the innings, which left Warwickshire with a mediocre 243/9 on the board. Durham seamer Sophie Turner claimed 3/58.
After losing Emma Marlow early, Suzie Bates (72) and Hollie Armitage (46) powered on untroubled, until Armitage slapped a short wide delivery to cover point and then Bates was brilliantly stumped down the legside by Abbey Freeborn. Mady Villiers (65*) lost a succession of partners as the game seemed to be slipping away from Durham. Overs were not the issue, but wickets were. But finally she found an ally in Grace Thompson to help her get Durham over the line for their second win, with plenty of overs to spare and three wickets still in hand.
Highlights - Durham v Warks

Hampshire v Essex
Hampshire 273/5 v Essex 256/8 
Hampshire looked set for a massive total as the ball found its way from the bat to the boundary without too much effort within the first few balls, but Kate Coppack (2/44) removed Maia Bouchier and Charli Knott and the run rate declined as Hampshire rebuilt. Ella McCaughan's good form with the bat continued with a controlled 44, until she misjudged a sweep against Abtaha Maqsood and was adjudged lbw. Keeper Rhianna Southby (61) joined her skipper Georgia Adams (110*) at the crease for a vital 4th wicket partnership of 114 in a little over 23 overs to take Hampshire past 200. With cameos from Abi Norgrove and Nancy Harman Hampshire added 52 from the last 6 overs, as Adams also went to her century off 125 balls. 
In reply Essex made an equally bright start with Lissy Macleod (25) finding the boundary with some ease, but Linsey Smith (4/33) spun one past her tentative push to claim the first wicket. Concussion substitute (for Cordelia Griffith) Jo Gardner came in at three, but struggled to time the ball, and Essex's run rate plunged, with some tight bowling from left-arm spinners Smith and Bex Tyson, and off-spinner Knott. At the halfway stage Essex were only 108/1 with Grace Scrivens 53* (off 71 balls) at the time. Shortly after the drinks' break Smith accounted for Gardner, and with Jodie Grewcock (33) at the crease Essex picked up the pace. At the 40 over mark they were ahead of where Hampshire had been in their innings and needed 74 off the last 10 overs with 7 wickets in hand, but within 15 balls the game was gone as Tyson removed Gray, and Smith accounted for Scrivens, to a rash attempted reverse sweep, and Amara Carr, to a smart stumping by Southby. Essex ended an agonising 17 runs short and Hampshire moved to the top of the league with a fourth win.
Highlights - Hampshire v Essex

Lancashire v The Blaze
The Blaze 222 ao (48.2 ovs) v 226/6 (47.2 ovs)
The Blaze showed how much they will miss England players Tammy Beaumont, who could not repeat her previous heroics with the bat, and Amy Jones (52), next week, as Jones was the only batter in the top 6 to make a significant score. When she departed in the 33rd over The Blaze were on 141/6 and struggling, but Ella Claridge (63) martialled the tail through to 222 before she was the last out in the 49th over. It looked under par, but it at least gave The Blaze something to bowl at, with skipper Kirstie Gordon back in their bowling attack. Grace Potts finished with figures of 4/37.
But Lancs' opening pair of Eve Jones (33) and Emma Lamb (74) are brimming with confidence and found their way to 88 in just 14 overs before Jones gave Gordon (3/33) her first wicket. Sarah Glenn quickly accounted for Katie Mack, and Gordon removed both Seren Smale and Fi Morris in quick succession, to leave Lancs slightly on the back foot at 111/4. When Emma Lamb tickled Kathryn Bryce to the keeper down the legside Lancs may have wondered if this game was going to get away from them, but with plenty of time Ellie Threlkeld (35*) and Kate Cross (38*) calmly added an unbroken 71 for the 7th wicket to take Lancashire to victory in the 48th over, ending The Blaze's winning streak of four games. 
Highlights - Lancs v The Blaze 

Somerset v Surrey
Surrey 306/7 (44 ovs) v Somerset 215 ao (40.5 ovs)
High-flying Somerset had their tail feathers trimmed by a rampant Surrey batting attack lead by Bryony Smith (110) and Sophia Dunkley (79), as they racked up 306/7 in a game reduced to 44 overs after rain intervened for 40 minutes midway through the Surrey innings. The only Somerset bowlers to escape the onslaught were Amanda Jade Wellington (4/47) and Charlie Dean (2/56) in their full compliment of 9 overs. 
In truth Somerset never really looked like getting the adjusted DLS revised target of 317, and when Heather Knight was run out at the bowler's end as Alice Monaghan deflected a head high drive from Fran Wilson back onto the bowler's stumps, you could see the Somerset shoulders sag slightly more. Wellington (36) and Chloe Skelton (25) offered some late belligerent hitting, but the Somerset score only just crept into the 200s before Alexa Stonehouse issued the coup de grace in the 41st over. She, along with Alice Monaghan and Dani Gregory, each took a couple of wickets. 
Highlights - Somerset v Surrey

Metro Bank One Day Cup Table after six rounds

Martin Davies
12/V/25

Metro Bank One Day Cup - Round Five

 The Blaze v Essex
Essex 231/9 v The Blaze 235/5 (40.5 ovs)
Essex managed to post 231/9 thanks mainly to opener Grace Scrivens' unbeaten 120, with only Jodie Grewcock (28), Amara Carr (34) and Kate Coppack (19) keeping her company at the crease for any significant length of time. Chief beneficiaries of a rather lacklustre batting performance by Essex on a good Loughborough wicket were Orla Prendergast (3/32) and Sarah Glenn (3/36). 
As The Blaze openers Amy Jones (41) and Tammy Beaumont (116*) shot out of the traps the paucity of runs scored became ever more apparent. They added 92 for the first wicket within 17 overs before Jones mistimed a pull to mid-on, but Beaumont and Kathryn Bryce (47) then added a further 104 runs to take The Blaze to within 38 runs of victory, with 21 balls to try and snatch an additional bonus point. Eighteen runs off the 39th over seemed to have put the bonus point in the bag, but Sarah Bryce and Georgie Boyce both perished in the chase and as the 40th over concluded they were still 4 runs shy of their target. 
It was however fitting that Tammy Beaumont smashed Eva Gray through extra cover in the next over to win the game. It was her second unbeaten century in three days. The Blaze will miss her when she reports for England duties next week.
Highlights - The Blaze v Essex 

Hampshire v Durham
Durham 190/8 v Hampshire 193/3 (36.5 ovs)
Durham's batting never really got out of first gear having been 43/2 at the end of the powerplay with Lauren Bell (2/38) picking up both wickets. With the parsimonious Linsey Smith (1/25) snaffling Mady Villiers (22) with a trademark caught and bowled, and the equally miserly young Bex Tyson (1/29) getting Hollie Armitage (25) straight after the half-time drinks' interval, the visitors had limped to 87/4. Middle order contributions from Phoebe Turner (38) and Bess Heath (31) saw Durham through to 190/8, but on a flat wicket and expansive outfield it looked well below par.
The loss of McCaughan in the 9th over merely gave Charli Knott (58) the opportunity to settle, and with Maia Bouchier (53) they steered Hampshire effortlessly to 136/1 after 25 overs. The win looked inevitable, but the question was could they get it within the next 15 overs. When Bouchier and Knott both fell after reaching their 50s, Hampshire might have wobbled but Georgia Adams (25*) and the lusty-hitting Rhianna Southby (22*) saw Hampshire pass the Durham total in the 37th over.
Highlights - Hampshire v Durham 

Lancashire v Surrey
Surrey 296/8 v Lancashire 299/5 (48 ovs)
For the third time in five games Surrey failed to defend what looked like a decent score on the board, as Lancashire this time chased down nearly 300 with relative ease. The fact that Lancashire had lost to Hampshire on the same ground just four days ago trying to defend 292 meant they knew they were still very much in the game at halftime.
Surrey probably felt they had done well to get to 296 after having been 50/3 just after the powerplay ended with Smith, Capsey and Wyatt-Hodge all out cheaply, Kate Cross (3/55) taking two of the wickets. Paige Scholfield's (87) and Alice Davidson-Richards' (100) 143 run partnership set Surrey up to post a total well in excess of 300, but the last 17 overs only produced 103 runs, rather than the 153 needed. 
In response Lancs were 133/3 at the halfway stage, still needing another 164 from the next 25 overs, plus they had already lost Emma Lamb and Eve Jones (52), who have been prolific scorers this season so far. Under pressure Lancs' middle order finally came to the party with Katie Mack (84) and Fi Morris (90*) taking the score past 200 and then Morris and Ellie Threlkeld (25) combining to bring Lancs home with 12 balls to spare with an unbroken partnership of 85.
None of the eight bowlers used by skipper Bryony Smith will have enjoyed their afternoon out. 
Highlights - Lancashire v Surrey 

Warwickshire v Somerset 
Somerset 297/6 v Warwickshire 249 ao (48.5 ovs)
Somerset built themselves a decent total based around an initial 70 from Heather Knight, and followed by 111* from Sophie Luff, as the Warwickshire bowlers toiled away on a good Edgbaston wicket with a short boundary on one side. Four wickets in the last 17 balls of the Somerset innings for Emily Arlott meant she finished with 4/65 as Somerset set Warwickshire 298 to win.
At 143/2 at the halfway stage Warwickshire looked on course to challenge Somerset's total with Sterre Kalis (60 off 49) having laid the platform, but Warwickshire contrived to lose six wickets for just 26 runs to go from 153/2 to 179/8, and the game was lost. A battling 50 from skipper Georgia Davis coming in at 10 showed what might have been, as she and Issy Wong (24) added 70 for the 9th wicket, but as they ran out of overs they also ran out of wickets, ending 48 runs short.
Highlights - Warwickshire v Somerset

Metr0 Bank One Day Cup Table after five rounds

Martin Davies
7/V/25

Metro Bank One Day Cup - Round Four

Durham v Somerset
Durham 216 all out (revised target of 213)v Somerset 215/6 (37.3 ovs of 39 ovs) 

