Three-way tie at top of Div 1 settled by NRR!!

In the preview on Friday we suggested that it was perfectly possible for there to be a four-way tie at the top of Div 1 of the NatWest County T20 competition after the final games were played on Sunday. As it turned out three teams all finished on 24 points.

Division One
Yorkshire, Ireland and Middlesex are at Harrogate CC
Sussex, Somerset and Berkshire are at East Grinstead CC
Kent, Surrey and Notts are at Polo Farm Sports Club

How the drama unfolded
At the start of the day it was Yorkshire and Kent who were in the driving seat with five wins out of six under their belts, one win ahead of Sussex and Middlesex, but by 1.30pm the situation had altered dramatically.
Yorkshire (86 all out) had lost to Ireland (87/3) by 7 wickets; Kent (56 all out) had lost to Notts (136/4) by 80 runs (Jenny Gunn 51* and 5/3); and Sussex (95/9) had beaten Berks (92/7) by three runs ( Freya Davies 4/19).

All three teams were now level on points.

By 4.30pm Middlesex (92/5) (playing their first game of the day) had joined them there after beating Ireland (68 all out) by 24 runs.

All four teams were now level on points.

And all four teams were playing in the last games of the day and the last games of the tournament:-

Kent were playing Surrey

Sussex were taking on Somerset

and Yorkshire and Middlesex were taking on each other

Kent completed a solid win over Surrey after racking up 146/0 (including 104* for Tammy Beaumont) and restricting them to 115 all out. They moved on to 24 points

Sussex had allowed Somerset to rack up 127/8 (despite Holly Colvin's 4/10), but then managed to chase this score down reaching 130/4 in 18 overs thanks to 60 from Georgia Adams. They too moved on to 24 points.

It was now a question of who would win out of Yorkshire and Middlesex and thereby join Kent and Sussex equal on points at the top of the league.
If Yorkshire won then it would come down to a NRR calculation as each team had lost one game to one of the other two. If Middlesex won Kent would be champions as they had beaten both Middlesex and Sussex in the group matches.

Yorkshire batted first and made 116/4 (Alex Macdonald 52*). Middlesex started off strong in reply and were 29/0 after three overs, but at the start of the fourth over they lost Tash Miles, and then in the sixth Sophia Dunkley, to be pegged back to 35/2. By the half-way stage Fran Wilson (29) and Cath Dalton (6) had taken Middlesex to 54/2. They needed 63 off the last 10 overs. In the 13th over they lost Dalton, quickly followed by Wilson and Dattani in the 15th over. At 73/5 Yorkshire seemed to have the game under control, but Beth Morgan (25*) and Izzy Westbury (21*) made one final charge for Middlesex. They got it down to 19 off the last two overs and then 10 off the last one, and then four off the last ball. But they could only manage one, leaving Yorkshire victors by 2 runs.

As the NRR calculation needed all the group match scores for all three teams no definitive calculations could be made until all the results went up on the Play Cricket website, which did not happen until 5pm today. It showed that Sussex had won by 0.05NRR (see final table here) from Yorkshire, with Kent third.

At the bottom of the table Notts pulled off a magnificent Houdini act securing wins against Kent and Surrey to lift themselves out of the second relegation place. Two further defeats for bottom club Surrey consigned them to Div 2 T20 cricket next year, where they will be joined by Somerset, who gave themselves a chance of escaping the drop by convincingly beating Berkshire by 47 runs, but then lost to Sussex as they charged for the title.

Division Two
Derbyshire, Cheshire and Warwickshire are at Denby CC
Essex, Wales and the Netherlands are at Billericay CC
Durham, Staffs and Lancashire are at Durham City CC

In Division Two Lancashire won both their games against Durham and Staffs to remain unbeaten and ensure promotion to Div 1 next year as Division Two champions. They will be accompanied by Warwickshire who also won both their games to finish clear in second place ahead of Essex. Two defeats for Staffs and the Netherlands ruined their chances of promotion, and Durham's win over Staffs was enough to consign Derbyshire and Cheshire to Div 3 T20 cricket next year.