After a delayed start at a chilly and wet Chester-le-Street Durham lost Suzie Bates, playing on to a wide ball, in the four minutes of play that were possible before the teams left the field for another hour, that reduced the match to 39 overs per side.
When they returned they fared little better as their top order batting subsided to 49/4 with only Hollie Armitage (89) showing much resilience. Ellie Anderson (3/49) accounting for three of the four to fall. Armitage finally found some more reliable partners in Leah Dobson (21) and Phoebe Turner (35), before she was deceived by Amanda Jade Wellington. Turner then combined with Katherine Fraser (30) to take Durham's score past 200, but as the overs ran out Durham lost their last four wickets for just 13 runs, with Chloe Skelton (3/16) taking the last three in five balls to set Somerset just 216 to chase.
Without Heather Knight Somerset looked light on experienced batting, and when they lost their first couple of wickets with just 21 on the board their chances of winning looked bleak, but Rebecca Odgers (60) and the experienced Fran Wilson (68) kept the scoreboard ticking over and added 72 in 15 overs before Odgers was lbw to Katie Levick (2/33) missing a sweep. Much rested on Wilson and when she was out in the 32nd over Somerset still needed 38 off the last 46 balls. That equation became 27 off 24 balls, but Somerset's Antipodean finisher extraordinaire, Wellington (31*), hit Katherine Fraser for three consecutive 4s at the start of the 38th over to win the game by 4 wickets and take Somerset to second in the table.
Highlights - Durham v Somerset

Essex v Lancashire
Lancashire 230/8 v Essex 231/5 (47.2 ovs)
Lancashire's in-form openers Eve Jones (57) and Emma Lamb (43) got them off to another flying start with another opening stand in excess of 100 in less than 20 overs. But when leg-spinner Abtaha Maqsood (3/42) removed Jones, and Kate Coppack (2/39) accounted for Lamb, scoring runs suddenly looked more difficult for Lancashire. Of the rest of the batters only Katie Mack (39) got past 17 and that was off 59 balls. Lancashire finished on a below-par 230/8 with Jodie Grewcock (2/36) bowling a tight ten over spell.
Winless Essex's reply was assured and confident. An opening stand of 77 was broken only when Grace Scrivens (32) missed an unnecessary reverse sweep, and when Lissy Macleod (45) followed 2 overs later Essex's nerves may have started to jangle, but Grewcock (73*) capped a fine all-round day as she calmly combined with first Cordelia Griffith (24) and then Flo Miller (41) to take Essex's first points of the season with 16 balls and five wickets in hand.
Highlights - Essex v Lancs

Surrey v Warwickshire
Surrey 313/7 v Warwickshire 314/7 (46.3 ovs)
The flat track at Beckenham once again produced a mountain of runs with Surrey losing out despite posting 313/7 in the first innings.
All of the top six Surrey batters got into double figures with Bryony Smith reaching 78 before holing out and Sophia Dunkley (102*) reaching her hundred off the penultimate ball of the Surrey innings. Emily Arlott (2/51) and Issy Wong (2/59) claimed a couple of wickets each.
Warwickshire rattled along at 7 an over in the powerplay, but lost three wickets in the process, as their batters tried to be positive, but failed to keep the ball on the ground. But from 59/3 Davina Perrin (69) and Nat Wraith (54) took Warwickshire to 173/3 before the halfway stage in their innings. When both fell within a few balls the wheels could easily have come off the chase but Bethan Ellis (63*) found willing and able partners in Emily Arlott (26) and Charis Pavely (30) to take the score past 300 and she justifiable finished the run chase with plenty up her sleeve to inflict a third defeat on Surrey and keep Warwickshire in the top three in the league.
Highlights - Surrey v Warwickshire

The Blaze v Hampshire
Hampshire 189/7 v The Blaze 192/3 (36.5 ovs)
With the exception of Ella McCaughan (57) Hampshire's top order had a forgettable day out at a windy and nippy Trent Bridge, in front of a good crowd, enjoying not only the cricket, but the Street Food Fair on the outer concourse. Maia Bouchier smashed a wide half-volley from Grace Ballinger onto her stumps and Charli Knott and Rhianna Southby committed the cardinal sin of trying to cut Sarah Glenn (3/36) off their stumps only to miss and be bowled. When McCaughan spooned a wide loopy leg-spinner from Josie Groves into the hands of cover point Hampshire were 101/5. Abi Norgrove (17) and Nancy Harman (19) flattered to deceive and only a highest team partnership of 46 between Freya Davies (25*) and Poppy Tulloch (18*) prevented Hampshire posting less than 150. 
A chase of 190 looked a formality, but opening bowlers Davies (1/38) and Lauren Bell (2/36) kept Hampshire in the game as The Blaze managed only 31/2 in the powerplay, and when Bell got Sarah Bryce in the 12th over, Hampshire dared to dream.
But the fluent Tammy Beaumont (112*) and the obdurate ex-Viper Georgia Elwiss (58*) combined to take the game away from Hampshire with an unbroken stand of 159, and take themselves to the top of the league with a thoroughly-deserved bonus point win. 

Highlights - The Blaze v Hampshire

Metro Bank One Day Cup Table after Four Rounds

Martin Davies
5/V/25

Metro Bank One Day Cup - Round Three

The Blaze v Warwickshire
The Blaze 252/9 v Warwickshire 211 ao (42.3 ovs)
Having been put into bat The Blaze could not have got off to a worse start, losing Amy Jones for a duck lbw to Wong and next ball Kathryn Bryce needlessly run out, but Tammy Beaumont (38) and Sarah Bryce (52) not only steadied the ship, but put it on course for a decent total, as they rattled along at over 6 an over, and it took a good diving catch from Abbey Freeborn behind the stumps to remove Beaumont. But that stand of 74 turned out to be the best The Blaze could manage as their batters got in, only to get out. Emily Arlott was the main wicket-taker with 3/39 as The Blaze ended with an under par 252/9.
Warwickshire adopted a cautious approach to their reply....very cautious. After 10 overs Sterre Kalis (27 off 57) and Freeborn (40 off 60) had taken the score to 28/0, with just 15 scoring shots in the opening 60 balls. Kalis' demise in the 8th over introduced Davina Perrin, who scored a run-a-ball 53, and she and Freeborn took Warwickshire to 123/1 in the 27th over. But within 7 overs Warwickshire found themselves on the back foot at 157/5. A swashbuckling stand of 36 between Nat Wraith (34) and Charis Pavely (25) took them to 203/6 with 11 overs to get the 50 runs they needed. The win was on, but Blaze skipper Kathryn Bryce (5/38) having missed out with the bat, was not going to miss out with the ball. She blew away the Warwickshire tail as they fell to 211 all out (with Chloe Brewer not batting). 
Highlights - The Blaze v Warks

Lancashire v Hampshire
Lancashire 292/6 v Hampshire 295/2 (47 ovs)
After looking at the wicket and, quite rightly, assessing it as a complete road, Hampshire decided to insert Lancashire so they could set a target and Hampshire could attempt to chase it.
Lancashire openers, Eve Jones (107) and Emma Lamb (86) have been in fine form and presented with the opportunity to bat on this Southport wicket they grabbed it with both hands. With a short boundary on one side and straight, and a lightning fast outfield there was no room for error for the bowlers. With Bell resting, 19 year old opening bowler debutant Daisy Gibb was thrown in at the deep end, and she proved her worth with a tight opening spell. After 10 overs Lancashire had made their way to a steady 49/0. They continued to make serene progress as the deckchaired crowd lapped up the boundaries and the glorious West Lancs' sunshine.
At the midway point Lancs were 132/0 and the first chance did not come until the 31st over when Bouchier put down Jones off Smith on the deep midwicket boundary. Jones was on 78 at the time. But in the next over it was her partner who departed to a smart stumping (one of three) by Rhianna Southby off a floated legbreak from Nancy Harman. The opening pair had added 185. With a brisk 35 off 28 balls from Katie Mack, the stage was set for a score well in excess of 300. But the last 11 overs produced only 62 runs for Lancs as Charli Knott (2/42) and Georgia Adams (2/52) kept tight lines and Jones struggled through the nervous 90s. She eventually departed in the 48th over, but without the explosive finish Lancashire needed. 
In response Hampshire needed a good first 25 overs, and they got it through Ella McCaughan (133*) and Maia Bouchier (77). The pair put on 137 for the first wicket in just under 25 overs, with Bouchier the main aggressor. Both struck the ball sweetly as the Hampshire innings mirrored the Lancashire one. After 40 overs Hampshire were 247/1 (just 9 ahead of where Lancs had been at the same stage) and just beginning to press the accelerator. McCaughan had got to her maiden hundred off 113 balls four overs earlier and she and Knott (47) effectively put the game to bed as they helped themselves to 74 runs in a 50 ball spell before Knott was expertly stumped down the legside by Ellie Threlkeld. But it was too little too late as Hampshire rushed to victory with 12 runs in the 47th over, and 22 year old McCaughan carrying her bat for a very mature 133*.
Little did they know at the time, but Hampshire would find themselves as the only unbeaten team in the league and top of the table as they took the long bus journey back to Southampton. 
Highlights - Lancs v Hants 

Surrey v Durham
Surrey 348/6 v Durham 244 (45.1 ovs)
Surrey's star-studded batting line-up finally found their feet this season as they used the flat and fast Beckenham pitch to their best advantage racking up 348/6 against newcomers Durham. A third wicket stand of 155 between Alice Capsey (79) and Sophia Dunkley (92) set up Surrey, who added a swift 107 runs in the last 10 overs of their innings with cameos from Alice Monaghan (32 off 25), Alice Davidson-Richards (40 off 23) and Paige Scholfield (21 off 10). 
In reality Durham's chances of winning had gone in the first 16 overs of their reply, with Marlow, Armitage, Bates, Heath and Villiers all back in the dug out with just 87 runs on the board. A fine partnership of 93 between Leah Dobson (53) and Katherine Fraser (43) added some respectability to the Durham scoreline, but they were always fighting a losing battle with no wickets to play with. Inevitably as they tried to up the run rate more wickets tumbled and they finished 104 runs behind on 244 when Abi Glen cut Ryana Macdonald-Gay to cover point for her third wicket (3/38). Spinners Smith, Moore and Gregory had all picked up two apiece. 
The win was Surrey's first in Tier 1, which they will look to repeat back on the same ground on Sunday against Warwickshire. 
Highlights - Surrey v Durham

Somerset v Essex
Essex 184 ao (42.5 ovs) v Somerset 185/5 (35.5 ovs)
Essex once again failed to reach 200 with the bat and crashed to their third defeat in three games as Somerset bounded past their 184 all out in under 36 overs.
Within 12 balls Essex were three down - Jo Gardner, Cordelia Griffith and Jodie Grewcock all out for ducks. Skipper Grace Scrivens (27) and Flo Miller (19) set about shoring up the innings, but having taken the score to 50 they both fell leaving Essex with their backs against the wall, having lost half their side. 
Rather than going for the jugular Somerset took their foot off the gas a little, and allowed the Essex middle and lower order, ably lead by Amara Carr (67), to gradually accumulate runs and their final total of 184 at least gave them something to bowl at. Destroyer-in-chief for Somerset was Heather Knight who took 3/7 to wrap up the Essex innings.
Essex needed a similar start with the ball to their West Country rivals, but despite taking wickets every 30/40 runs they could not put any real pressure on the Somerset chase. Charlie Dean and Heather Knight both made 45, with the former not out, as all the Somerset batters got into double figures with the exception of Alex Griffiths who was 8* when she hit the winning runs taking Somerset to a 5 point win and fourth in the league equal on points with the two teams above them.
Highlights - Somerset v Essex 

Metro Bank One Day Cup Table after Three Rounds

Martin Davies
1/V/25

Metro Bank One Day Cup - Round Two

Durham v The Blaze
Durham 200 ao (47.2 ovs) v The Blaze 201/5 (37.2 ovs)
Having been inserted Durham looked to have put themselves into a good position after the early loss of Suzie Bates with Emma Marlow (27), Hollie Armitage (81) and Mady Villiers (45) taking the home team to a healthy 164/2 in the 37th over, but over the next ten overs they conspired to lose eight wickets for the addition of just 36 runs as Sarah Glenn (3/45) and Josie Groves (2/12) ripped apart Durham's middle-order. 
With just 200 to defend Durham needed early wickets, but they could not find them. Tammy Beaumont (22) and Amy Jones (35) fell as the powerplay ended, but the Bryce sisters (Kathryn 54 and Sarah 34) continued the Blaze's inexorable progress to victory with a third wicket stand of 81, and although they both fell with The Blaze short of their mark there was no stopping their progress to a bonus point victory as they reached 201/5 in the 38th over.
Highlights - Durham v The Blaze

Essex v Warwickshire
Warks 289 ao (50 ovs) v Essex 181 ao (39 ovs)
Put into bat Warwickshire were in all sorts of bother at 22/5 midway through the powerplay with their top order blown away by some accurate bowling from Eva Gray (5/62). But consecutive stands of 101 and 132, built around a maiden first-class century from Warwickshire number 7, Emily Arlott (130), with great support from Chloe Brewer (44) and Charis Pavely (31), put Warwickshire firmly back in control of the game as they finished on an imposing 289, losing their last wicket off the last ball of the innings.
Essex made a measured start to their reply, but when Grace Scrivens (53) was out just before Essex got to three figures, the Essex innings began to subside around Cordelia Griffith (72), who battled on bravely. Katie George (3/38) led the way with the ball for Warwickshire. Having staggered to 176/5 in the 36th over Essex's chances of victory were admittedly slim, but they contrived to lose their last five wickets for just five runs as Chloe Brewer (3/18) helped mop up the tail in just 19 balls, to hand Warwickshire a bonus point win which looked so far out of sight six overs into the game. 
Highlights - Essex v Warwickshire

Hampshire v Surrey
Hants 259/8 v 209 ao (43.2 ovs)
Having decided to bat Hampshire took full advantage of a pacey Utilita Bowl wicket as Ella McCaughan (64) and Maia Bouchier (61) compiled an untroubled opening stand of 116 in under 22 overs. In fact it was a surprise when Bouchier gloved a Davidson-Richards' bouncer to keeper Chatli to break the stand. 
Surrey's four-pronged spin attack of Smith, Moore, Capsey and Gregory then clamped down in the middle overs as Hampshire struggled to up the run rate, not aided by losing regular wickets, but a late flurry of runs from Abi Norgrove (26) and a 9 ball cameo from Nancy Harman (14) took Hampshire to a respectable, but not unbeatable, 259/8.
After a slightly wayward first couple of overs Hampshire openers Lauren Bell (2/43) and Freya Davies (2/39) found their line and length and by the end of the powerplay Surrey were 38/3 with England-capped Bryony Smith, Dani Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley all back in the dugout. Only Alice Capsey (57 off 96) and Alice Monaghan  (40) threatened to take the game away from Hampshire, but when their stand of 64 was broken by the metronomic Linsey Smith (3/28) the outcome looked inevitable, and when Davies came back and removed Capsey, it was just a matter of time. Surrey were eventually bowled out in the 44th over for 209 and remain pointless at the bottom of the league table, which few would have predicted at the start of the season.
Highlights - Hants v Surrey

Somerset v Lancashire
Somerset 205/9 v Lancs 207/3 (36.5 ovs)
Lancashire made it 2/2 and jumped to the top of the MBODC league table, with a commanding win over last week's smash-and-grab heroes, Somerset. 
Having removed Heather Knight early, caught behind off Kate Cross (2/27) Somerset found progress painfully slow, not aided by losing wickets on a regular basis. By the 32nd over Somerset had clawed their way to 89/6 as Emma Corney (35 off 79) departed run out by a Grace Potts direct hit from mid-off. But striding to the crease to join mainstay Alex Griffiths (46) was Amanda Jade Wellington (26). After a measured start - just 2 off her first 10 balls - she and Griffiths took to Tara Norris, hitting 22 runs off the 37th over, including two sweetly-struck Wellington 6s. Ten runs came off the next over, and in the subsequent over Wellington clubbed Emma Lamb for her third 6, but trying to repeat the dose she was caught on the square leg boundary. The pair had added 56 runs in 7 overs. Griffiths fell shortly after and the tail added a useful 46 runs, but 205 still looked well below par. Spinners Hannah Jones (2/23) and Lamb (2/30) joined Cross on two wickets apiece. 
And an opening stand of 151 in under 30 overs between new recruit Eve Jones (97) and Lamb (52) put the result beyond doubt, with Lancashire's only disappointment being that Jones could not find the three runs she needed for her century, as she edged a wide half-volley from Ellie Anderson to backward point. 
Highlights - Somerset v Lancs

------------------

Metro Bank One Day Cup Table after Two Rounds

Martin Davies
28/IV/25

Metro Bank One Day Cup - Round One

What a start to the new eight county Metro Bank One Day Cup! All four matches produced some quality cricket and some great individual and team performances. Here is our round-up of Round One.

Durham v Essex
Essex 177 all out (47.3 ovs) v Durham 178/1 (32.4 ovs)
Durham could not have hoped for a better start to their Tier One professional life. Having inserted Essex on an overcast day at Chester-le-Street, Essex got off to a blistering start with 10 off the first over, but were reined in by some accurate bowling from the tall 17 year old Grace Thompson (2/34) and Scottish off-spinner Katherine Fraser.
Thompson was rewarded in her fourth over with the wicket of Jo Gardner, and when she was replaced by Phoebe Turner (4/33) Grace Scrivens nicked off. Griffith, Miller and MacLeod followed in quick succession and Essex were in a hole at 65/5.
But Jodie Grewcock (31) and Sophia Smale (40) added a precious 53 for the sixth wicket before Grewcock was deceived by the evergreen leg spin of Katie Levick (3/28). Smale and Amara Carr then made some slow progress, but once they too fell to Levick the Essex innings petered out to an inadequate 177 all out.
And after the early loss of Emma Marlow 37 year old Kiwi Suzie Bates (93*) and 27 year old Durham skipper Hollie Armitage (64*) brought all their experience to the fore as they knocked off the runs in just under 33 overs for a bonus point win for Durham to put them top of the table.
Highlights - Durham v Essex

Surrey v Somerset
Surrey 243/7 (33 ovs) v Somerset 241/3 (33 ovs) (revised target 238 under DLS)
A delayed start and then a two and a half hour rain delay reduced the match to a 33 over affair, but both teams' batters found the flat Beckenham wicket to their liking. 
The star-studded Surrey line-up lost Bryony Smith early on, but England's Wyatt-Hodge (33), Capsey (26) and Dunkley (22) failed to capitalise on good starts, before Paige Scholfield (48), Alice Davidson-Richards (57*) and keeper Keira Chatli (25) doubled the score from 122/5 in the 19th over to leave Somerset chasing the imposing total of 243/7. Amanda Jade Wellington (3/42) and Charlie Dean (2/40) were the principal wicket-takers.
Somerset openers Heather Knight (64) and Emma Corney (61) kept the visitors in touch with the run rate in an opening stand of 122 and with Fran Wilson (36*) and Charlie Dean (41) going well Somerset seemed to have set themselves up for victory, but a tight 30th and 31st over including the wicket of Dean who holed out off Alice Capsey, left the visitors needing an unlikely 32 off the last two overs with new bat Wellington heading to the crease.
Just a single off the first two balls of the 32nd over from Rhianna Macdonald-Gay brought Wellington on strike with 31 needed off 10 balls. She preceded to hit the next four balls for 4, to take 17 off the over and leave the equation 15 off the last six balls to be bowled by Davidson-Richards. Wilson cut the first ball for 4 and then got a single off the next ball. The epitome of calm Wellington then smoked the next ball for 4 through the covers and helped the next to fine leg for another boundary. Just two were needed of the last two balls. A leg-bye off the 5th, left Wilson on strike for the last and she calmly pulled the last ball to the boundary for a staggering win. Wellington's match-winning cameo was 24 in 7 balls, all in boundaries
Highlights - Surrey v Somerset

The Blaze v Lancashire
The Blaze 234 all out v Lancashire 235/2 (45 ovs)
England opener Tammy Beaumont made a scratchy start to the season before falling early for just 4, but then her fellow international Amy Jones (30), surprisingly opening, and in-form Scot Kathryn Bryce (70) saw off the opening spells from Kate Cross and Mahika Gaur. But the introduction of slow left-armer Sophie Morris proved Jones downfall, holing out at long-off. Bryce then found another willing partner in Georgia Elwiss as the pair took The Blaze to a commanding 146/2 with 17 overs still to come, but once Elwiss and Bryce were out The Blaze lost their last five wickets for 43 runs to finish on a disappointing 234. 
After Lancashire's Eve Jones fell towards the end of powerplay Emma Lamb (130*) and Katie Mack (44) took the game away from The Blaze. Lamb brought up her hundred from just 114 balls, including twelve 4s and The Blaze bowlers had no answers. Sarah Glenn did get Mack, but Seren Smale (38*) comfortably eased Lancashire over the line with five overs to spare.
Highlights - The Blaze v Lancashire