MD
17/VIII/15

Round 3 of County T20 this Sunday

We may be in the middle of an Ashes Series, but the county fixtures continue this weekend with the third round of the Nat West County T20 competition. It seems that none of the England contracted players will be in action for their counties, and several Academy players will also be missing as they line-up for the EWA in a two day warm-up game against Australia at Loughborough this weekend.

This weekend's groupings are:-

Division One
Yorkshire, Somerset and Kent at Harrogate CC
Notts, Ireland and Sussex at Welbeck CC
Middlesex, Surrey and Berkshire at Merchant Taylors' School

Division Two
Wales, Staffs and Derbyshire at Pontarddulais CC
Lancs, Netherlands and Cheshire at Glossop CC
Warwickshire, Essex and Durham at Knowle & Dorridge CC

Preview

Division One is led by unbeaten Kent at the moment with Yorkshire and Sussex hard on their heels. Kent will be without six frontline players, which should give Yorkshire and Somerset an opportunity. But Yorkshire are themselves without Brunt, Hazell and Winfield and Somerset will be missing Shrubsole, and South African Lizelle Lee, who has had to return to South Africa due to a serious shoulder injury. Yorkshire will be very keen to pick up two more wins, inflicting a defeat on Kent on the way, which would take them to the top of the league.
In Nottinghamshire Sussex will hope to come away with two victories in their games against Notts and Ireland. Again the two English counties will be missing some key players, but Sussex's strength in depth could see them through if they can put some runs on the board.
The tightest games are likely to be at Merchant Taylors' School, where Middlesex, Surrey and Berkshire clash. Middlesex have struggled of late, whereas Berkshire are on a bit of a roll. Surrey might trouble them both, so your guess is as good as mine on these three fixtures.

In Division Two Lancashire, who are struggling in Div 1 of the County Championship are currently unbeaten in Div 2 T20 games. This Sunday they take on second placed Netherlands and mid-table Cheshire in what looks like the match-up of the weekend. It would not surprise me for honours to be even at the end of the day.
Staffs, who are unbeaten in Div 2 of the County Championship have yet to hit their straps in the T20 competition, with losses to Netherlands and Warwickshire in their first four games. They will be keen to add two more wins this Sunday when they meet Derbyshire and Wales, who are currently the bottom two in Div 2 of the T20.
Mid-tabled Warwickshire, Essex and Durham meet each other at the quaintly named Knowle & Dorridge CC in the West Midlands. Two wins for either Warwickshire or Durham could put them in with a shout of promotion to Div 1 next season, with just two more games to come after this weekend. Remember the top two teams in Div 2 will be promoted to Div 1 next year. There are no play-offs, so there is plenty to play for.

MD

30/VII/15

Nat West Women's County T20 Round 2 - Round Up

Division One

Kent were the big winners in the second weekend of Nat West Women's T20 fixtures with victories over their local rivals Sussex and Middlesex, which leaves them as the only unbeaten team in Div 1. Sussex remain in second with three wins out of four, where they are joined by Yorkshire who won both their games this weekend, beating Notts and Berkshire.
Surrey were the most unfortunate team of the weekend as both their games - against Ireland and Somerset - were cancelled and under the rules they get only 1 point for each game, effectively ruining their T20 campaign this season.
Berkshire, Middlesex and Somerset all have two victories under their belts, but last year's champions Notts have just the one to date, losing both their games this weekend.