Warwickshire v Hampshire
Hampshire 208 all out v Warwickshire 208 all out
Under leaden skies and the e-shaped Edgbaston floodlights Hampshire surprisingly chose to bat first against Warwickshire. Early progress was slow as both Emily Arlott (2/30) and Katie George beat the bat on numerous occasions, with Arlott finally rewarded with the wicket of England's Maia Bouchier in the 5th over. A generous sprinkling of no-balls and wides took Hampshire to 25/1 after 9 overs with part-time seamer Chloe Brewer (3/40) adding 6 more wides in her first over. But in her second she produced an off-cutter which removed Ella McCaughan. Spinners Hannah Baker and skipper Georgia Davis, (2/38) then put a further squeeze on Hampshire who were only 91/4 at the midway point in their innings, Baker having accounted for Aussie overseas Charli Knott and Davis for Georgia Adams. But keeper Rhianna Southby (72) and youngster Abi Norgrove took the score past 150, albeit with only 12 overs left. The Hampshire lower order could only muster 14 runs after Southby fell in the 45th over and 208 (including 43 extras) looked an under-par score as the weather brightened and the pitch eased.
Lauren Bell (2/44) and Freya Davies kept things tight in the powerplay with Sterre Kalis the only casualty for Warwickshire. Having made it to 134/3 Abbey Freeborn's stubborn innings of 70 off 96 balls came to an end and Warwickshire started to look a little frail. Nat Wraith, Brewer, Arlott and Bethan Ellis all fell cheaply with Linsey Smith (4/39) the principal beneficiary. At 165/8 the game seemed to be Hampshire's for the taking, but Charis Pavely (17) and Georgia Davis (13) had other ideas. They saw off Knott, Adams and the returning Bell, before Davies returned to bowl the 43rd over with Warwickshire needing just 20 to win. She removed Pavely with the last ball of that over to leave the equation 19 runs or 1 wicket for the victory. 
Davis and Baker managed to bring the equation down to just 8 off the last four overs, but Davies bowled a maiden, followed by just two off the 48th from Adams. Another accurate over from Davies conceded just two runs and Warwickshire needed four to win off the last over from Adams. Three singles in the first three balls meant they had two balls to get the one run they needed. A dot meant they had just one ball to get it. Davis drove the last ball to Norgrove at short extra cover and ran. Norgrove fumbled but recovered to roll the ball underarm at the stumps at the bowler's end and run Davis out. The match was tied.
Highlights - Warwickshire v Hampshire 

--------------------

Metro Bank One Day Cup Table after Round One

Martin Davies
24/IV/25

Decisive weekend in County Championship

Right, lets park the razzmatazz of the KSL, (which was won by the Southern Vipers, by the way, and not just Charlotte Edwards, despite what the Press may say!), it is time to refocus on the bread and butter of women's cricket - the Women's County Championship, with a double-header Bank Holiday weekend ahead of us. If it wasn't for the County Championship there would be no players for competitions such as the KSL and the WBBL.

Catch Up....Unfancied Warwickshire top the league table having won the three games they have played against Sussex, Berkshire and Surrey. Their games against Yorkshire and Staffs have been washed out. Behind them loom Kent, who have lost one game to Sussex, who themselves are third, having been beaten on the opening day of the season by Warwickshire.
Yorkshire, Berkshire and Middlesex have all won two games, and then at the bottom of the league sit Surrey, Somerset (one win) and Staffs (winless)...

All of which means that this Sunday's game between Warwickshire and Kent at the Edgbaston Foundation Ground, could be the game that decides who wins the 2016 County Championship title. It seems that the ECB have decided that the England girls can only play one game this weekend, but for Kent this will not be an issue as they only have one game. For Warwickshire one assumes they will play their full team, including Amy Jones. Jenny Gunn and Rebecca Grundy, against Kent, but they will miss the game against Middlesex the following day. In form Suzie Bates has remained in England after the end of the KSL, so Kent should be at full strength. It will be a tough ask for the young Warwickshire side, but ironically the pressure will actually be on Kent to win. If Warwickshire can get early wickets then that pressure will build. It should be a fascinating game.

As I've said, win or lose on Sunday, Warwickshire take on Middlesex on Monday, with what will be an even younger squad, probably against a Middlesex's full compliment, with Fran Wilson and Alex Hartley back in Middlesex blue, after successful KSL campaigns. This game will be just as key as the one the previous day, and Warwickshire will have to dig deep (no matter what the result the previous day). It may be a tough call for Middlesex regarding their England players, as the previous day they play Yorkshire. Both games are at home and Middlesex could decide to field their strongest side against their northern rivals, given that they are struggling a bit to get many wins on the board this season, and it is almost as important that Yorkshire lose as Middlesex win.

On Monday Yorkshire make the journey from Middlesex down to Bridgwater in Somerset. Somerset will be following them down the M4 as they play Surrey at Reed's School the previous day. With three teams to be relegated from Div 1 at the end of the season these are key games for all involved. Somerset have only beaten Berkshire so far this season and their game against fellow relegation candidates Staffordshire was abandoned (so cannot be rearranged). They have to beat the teams just above them to give themselves a chance of staying in Div 1 next year.

Surrey themselves will be hoping to ease their relegation worries with wins over Somerset, and then on Monday against Staffs. They have lost four of the five games they have played this season, and two wins this weekend are essential.

Sussex are the other team with two games to play, taking on Staffs at home on Sunday and then travelling to North Maidenhead on Monday for Berkshire's only game of the weekend. If Sussex want to keep up any pressure on the top two then they need two wins and full bonus points, but realistically having dropped five bonus points already, they will need both Warwickshire and Kent to have some poor games if they are going to get past them.

Fixtures
Sunday 28th August 2016 - 11am start
Middlesex v Yorkshire at Merchant Taylors School
Surrey v Somerset at Reed's School
Sussex v Staffs at East Grinstead CC
Warks v Kent at Edgbaston Foundation Ground

Monday 29th August 2016 - 11am start
Berks v Sussex at North Maidenhead CC
Middlesex v Warwickshire at Merchant Taylors School
Somerset v Yorkshire at Bridgwater CC
Surrey v Staffs at Reed's School

MD
23/VIII/16

County Div 1 Round Up - First weekend

Well who would have thought that at the end of the first weekend of County Championship fixtures the top three in Division One would be :-

1. Warwickshire 18.00

2. Berkshire 17.50

3. Middlesex 17.00

True the rain did intervene somewhat, but the fallacy that county cricket is not a good enough standard for the England contracted players was blown out of the water as fancied Sussex got turned over by unfancied Warwickshire, and then Sussex themselves (without Sarah Taylor) dispatched Kent, despite the fact that all five of Kent's contracted England players were on the park and four of them batted in the top four.

On Sunday Kent steam-rollered newbies Somerset into the Taunton turf, posting 279/4 and then bowling Somerset out for just 58. There were runs for Edwards 79, Beaumont 72, and Greenway 69, as the chasm between Div 1 & Div 2 was cruelly exposed.
Fellow newbies Staffs were also hammered by Berkshire who restricted them to 130/9 and then got them with just two wickets down and eight overs to spare. Amanda Potgeiter took 3/12 and Heather Knight helped herself to 56 to get her season off and running.
In Middlesex the home side managed to score 165 before they were bowled out, having been 113/9 at one stage. Fran Wilson made 63, and Naomi Dattani (30*) and Alex Hartley (28) added 52 for the last wicket. In response Surrey were bowled out for 99 with Bryony Smith top-scoring with 23.
Sussex made another calamitous start to their season, as they did last year, losing by six wickets to Warwickshire. Put into bat they could only manage to put 126 on the board (losing two valuable batting points) and then take only four wickets (losing three more). Georgia Adams top-scored for Sussex with 45, with extras second top-scorer with 37. In reply Warwickshire calmly knocked-off the runs with Minihal Zahoor 39, Marie Kelly 31* and Anna Lanning 25 leading the way.

On Monday the rain washed out the Yorkshire v Warwickshire and the Staffs v Somerset games, but Berkshire made it two from two as they handed Surrey their second defeat of the weekend. Surrey have now lost their last five county championship games and they must already be strong relegation prospects with Kent, Sussex and Yorkshire still to play. They managed to post 153/9 thanks to 69 from Kirstie White. Potgeiter and Knight claimed three wickets apiece. Knight then led the way with the bat with 37, with keeper Carla Rudd hitting 34, just one shy of her best ever for the county. They wrapped up the win with nearly 10 overs to spare.

Meanwhile in Eastbourne the rain prevented play getting underway until just after 2pm, with the game reduced to 30 overs per side. Put into bat Sussex shot out of the traps with Georgia Adams (53) and Georgia Elwiss (20) smashing 30 off the first three overs from Farrant and Pape. Progress then became a little more serene until the penultimate over when Izi Noakes (38) launched Davidson-Richards for two enormous 6s over midwicket off consecutive balls. It meant Sussex reached 172 before they were bowled out in the last over. Kent needed 5.8 per over, but by half way, having lost Edwards early, Tammy Beaumont (49) and Lydia Greenway (33) had left Kent needing 96 off the last 15 overs at 6.5. As England Head Coach, Mark Robinson (who watched the match), said before the game it is important in women's cricket not to get behind the rate, and so it proved. Beaumont and Greenway went in quick succession and Kent collapsed from 101/2 to 131 all out. 

Which means that Berkshire have had a great weekend; Warwickshire have beaten a top team and do not have to play another (Yorkshire); Sussex could win all their remaining games and still not win the title due to only get three bonus points against Warwickshire; and Kent can still take the title, but cannot afford another slip up.

The next round of games is on Sunday 15th May.

MD
03/V/16

County Championship Wrap Up

It is always sad when a cricket season comes to an end, as the 2015 season here in England has just done. It is usually made worse by the fact that the sun continues to shine until the end of September, but this year Autumn seems to have arrived early in the UK, with plenty of rain falling from the sky.

Unfortunately that rain arrived a couple of weeks ago, and wrecked the end of the Women's County Championship season, when the Yorkshire v Sussex game was called off. It would have been a pivotal game, but the rules say that it does not have to be played, so it wasn't. Yorkshire went on to annihilate Lancashire in their last game of the season and the County Championship title was theirs for the first time since 2002, when the league had just six teams and five games were played in a week. Kent finished in the runners-up spot. 

At the bottom Lancashire have discovered that life in Div 1 is pretty tough. They have lost all of their eight games and have managed to pick up just six bowling bonus points. That equates to just 26 wickets taken in those eight games, not helped by batting first in seven of their fixtures, including games where they won the toss. They were also missing Kate Cross for four of their games, although she only took three wickets in the four games she did play. Will she be happy to play Division 2 cricket again next year? I am guessing she will, if the ECB will let her.

So the question was who would make the drop with Lancashire? It was between Warwickshire (the Harry Houdini's of Div 1) and Notts. Notts did what they could by beating Surrey and claiming 17 points, but Warwickshire pulled off the great escape yet again by beating Middlesex and claiming the full 18 points on offer. It meant that they finished three points above Notts. Will Notts be able to hold on to Jenny Gunn and Danni Wyatt for the 2016 season? With the promotion of Wyatt's former county, Staffordshire, to Division One next year, it may be a tough call. There is little doubt that Staffs would love to have her back. 

Coming up with Staffs, who finished runners-up in Division Two, will be Somerset. They have been so close to Division One status for the past two years, so it was good to see them get it spot on this year with an undefeated season. Sophie Luff hit a couple of important hundreds and Welsh import Gwenan Davies meant that they did not miss Fran Wilson (who left to play at Middlesex) too much at the top of the order. It will be good to see how they go in Division One next year, and whether they can entice South African Lizelle Lee back to play in the top division.

Looking forward to 2016 the ECB must change the rules on cancelled and abandoned games. They are currently a nonsense. Abandoned games (ie games that are started and not finished) cannot be replayed, and cancelled games do not have to be replayed if one team does not want to. This has always allowed teams to manipulate who they do or do not want to play if the weather intervenes. The rule has to be that abandoned and cancelled games MUST be played. If not then they are conceded and the willing team gets a full bonus points win. I would also like to see the season extended to 12 games. With the current nine teams in the league this would mean eight regular games and then four additional games (there are various formulae that can be used to make these as fair as possible). In 2017 it would be easier to reduce the league to seven teams, playing home and away, perhaps with the goal of having four divisions of seven teams ultimately, which might keep things fresh.

Certainly the County Championship will need some spicing up. Next season the inaugural Women's Cricket Super League T20 competition is due to start, and the season after that there is due to be a 50 over competition, which will undoubtedly impact on the standard of county cricket. Basically the more senior players will not be playing it. But the ECB cannot afford to let it wither on the vine. It needs to be supported, encouraged and properly financed, albeit perhaps reduced from the current 38 teams. It will be the proving ground for up and coming players and the home to those that want to play at a good level, but do not have the time or the ambition to play in the Super League or beyond. 

MD
16/IX/15

County Champs reaches conclusion

So it looks like this will be the last weekend of County Championship fixtures despite the fact that there are two unplayed games in both the 1st and 2nd Divisions.

In Division One if Yorkshire beat bottom of the table Lancs and get 17 or 18 points in the process, then they will be the champions, despite the fact that have a game outstanding against Sussex who could beat them to the title (more here). If they get 16 or less then Kent will be the champions, unless Sussex can beat Berkshire with full bonus points and then it would come down to NRR between Kent and Sussex.
At the bottom Lancs are already relegated back to Div 2, but either Notts or Warwickshire will join them there next season. Notts perhaps have the easier task as they take on Surrey at home. Surrey have had a miserable season and have not won a game since 21st June, although they got to within one run of Yorkshire in their last outing. Warwickshire take on Middlesex, who beat Kent handsomely in their last match and will want to end the season on a high.

In Division Two Somerset and Staffs are both promoted, but it is a question of who will win the Div 2 title. Both are unbeaten and locked together on points, and they take on Wales and Worcestershire respectively. A win is essential, but it could all come down to bonus points. As they have not played each other (cancelled due to rain), if they finish equal top on points then the team with the better net run rate over the season will win the title.
At the bottom Scotland are heading back down to Div 3 but they would love to pick up their first win of the season against mid-table Devon, who are safe from relegation as the two teams below them, Essex and Durham meet in a "winner stays up" match. If Durham win they are safe come what may. If Essex win then they need to get at least three extra bonus points out of eight available to save their bacon.

Division 1
Notts v Surrey at Welbeck CC
Sussex v Berkshire at Horsham CC
Warwickshire v Middx at Egbaston Foundation Ground
Yorks v Lancs at Harrogate CC

Division 2 
Devon v Scotland at Exmouth CC
Durham v Essex at Durham City CC
Somerset v Wales at The County Ground, Taunton
Staffs v Worcs at Meakins

MD
10/IX/15

Kent have seventh title within their grasp

This Bank Holiday weekend is the penultimate weekend for the Women's County Championship, with games being played on the Sunday and Monday (Wales and Durham are now playing Saturday rather than Monday). Both Div 1 & Div 2 games are previewed below.

Division One Preview & Fixtures 

Due to the way the fixtures have worked out Div 1 table-toppers Kent actually finish their season this weekend, with away games at Middlesex and Berkshire, and they will know that two wins will give them the County Championship title for a record seventh time. Kent will be without their England trio of Edwards, Greenway and Marsh, but they will have Tammy Beaumont and Tash Farrant available for selection. But Middlesex should be at full strength with Fran Wilson back on duty, plus Aussie import Julie Hunter opening the bowling. If Middlesex can get Beaumont early they should back themselves to win. Monday's game against Berkshire will be no pushover for Kent either. If Berkshire can get a full-strength team on the park, minus Heather Knight, including players such as Rogers, Macleod, Hall, Rudd, Gumbs, Morris and Gardner they will fancy themselves to upset last year's County Champions.

Should Kent lose one or both games, then they will open the door for chasers Yorkshire and Sussex. The two teams meet in a potentially massive game on Bank Holiday Monday at Harrogate CC, but before that clash they have Surrey and Lancashire, respectively, to overcome. Surrey have had a torrid season. They have just finished bottom of the Div 1 T20 table without recording a win and they have not won a game in the Championship or the T20 competition since 21st June. Yorkshire are of course without Brunt, Hazell and Winfield, so they will be relying on their youngsters to keep up their title challenge.

Sussex's Sunday opponents, Lancashire, are also struggling in the Championship without a victory in five games, but they have romped away with the Div 2 T20 title, which should instill some confidence in them. They will, of course, have Kate Cross back in their midst, so Sussex without Taylor and Elwiss again, will need to be on their toes.

If both teams can win on the Sunday then Monday's Harrogate game will be huge. The winner could go on to take the Championship. The loser can wave goodbye to any Championship ambitions. Yorkshire narrowly missed out on the Div 1 T20 title to Sussex on NRR, so they will be keen to avenge that loss, but they will be without opening bats Beth Mooney (returned to Australia) and Jess Watson (injured), so will be reliant on youngsters such as Cecilia Allen, Hannah Buck, Katie Thompson, Phoebe Austin and Bea Firth to show what they can do. It could be a tough ask against a strong Sussex bowling attack, spearheaded by the experienced Holly Colvin and with the new ball threat of Freya Davies.

At the bottom of the league Lancashire meet second-to-bottom Warwickshire on Monday at home. With two teams to be relegated it is a must-win game for both counties. Warwickshire will have met Berkshire the previous day and if they could secure two wins they would lift themselves out of the relegation zone with one game (against Middlesex) still to come. They will have been buoyed by recent T20 performances (albeit in Div 2) and with Amy Jones back in their batting line-up they could make life uncomfortable for the teams just above them in the league table at the current time, particularly Notts and Middlesex, who also meet each other on Monday at Middlesex's new home ground at Merchant Taylor's School. Middlesex must be favourites to come out on top with Notts missing Jenny Gunn and Danni Wyatt on England duties, but it is Notts' only game of the weekend so they will be fresh, whereas Middlesex will have battled it out with Kent the day before.

Sunday 30th August
Lancs v Sussex at Wigan CC
Middx v Kent at Merchant Taylor's School
Warwickshire v Berks at Wellesbourne CC
Yorkshire v Surrey at Harrogate CC

Monday 31st August
Berks v Kent at North Maidenhead CC
Lancs v Warwickshire at Urmston CC
Middx v Notts at Merchant Taylor's School
Yorkshire v Sussex at Harrogate CC

Division Two Preview and Fixtures 

Somerset and Staffs looked nailed on to take the top two promotion places in Div 2 but they can make sure this weekend. Somerset are at home to third-placed Durham on Sunday and then travel to Worcestershire on Monday. Durham have won their last three games against Ireland, Worcester and Scotland so could give Somerset something to think about. Somerset will know if they win both games with decent bonus points they will be promoted - a feat which has tantalisingly alluded them for the past couple of seasons.

Staffs meanwhile (without overseas leading run-scorer Molly Strano) have just the one game on Monday against a reinvigorated Essex. Essex lost their first four games in Div 2 after relegation from Div 1 last year, but they picked up their first County Championship win in the last round against Worcestershire and have had a decent Div 2 T20 campaign, just missing out on promotion back to Div 1. They take on Scotland the day before, who are currently rock-bottom of Div 2, and two wins could drag Essex out of the relegation zone and the possibility of dropping two divisions in two years. The game at Garon Park on Monday could be a tense affair. If Lily Reynolds can retain her form with the bat for Essex (she hit 170 against Worcestershire) they could make life very uncomfortable for Staffs.

Wales, currently third from bottom, take on Durham on Saturday and then Ireland on Sunday. They cannot rely on those around them losing, but they will have their work cut out to get much from these two games. Durham are on a roll and Ireland have had a good Div 1 T20 campaign and performed admirably against Australia in the recent T20 series in Dublin. Two wins for Ireland (who finish their season this weekend) or Durham, and a slip by Staffs, and both teams could still be in with a shout of promotion to Div 1 next year. Ireland's game on Monday is against Scotland, who will have travelled all the way down to Essex the day before and then back to the midlands for this game. It could be a long drive back home to Scotland on Monday evening if they fail to pick up a win.

Devon's only game of the weekend is against Worcestershire on Sunday. Worcestershire could do with the win with Wales and Essex only one win behind them, but mid-table Devon will want to prove they are better than recent results have suggested. They have lost their last three games to Staffs, Ireland and Somerset to end any hopes they may have had of promotion. It should be a good game.

Saturday 29th August
Wales v Durham at Llanarth CC

Sunday 30th Aug
Essex v Scotland at Billericay CC
Somerset v Durham at Midsomer Norton CC
Wales v Ireland at Newport CC
Worcs v Devon at New Road, Worcs

Mon 31st Aug
Essex v Staffs at Garon Park, Southend
Scotland v Ireland at Wellesbourne CC
Worcs v Somerset at Romsley CC

MD
28/VIII/15

Div 1 leaders Kent recover to win, and Somerset & Staffs look set fair for Div 1 next year

Division One

Kent came back from being 49/6 chasing Surrey's 140 all out to win by four wickets, thanks to an unbroken stand of 92 between Charlotte Pape (59*) with her maiden half-century for Kent and Phoebe Franklin (26*). It means that Kent remain unbeaten and top of Division One, with just two games to play, against Middlesex and Berkshire.
Yorkshire kept up the pressure at the top with a solid win over Nottinghamshire thanks to a great all-round performance from Cecilia Allen, who top-scored with 70* and then took 3/12 as Notts ended 47 runs adrift of Yorkshire's 191/6.
Sussex too kept their title chances alive with a 4 wicket win over Middlesex at Hove. Middlesex were bowled out for 151 with England veteran Beth Morgan holding the Middlesex innings together with 72. Not to be outdone Sussex's former England star Holly Colvin claimed 5/33 and then finished 27* as Sussex got over the line with 22 balls and four wickets to spare.
Berkshire made sure that Lancashire's first season in Div 1 remains winless to date, with a thumping 156 run defeat. It was set up by Alice MacLeod (107) and Sherisa Gumbs (80) who added 165 for the second wicket for Berkshire as they scored a mammoth 308/7. Lancs were always going to struggle with such a mountain to climb and they managed to score just less than half the runs they needed before they were bowled out.