Round 3 - Sunday 2nd August
Fixtures - Kent, Yorkshire & Somerset, Middlesex, Berkshire & Surrey, Ireland, Sussex & Notts

Results
Kent beat Sussex by 4 runs
Kent 113/7
Sussex 109/3

Kent beat Middx by 21 runs
Kent 135/5
Middx 114/9

Sussex beat Middx by 4 wickets
Middx 118/8
Sussex 119/6

Somerset beat Ireland by 8 runs
Somerset 96/7
Ireland 88/6

Ireland v Surrey - cancelled
Surrey v Somerset - cancelled
Yorkshire beat Notts by 4 runs
Yorkshire 112/8
Notts 108/7

Yorkshire beat Berkshire by 20 runs
Yorkshire 142/5
Berkshire 122/2

Berkshire beat Notts by 31 runs
Berkshire 122/7
Notts 91 all out

Division Two
Lancashire lead the way in Division Two as the only unbeaten team following wins over Warwickshire and Wales this weekend. The Netherlands have slipped into second place in the league as they also won both their games in Week 2, defeating Durham and Derbyshire. At the bottom only Derbyshire are without a win, with Wales and Durham just above them with one win each (although Durham have an extra point from a cancelled game). Mid-table sit Cheshire (who lost both their games this weekend), Essex, Staffs (who won both their games) and Warwickshire (who lost both theirs) with two wins each.

Round 3 - Sunday 2nd August
Fixtures - Staffs, Wales & Derbyshire; Lancashire, Netherlands & Cheshire; Durham, Essex & Warwickshire

Results
Staffs beat Essex by 9 wickets
Essex 84/8
Staffs 86/1

Staffs beat Cheshire by 7 wickets
Cheshire 124/1
Staffs 125/3

Essex beat Cheshire by 24 runs
Essex 65/5 (13 overs)
Cheshire 41/9 (13 overs)

Netherlands beat Durham by 9 wickets
Durham 63 all out
Netherlands 64/1

Netherlands beat Derbyshire by 22 runs
Netherland 113/9
Derbyshire 91/8

Derbyshire v Durham - cancelled
Lancashire beat Warwickshire by 15 runs
Lancashire 112/5
Warwickshire 97/8

Lancashire beat Wales by 8 wickets
Wales 50/9
Lancashire 51/2

Wales beat Warwickshire by 7 wickets
Warwickshire 99/9
Wales 103/3

Results from Week 2 of Nat West Women's County T20

Results from yesterday's T20 games are shown below (gleaned from various sources). Full details will be added during the day today as they can be found.

Division One

Kent won both their games against Sussex and Middlesex and go top of Division One with a 100% record. Sussex and Yorkshire are in second spot with three wins out of four.

Kent beat Sussex by 4 runs
Kent 113/7
Sussex 109/3
Kent beat Middx by 21 runs
Kent 135/5
Middx 114/9
Sussex beat Middx by 4 wickets
Middx 118/8
Sussex 119/6
Somerset beat Ireland by 8 runs
Somerset 96/7
Ireland 88/6
Ireland v Surrey - cancelled
Surrey v Somerset - cancelled
Yorkshire beat Notts
details awaited
Yorkshire beat Berkshire
details awaited
Berkshire beat Notts
details awaited

Division Two
Lancashire are the only unbeaten team in Division Two having beaten Warwickshire and Wales this weekend.

Staffs beat Essex by 9 wickets
Essex 84/8
Staffs 86/1
Staffs beat Cheshire by 7 wickets
Cheshire 124/1
Staffs 125/3
Essex beat Cheshire by 24 runs
Essex 65/5 (13 overs)
Cheshire 41/9 (13 overs)
Netherlands beat Durham by 9 wickets
Durham 63 all out
Netherlands 64/1
Netherlands beat Derbyshire
details awaited
Derbyshire v Durham - cancelled
Lancashire beat Warwickshire by 15 runs
Lancashire 112/5
Warwickshire 97/8
Lancashire beat Wales by 8 wickets
Wales 50/9
Lancashire 51/2
Wales beat Warwickshire by 7 wickets
Warwickshire 99/9
Wales 103/3

MD
06/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

Results from today's Div 1 & 2 T20 games

Results from today's games (gleaned from twitter):-
(full scores and review will be online soon)