Div 1 Results

Berkshire beat Lancashire by 156 runs
Berkshire 308/5 (Alice MacLeod 107, Sherisa Gumbs 80, Megan Firclough 3/45)
Lancashire 152 (Bhumika Doshi 30, Linsey Smith 3/18, Lauren Bell 3/48)

Yorkshire beat Notts by 47 runs
Yorkshire 191/6 (Cecilia Allen 70*, Laura Spragg 34*)
Notts 144 (Sonia Odedra 31, Cecilia Allen 3/12)

Kent beat Surrey by 4 wickets
Surrey 140 (Kirstie White 51, Megan Belt 4/24)
Kent 141/6 (Charlotte Pape 59*)

Sussex beat Middlesex by 4 wickets
Middlesex 151 (Beth Morgan 72, Holly Colvin 5/33)
Sussex 154/6 (Holly Colvin 27*, Izzy Westbury 3/32)

Division Two

Staffs overcame a potentially difficult hurdle with a convincing win over Devon by six wickets. Devon were bowled out for just 108, but it could have been worse if number 10 Hazelle Garton had not managed to score 36 adding 57 for the last two Devon wickets. Staffs looked to be cruising to victory, before a flurry of wickets left them at 65/4, but Devon could not make any further in-roads into the Staffs batting order as Kathryn Whyle (22*) and Alex Hale (14*) took the Midlanders a step nearer Div 1.
But Somerset remain top of Div 2 thanks to an easy win over Scotland. Gwenan Davies (77) led her adopted county to 214/7 and Scotland never looked like getting very close after being reduced to 8/3. The middle order brought some respectability to the scorecard, but were never up with the rate and Scotland were bowled out in the 45th over for 129.
Essex chalked up their first win of the season against Worcestershire thanks to a magnificent 170 from Lily Reynolds. She opened and was the fourth wicket to fall by which time she had scored 170 out of Essex's 253. They went on to finish on 272/5. Worcestershire managed to get beyond 200 in reply, thanks in part to top-scoring extras of 48, plus some decent middle-order contributions.
And finally Durham managed another nail-biting win, this time against Ireland, by 7 runs. They are becoming masters of the art of defending low totals. This time they scored just 125 before they were bowled out in the 45th over. In reply Ireland lost wickets regularly falling seven runs short with three overs still to be bowled.

Div 2 Results

Durham beat Ireland by 7 runs
Durham 125 (Becky Glen 30, Kim Garth 3/13)
Ireland 118 (Mary Waldron 32*, Helen Fenby 4/18)

Essex beat Worcestershire by 68 runs
Essex 272/5 (Lily Reynolds 170)
Worcestershire 204/9 (Clare Boycott 44, Shona Keaney 3/38)

Somerset beat Scotland by 85 runs
Somerset 214/7 (Gwenan Davies 77)
Scotland 129 (Kathryn Bryce 37, Moira Comfort 3/26)

Staffordshire beat Devon by 6 wickets
Devon 108 (Hazelle Garton 36, Kathryn Whyle 3/30)
Staffs 109/4 (Kathryn Whyle 22*)

MD
20/VII/15

Could this be a decisive weekend in the Women's County Championship?

After the latest T20 action a few days ago the Women's County Championship returns to prominence this Sunday with a full list of fixtures, despite the fact that 27 England (Ashes duties) and England Academy (warm-up game v Australia) players will not be available for selection for their counties. It means that the counties that have relied on their England contingent will have to dig into their reserves, and there will be opportunities for others to take the limelight, as Lissy MacLeod did for Berkshire on Saturday. She top-scored with 61 and took 4/26, as Berkshire posted 202 and then bowled out Middlesex for 165.

It was Middlesex's second County Championship defeat in a row, with two T20 defeats sandwiched in between. This Sunday they take on Sussex, who will be one of the teams who will suffer the most due to England duties. Middlesex will be hoping to reinvigorate their season and Sussex will be hoping to maintain some sort of title challenge.

So who will be missing England players this Sunday?

Kent (5) - Charlotte Edwards, Lyda Greenway, Laura Marsh, Tammy Beaumont, Tash Farrant
Sussex (4) - Georgia Elwiss, Sarah Taylor, Georgia Adams, Freya Davies
Yorkshire (3) - Katherine Brunt, Lauren Winfield, Dani Hazell
Berkshire (2) - Heather Knight, Carla Rudd
Lancashire (2) - Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone
Notts (2) - Jenny Gunn, Danielle Wyatt
Somerset (2) - Anya Shrubsole, Sophie Luff
Warwickshire (2) - Rebecca Grundy, Amy Jones
Devon - Jodie Dibble
Essex - Beth Langston
Middlesex - Fran Wilson
Staffs - Evelyn Jones
Surrey - Nat Sciver

Div One Games
Lancashire v Berks at Wigan CC
Notts v Yorkshire at Welbeck CC
Surrey v Kent at the Kia Oval
Sussex v Middlesex at the County Ground, Hove

League leaders Kent visit local rivals Surrey at the Kia Oval without five frontline players. Surrey will be missing just Nat Sciver from their ranks. It must flip the odds in favour of Surrey who should have Rachel Candy and Sarah Clarke to lead from the front. Could Surrey inflict the first defeat on Kent this summer?
Yorkshire will be without their captain Lauren Winfield plus Katherine Brunt and Dani Hazell for their trip to Welbeck to take on Notts. Yorkshire had a good win over Middlesex two weeks ago, with their Aussie import Beth Mooney a major contributor with the bat. Notts will be missing Danni Wyatt and Jenny Gunn without whom they may struggle for runs, which should allow Yorkshire to keep the pressure on at the top of the league.
Sussex invite Middlesex down to charming County Ground at Hove and they will have to fill in five gaps left by England duties, plus another as Erin Osborne too is on Ashes' duty, but for the other side. The opportunity will be there for Middlesex, but they are low on confidence and Sussex's young pups have very little to lose. One big performance could win this game for either side.
Winless Lancashire take on a resurgent Berkshire side, who beat Middlesex last Saturday for their second win in four games. Both teams will be missing two English players each, with Berks' skipper Heather Knight perhaps the most influential with both bat and ball. Berks will also be without the services of Alex Blackwell, but they have Corinne Hall to replace her and some experience amongst their ranks and I think they may still have just too much for this Lancs Thunder team.

Div Two Games
Durham v Ireland at Durham City CC
Essex v Worcestershire at Garon Park, Southend
Somerset v Scotland at Brislington CC
Staffs v Devon at Milford Hall CC

Staffs against Devon is the top clash in Div 2, with Staffs attempting to keep their unbeaten record and Devon desperate to keep up a challenge for promotion . They are currently third but have already lost two games. A further defeat would end their chances so they have to go for it against Staffs. Defeat would be a blow but not be a disaster for Staffs. They do still have Somerset (the only other unbeaten side) to play. Hopefully both teams will agree to play that cancelled game at some time before the season ends in September.
Somerset take on Scotland, who will be glad that Anya Shrubsole and Sophie Luff will not be lining up for the west country team. But Somerset are likely to still prove too strong for Scotland, who are yet to get off the mark in this higher division.
Also winless so far are Essex, who entertain Worcestershire, at the generally pretty flat Garon Park. I cannot see it being a run-fest, but Worcestershire might just have the edge with the experienced Kiwi Sian Ruck, opening their bolwing attack. Early wickets from her might just clinch it.
And finally Ireland are at Durham. Both teams are consistently inconsistent so anything could happen. Ireland come off the back off a good win over Devon last time out, and Durham beat Worcestershire in a two run cliffhanger. Ireland will miss the experience of the injured Izzy Joyce, who is likely to miss the rest of the season, and they need at least one of their top order batsmen to stand up and get some runs on the board for the team. It could be another nail-biter?

MD
15/VII/15

Unbeaten Kent, Middx & Sussex clash in Week 2 of County T20 action

This Sunday the women are back in Nat West County T20 action around the country. Here are the details of who is doing what, where and some interesting clashes to look out for. This is the final weekend this season before the England squad will be withdrawn from games to concentrate on the Ashes, so teams should be at their strongest, subject to injuries. First games start at 10.30am.

Division One
At Arundel Castle - Kent, Middlesex and Sussex
At Welbeck CC - Berkshire, Notts and Yorkshire
At Bath CC - Ireland, Somerset and Surrey

Kent, Middlesex and Sussex
It just so happens that the three teams that won both their fixtures on the opening day of the Nat West T20 competition all meet at the picturesque Arundel Castle ground this Sunday. Kent beat Berkshire and Ireland; Middlesex beat Notts and Somerset; and Sussex beat Surrey and Yorkshire. If one team could win both their games this weekend then they would being sitting pretty at the top of the league having played half their games.
Sussex have the most powerful and diverse bowling attack and they will rely on them to keep their opponents' scores in check. They will have their work cut out against Middlesex's opening pair of Sophia Dunkley and Tash Miles, and Kent's experienced top order of Edwards, Beaumont, Greenway and Marsh. Early wickets will be the key for Sussex.
It will be interesting to compare the left-arm spin of Sussex's former England star Holly Colvin and Middlesex's Alex Hartley, who is flirting with selection for the Ashes squad. Both are happy to give the ball some air and entice batsmen into false shots. Both could prove to be very effective again.
Kent have their own young spinner in Megan Belt, plus former Sussex player Laura Marsh, and Charlotte Edwards is once again twirling her arm over for her county.
The standard of cricket is going to be very high and one or two stand-out performances will win the individual games. Too close to call.

Berkshire, Notts and Yorkshire
Each of these teams picked up one win in the first week of the competition. Berkshire beat Ireland by eight wickets; Notts beat Somerset by seven wickets and Yorkshire beat Surrey by 10 wickets.
For Notts Danni Wyatt was in scintillating form with the bat. She scored 102 against Somerset and 89 (54b) in a losing cause against Middlesex. She is obviously a key wicket for Notts' opponents.
As are the Yorkshire opening pair of Lauren Winfield and Aussie Beth Mooney. Both looked in great touch as they clocked up an unbeaten opening partnership of 125 to waltz past Surrey's 122/7. In addition Yorkshire have the free-swinging Katherine Brunt and Alex Macdonald in their middle order. Berkshire have England VC Heather Knight at the top of their order, followed by the hard-hitting Lissy MacLeod. Get past those and you just have Australia's Alex Blackwell to contend with (playing her last game for Berkshire before joining her touring Aussie teammates).
Notts won the trophy last year and they have a good T20 pedigree, so I tip them to beat Berkshire, but I think they may find Yorkshire too strong for them. If Yorkshire can also overcome Berks it could be a good weekend for them.

Ireland, Somerset and Surrey
None of these teams managed a win in the first round of fixtures, so they will all be anxious to get off the mark. Opening bat for Somerset, South African Lizelle Lee, can take the game away from any team if she gets going, and the home team will be hoping she does. Somerset and England opening bowler Anya Shrubsole has also looked good with the bat recently, so she too will be a key player, playing at her home club.
Surrey have had a bit of a torrid time of late, both in the county championship and T20 competition, but they had to manage the first T20 week without leg-spinner Sarah Clarke and Kiwi Rachel Candy was injured in game one. If both are back they could get their T20 campaign back on track.
Ireland struggled to get runs on the board against Kent and Berks in their first round games. Div 1 is a step up for them and Somerset and Surrey will do them no favours this weekend. They need someone in their top five to bat through their innings to set up a decent score. They may struggle.

Division Two 
At Fordhouses CC - Cheshire, Essex and Staffs
At Durham City CC - Durham, Derbyshire and the Netherlands
At Leamington CC - Lancashire, Wales and Warwickshire

Lancashire, Wales and Warwickshire
Lancs and Warwickshire made the perfect start to their T20 campaign with two wins out of two. Lancs overcame Essex (in a 10 over slog) and Derbyshire (with some ease). Warwickshire brushed aside the Netherlands and Staffs, bowling them out for 59 and 64 respectively. Warwickshire are probably the team to beat out of these three and Wales may find it hard to overcome a young and enthusiastic Lancashire team.

Cheshire, Essex and Staffs
Cheshire had a great opening weekend with two wins over Durham (4 runs) and Wales (48 runs). Essex and Staffs may be tougher this week. Essex beat Derbyshire to clock up their first win in any competition this season, but Staffs drew a blank with clattering defeats to both Warwickshire and the Netherlands. They will hope to bounce back this weekend and record their first T20 points of the season.

Durham, Derbyshire and the Netherlands
Promoted Derbyshire struggled in their first games in Div 2 four weeks ago and they may do so again this weekend. Durham beat Wales by four runs, but then lost by the same margin to Cheshire. They should be too strong for both Derbyshire and the Netherlands, who have one win under their belt over Staffs.

MD
3/VII/15

Staffs & Somerset in Div 2 driving seat

Staffordshire and Somerset remain unbeaten in Division Two of the Women's County Championship after both secured relatively comfortable victories over Essex and Wales respectively. Both are pulling away from their chasers as third-placed Devon slipped to their second defeat of their 2015 campaign at the hands of Ireland, by just seven runs. Worcestershire also lost their second game of the season, by the even narrower margin of two runs, to Durham. At the bottom of the league Scotland (who did not play this weekend) and Essex are both still winless.

Staffs and Somerset still have each other to play, of course (after being rained off at the beginning of the season). Staffs also have Devon, Essex and Worcestershire. Somerset have Scotland, Durham, Worcestershire and Wales still left to play.

Game 17 - Devon v Ireland
Ireland 165 all out (Kim Garth 54)
Devon 158 all out (Amara Carr 33)
Ireland won by 7 runs
Devon will be kicking themselves as this was a must-win game for them if they were going to keep up the pressure on the Staffs and Somerset. They had Ireland at 73/7 at one stage but a great rearguard action by Kim Garth who finished on 54 not out, allowed Ireland to get to 165 all out. It was to prove seven runs too many for Devon, who made a great start through Amara Carr (33) and Aylish Cranstone (22) as they added 66 for the first wicket, but from there on Devon lost wickets at regular intervals, with the last four batsmen being run out, with nine unused balls when the final wicket fell.

Game 18 - Durham v Worcestershire
Durham 133 all out (Catherine Chapman 31, Jo Greaves 3/24)
Worcestershire 131 all out (Lauren Rowles 44, Elysa Hubbard 4/20)
Durham won by 2 runs
Having bowled Durham out for just 133 Worcestershire were probably quite confident they could record their third win of the season, but Durham in the shape of Elysa Hubbard (4/20) and Rachel Petherick (3/19) had other ideas. Worcestershire were reduced to 89/8 and the game seemed gone, only for Lauren Rowles (44) to revive the Worcestershire innings. She and number 10 Emma Walters (4*) took Worcestershire tantalizingly to within three runs of victory, before Rowles was caught behind. Still Worcestershire had another wicket in hand, but despite surviving for several balls no more runs could be added before Durham snapped up the final wicket.

Game 19 - Essex v Somerset
Somerset 101 all out (Hannah Jeffery 3/6)
Essex 72 all out (Cordelia Griffith 22, Anya Shrubsole 4/18, Jenny Withers 3/12)
Somerset won by 29 runs
In another low-scoring game Somerset came out on top. They only just scraped past 100 themselves, bu then they bowled out opponents Essex for just 72, with only Cordelia Griffith (22) making double figures. It was Anya Shrubsole (4/18) that blew away the Essex top order, with Jenny Withers claiming the wicket of Griffith and two more, as Essex slipped to their fourth defeat in four games, following relegation from Div 1 last year.

Game 20 - Wales v Staffordshire
Wales 174/8 (Lauren Parfitt 30)
Staffordshire 175/5 (Molly Strano 47*, Evelyn Jones 40)
Staffordshire won by 5 wickets
Staffs maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a comfortable victory over Wales. Wales made steady if unspectacular progress throughout their innings with five batsmen getting into double figures, but none going on beyond 30. In reply Evelyn Jones and Charlotte Whyle opened up with a partnership of 70 before Jones was run out. There was a slight middle order wobble but Aussie Molly Strano (47*) continued her fine season holding the Staffs' innings together and getting them over the line with eight balls and five wickets to spare.

MD
22/VI/15

Week 2 - Middlesex and Somerset set the pace in Divs 1 & 2

It was another action-packed weekend of women's cricket in Divisions 1 and 2 of the Women's County Championship, with some great performances and some amazing results.

In Division 1 Surrey and Notts went into the weekend having won two from two, only for both of them to lose both their games this weekend and throw the County Championship wide open again. It was Middlesex that stepped through the wide-open door, with a nail-biting four run win over Surrey and a comfortable eight wicket win over struggling Lancs. They now sit top of the league with those two wins and the Championship seems to be theirs to lose now. True they still have Kent and Sussex to play, but Kent are likely to be without Charlotte Edwards, Lydia Greenway and Laura Marsh, at least, for that encounter at the end of August, and Sussex could well be missing five front-line players when they meet Middlesex in mid-July. The fixtures have fallen beautifully for Middlesex and it is a question of whether they can hold their nerve. Kent remain unbeaten after comfortable wins over Lancs and Notts, but their strength in depth will be tested in their last four fixtures against Warwickshire, Surrey, Middlesex and Berkshire, who will also be missing their England players of course.

In Division 2 Somerset have shown their title credentials after an emphatic 117 run win over fellow-contenders Devon in their only game of the weekend. True Devon's bowling attack was somewhat depleted after injuries the previous day, but South Africa's Lizelle Lee is loving life in Division 2, smashing runs to all parts of the ground for her maiden century for Somerset. It won't be her last this year. Staffs share top-spot after easy wins over Durham and Ireland. They have tougher games to come. It was also a great weekend for Worcestershire who won both their games against Scotland and a cliff-hanger against Wales. They have proved to be the surprise-package of Div 2 this year and they must be looking forward to their next fixture against Durham in four week's time.
(Div 2 matches will be reviewed and uploaded this afternoon)

Div 1 Review

Game 9 - Berks v Notts
Berks - 182/8 (Alex Blackwell 38, Danni Wyatt 2/18)
Notts - 145 all out (47.1 overs) (Jenny Gunn 52*, Fi Morris 3/28)
Berks won by 37 runs
Berkshire were probably disappointed to only post 182, but it proved to be more than enough as Notts crumbled to 145 all out with only Jenny Gunn (52) and Georgie Boyce (35) putting up any real resistance. Notts made a terrible start to their reply losing Richards, Wyatt and Odedra with only five runs on the board. They also lost Wyatt to hospital as she was run out after slipping and dislocating her shoulder. Gunn did her best to keep Notts in the game, but ran out of partners in the 47th over.

Game 10 - Kent v Lancs
Lancs 180/8 (Kate Cross 68, Kara Sutherland 3/17)
Kent 142/2 (33 overs) (Charlotte Edwards 51, Tammy Beaumont 47)
Kent won by 8 wickets on a faster run rate when game ended by rain after 33 oversLancs did well to recover from 76/5 to post a respectable 180/8 thanks to the bat of Kate Cross and some stickability from the lower middle-order. But Charlotte Edwards (51) and Tammy Beaumont (47) broke the back of the run chase with an 84 run opening partnership despite Kate Cross's bowling, and Greenway and Marsh were leading Kent to an easy victory when the rain brought a premature halt.

Game 11 - Surrey v Middx
Middx 170 all out (Tash Miles 50, Rachel Candy 4/21, Sarah Clarke 3/50)
Surrey 166 all out (41.3 overs) (Libby Walters 30, Danni Warren 5/34)
Middlesex won by 4 runs
Beth Morgan's 100th game for Middlesex was an absoulte cracker. Kiwi Rachel Candy continued her good form for Surrey picking up four wickets as Middlesex threw away a good start (they were 104/2 at one stage) set up by Tash Miles (50), Catherine Dalton (39), and Fran Wilson (30) to finish on a below-par 170. Surrey just needed one of the top five to stick around and they would have got home, but they all fell for 30 or less and it was too much for the lower order who subsided to the wily old medium pace of Danni Warren with more than eight overs still left to play and only four runs needed.

Game 12 - Sussex v Warks
Warks 148/9 (Rebecca Grundy 32, Minahil Zahoor 30)
Sussex 149/3 (Sarah Taylor 74)
Sussex won by 7 wickets
A rather disjointed Sussex strolled to victory over a dysfunctional Warwickshire, who having won the toss bravely elected to bat against one of the strongest bowling attacks in the country. Their opening pair of Rebecca Grundy (32) and Minahil Zahoor (40) managed to add 70 for the first wicket, but they took 21 overs to do so. Amy Jones (1) came in at three but when she was nonchalantly caught one-handed over her head by Izi Noakes at mid-off trying to hit Holly Colvin over the top, the writing was on the wall for Warks. Their young batting line-up gradually capitulated with only Georgia Hennessy (27) putting up any great resistance, as Warks were helped to their total by three dropped catches, some shoddy Sussex fielding, plus a rather blinkered attitude to the bowlers used. The wickets were shared around and Aussie import Erin Osborne claimed her first wicket for the county.
In reply Sussex made a swift start as Adams (20) hit three 4s off the second over, but Georgia Elwiss (10) went in the 6th over and Adams was well caught at slip shortly after to leave Sussex on 40/2. But Sarah Taylor (74) and Izzy Collis (32*) dispatched the far too frequent bad balls adding 93 for the third wicket before Taylor lofted a catch to mid-off, but it was too little too late for Warks.

Game 13 - Berks v Yorks
Berks 104 all out (Alex Rogers 24, Dani Hazell 6/28)
Yorks 105/1 (Lauren Winfield 42*, Katherine Brunt 41*)
Yorkshire won by 9 wicketsBerkshire's batting crumbled to dust before the spin bowling of Dani Hazell (6/28) and Katie Levick (2/40) as they stumbled their way to just over 100 runs. It was never going to be enough and Katherine Brunt, batting at three smashed a quickfire 41* to end the game in just the 15th over of the Yorkshire reply.

Game 14 - Kent v Notts
Kent 214/7 (Laura Marsh 58, Lydia Greenway 57, Sonia Odedra 2/33)
Notts 87 all out (26.5 overs) (Zoe Richards 34, Laura Marsh 5/15, Megan Belt 4/34)
Notts started strongly against the current County Champions removing both Tammy Beaumont (14) and Charlotte Edwards (17) to leave Kent on 40/2, but Laura Marsh (58) and Lydia Greenway (57) added 122 for the third wicket to set up a total well beyond the reach of Notts, minus Dani Wyatt due to her injury from the previous day. From 56/1 Notts disintegrated as a procession of batsmen came and went, with the next nine wickets adding only another 31 runs to the total, as off-spinners Laura Marsh (5/15) and Megan Belt (4/34) wrapped up an easy victory for Kent.

Game 15 - Middx v Lancs
Lancs 101 all out (Natalie Brown 28, Izzy Westbury 3/15, Sophia Dunkley 3/28)
Middx 102/2 (Sophia Dunkley 36*)
Middlesex won by 8 wickets
Middlesex kept their 100% record with a convincing win over Lancs who are really struggling to find their feet in Div 1. Invited to bat Lancs could only muster 101 as they were tied in knots by the Middlesex spinners - Westbury, Dunkley and Hartley. Once Middlesex's Dunkley and Tash Miles had added 63 for the first wicket the result was never in doubt. It was only when skipper Titmuss brought Kate Cross on at fourth change that Lancs got a breakthrough as she picked up both openers. But Middx did not panic and they got home in the 28th over.

Game 16 - Surrey v Warks
Warks 176/9 (Georgia Hennessy 66, Sarah Clarke 3/32)
Surrey 171 all out (49.4 overs) (Sarah Clarke 34*, Katie Green 4/24)
Warwickshire won by 5 runs
Warwickshire pulled off a remarkable victory against title-contenders Surrey thanks to a battling 66 off 110 balls by Georgia Hennessy, and the complete failure of Surrey's top order to score any runs. Hennessy entered the fray with Warks in trouble at 16/2 with both opening bats back in the hutch. When she left Warks had taken their score to 132/6. The lower order eked out another useful 44 runs, five of which would ultimately prove to be the difference between the teams. Surrey's top order got bogged down and then got out to Rebecca Grundy after opening bowler Katie Green had taken two wickets in two balls, including Nat Sciver for her second golden duck of the season. For a while it looked as though 7,8 and 9 - Candy (25), Scutt (23) and Clarke (34*) - might pull off the victory for Surrey, but Anisha Patel accounted for Candy and Scutt and then Green returned to finish off what she had started and to finish with the fine figures of 4/24. Surrey ended up just 5 runs short to round off a thoroughly miserable weekend for them.

Div 2 Review

Game 9 - Devon v Wales
Devon 217 all out (Jodie Dibble 118, Claire Thomas 3/37)
Wales 136 all out (32 overs) (Lauren Parfitt 46)
Devon won by 4 runs when Wales set revised target of 140 to win in 32 overs due to rain interruption
Devon had skipper Jodie Dibble's 118 to thank for their par total of 217 all out. Only three other Devon batsmen made double figures and the highest of those was Cait O'Keefe's 24. Wales used eight bowlers as they tried to winkle Dibble out, but she completed her maiden senior century before falling with the score on 195/7. Between innings rain delayed Wales' response and when they came back out they needed to score 140 from 32 overs. Devon made early inroads, but opener Lauren Parfitt (46) kept Wales' hopes alive. Even when she fell with the score on 100 Wales only needed 40 off 8 overs. Gradually the equation reduced to 17 off 5 with three wickets still in hand, then 11 off three and eight off two. Cartwright was the eighth wicket to fall and with five needed off the last over both Scarborough and Parfitt were run out by Rebecca Silk to clinch the win for Devon.

Game 10 - Durham v Staffs
Staffs 244/1 (Evelyn Jones 115*, Molly Strano 80*)
Durham 150/9 (Rebecca Newark 36*, Stephanie Butler 2/16)
Staffs won by 94 runs
Evelyn Jones (115*) batted throughout the entire Staff's innings for her maiden century for Staffs. She was joined in the controlled run-fest by Aussie Molly Strano who hit 80*. Durham were never in the game after they lost early wickets and only reached 150 thanks to the late order efforts of number 8 Rebecca Newark (36*).

Game 11 - Essex v Ireland
Ireland 139 all out (Kim Garth 49*, Hannah Jeffrey 5/19)
Essex 123 all out (47.1 overs) (Cordelia Griffith 31, Amy Kenealy 3/17, Kim Garth 3/20)
Ireland won by 16 runs
The only significant partnership in the Irish innings was the ninth between Kim Garth (49*) and Amy Kennealy (7 off 33 balls). They took the Ireland score from 63/8 to 112/9 before Kenealy succumbed. A last wicket partnership of 27 between Garth and Jennifer Gray took the final Ireland score to 139. It proved to be too much for Essex who are struggling desperately in Div 2 having been relegated from Div 1 last year.Only opener Cordelia Griffith (31) and keeper Emily Smith (23) scored above 11 as Garth and Kenealy took on the role of tormentors with the ball too. Essex eventually ended 16 runs short when they were bowled out for 123.

Game 12 - Worcs v Scotland
Worcs 211/9 (Joanna Cull 49*, Thea Brookes 43, Abbi Aitken 5/34)
Scotland 179/9 (Olivia Rae 36, Kate McGill 32*, Abigail Houghton 3/32)
Worcestershire won by 32 runs
Worcestershire's middle-order batting all contributed with Joanna Cull (49*) and Thea Brookes (43) the pick of the them. Together they got Worcs to the respectable total of 211/9. Regular early wickets in the Scotland reply, including three in a row to Abi Houghton (3/32), put Scotland on the back foot and they never recovered to challenge the Worcs total despite 36 from Olivia Rae and late runs from Katie McGill (32).

Game 13 - Durham v Scotland
Durham 166/7 (Catherine Chapman 39, Becky Glen 37)
Scotland 50 all out (Elizabeth Priddle 32*, Helen Fenby 4/11. Rachael Petherick 3/24)
Durham won by 105 runs
Durham set Scotland 167 to win, based around a decent third wicket stand between Catherine Chapman (39) and Becky Glen (37). It was a target that Scotland probably felt happy chasing, until that is, they went into bat. Elizabeth Priddle (32*) was the only Wildcat to get into double figures as her partners found ways t get out at the other end. Coming in at four she remained unbeaten as Helen Fenby took four wicket in just 28 balls (4/11) to skittle Scotland out for just 50.

Game 14 - Somerset v Devon
Somerset 312/2 (Lizelle Lee 111, Sophie Luff 109*)
Devon 195 all out (50 overs) (Jodie Dibble 54, Cait O'Keefe 48)
Somerset won by 117 runs
South African opener Lizelle Lee (111) and England Academy's Sophie Luff (109*) took full advantage of a depleted Devon bowling attack (due to injury the day before) and the beautiful Taunton wicket to add 153 for the second Somerset wicket. Luff, scoring her maiden senior century, then added another 139 with Anya Shrubsole (63*) as Somerset piled up 312/2. Devon got to 96/1 in reply, but then lost wickets in clusters as the game slipped away from them.

Game 15 - Staffs v Ireland
Ireland 133 all out (Shauna Kavanagh 36, Laura Delany 34)
Staffs 137/4 (Francesca James 52)
Staffs won by 6 wickets
Once again Ireland's batting looked fragile as they struggled to 133 all out in 44.1 overs with all five of the Staff's bowlers used claiming a brace of wickets for not many runs. Only three Irish players made it into double figures with opener Shauna Kavanagh (36) and number 6 Laura Delany (34) the only major contributors. Staffs had little trouble knocking off the runs they needed, with Francesca James, coming in at four, after some rather pedestrian progress, smashing 52 off just 26 balls including five 6s. She left the carnage with just 11 needed to win, which Staffs achieved in the 32nd over.

Game 16 - Worcs v Wales
Worcs 176/8 (Clare Boycott 53, Lauren Rowles 44)
Wales 174 all out (50 overs) (Megan Burton 35)
Worcestershire won by 2 runs
Having used eight bowlers the previous day Wales went one better in this match with only the keeper and one other not getting a bowl. Ffion Wynne came out the top bowler with 2/16. Worcs' middle-order did most of the run-scoring with Clare Boycott (53) and Lauren Rowles (44) chief scorers. After losing the in-form Lauren Parfitt early Wales looked to be in trouble as they tried to chase down 177 to win, but Megan Burton (35) got them to 130/5, before a flurry of wickets left them floundering again on 137/8 with overs running out. Rose Evans (21) added 14 for the ninth wicket with Cartwright before she became Sian Ruck's second victim. Evans and number 11 Marsha Davies then took the game to the last over, but still needed 15 to win. They got 13 but Evans was out off the last ball to give Worcs the win by just 2 runs.


MD
26/V/15