Division One
Berks bt Ireland by 8 wickets
Ireland 104/5 (Laura Delany 32*, Berkshire 107/2 (Heather Knight 54*, Alex Blackwell 42*)
Middx bt Notts by 9 wickets
Notts 134/4 (16 overs) (Danielle Wyatt 89,  Middx 135/1 (Sophia Dunkley 66*, Tash Miles 42)
Yorks bt Surrey by 10 wickets
Surrey 122/7 (Alex Macdonald 4/28), Yorks 125/0 (Beth Mooney 62*, Lauren Winfield 53*)
Kent bt Ireland by 46 runs
Kent 144/4 (Tammy Beaumont 61, Charlotte Edwards 53), Ireland 98/5
Notts bt Somerset by 27 runs
Notts 142/2 (Danielle Wyatt 103), Somerset 115
Sussex bt Yorks by 8 wickets
Yorks 84/6, Sussex 88/2 (Georgia Adams 40, Georgia Elwiss 34)
Kent bt Berks by 4 runs
Kent 117/4 (Charlotte Edwards 39), Berks 113/8 (Heather Knight 27, Megan Belt 3/19)
Middx bt Somerset by 10 wickets
Somerset 48 (Danni Warren 3/6), Middx 49/0
Sussex bt Surrey by 8 wickets
Surrey 116/8 , Sussex 117/2 (Georgia Adams 57*)

Division Two
Cheshire bt Wales by 48 runs
Netherlands bt Staffs by 7 wickets
Essex bt Derbyshire by 6 wickets
Warks bt Netherlands by 90 runs
Lancs bt Essex by 15 runs
Durham bt Wales by 4 runs
Warks bt Staffs by 9 wickets
Cheshire bt Durham by 4 runs
Lancs bt Derbyshire

MD
14/VI/15

First round of T20 action starts this Sunday

Attention turns to the shortest format of the game this weekend as the first round of Nat West Women's County T20 fixtures are played across the country on Sunday.

This year the same four division format has been retained from last year, but this year all 9 teams in each division will play each other in a league structure over four separate Sundays. Three teams meet at one venue and play each other in three games on the same day (10.30am, 2.00pm and 5.00pm).

The teams in Div 1 this year are :- 
Berkshire, Ireland, Kent, Middlesex, Notts, Somerset, Surrey, Sussex and Yorkshire.

The first round of fixtures are on Sunday 14th June. The Div 1 fixtures are :-

Berkshire, Ireland and Kent at Finchampstead CC
Kent (runners-up last year) are likely to be at full-strength for this first round of games and Charlotte Edwards and the rest of her England contracted players must be favourites to come out with two wins, against Berkshire, who should have Heather Knight and Alex Blackwell at the top of their order, and newcomers to Div 1 T20 Ireland. But Kent have been known to slip up in T20 games and could do so again. Ireland have had a bit of mixed start to their season in Div 2, but they might fancy their chances against Berks. It could be a tight battle, but I think Berks will just come out on top.

Middlesex, Notts and Somerset at Edmonton CC
Notts and Middlesex made it to the final three last year, and Notts won the trophy after all three teams won one of their two games on Finals Day. Middlesex demolished Kent, but then got blown away by Notts. Notts lost to Kent, but by only 2 runs, so their NRR was the best of the three teams.
If Notts are at full strength they will be difficult to beat and they really like this format of the game. Watch out for some explosive hitting from young Georgie Boyce, England's Danni Wyatt and Aussie Zoe Richards for Notts. Somerset were promoted from Div 2 of the T20 competition last year as runners-up to Ireland, but this year they have South Africa's Lizelle Lee opening the batting for them. If she gets going it could be carnage. Middlesex are capable of beating anybody on their day, so all three games should be crackers. If you are near to Edmonton CC get down there.

Surrey, Sussex and Yorkshire at Horsley & Send CC
These three teams battled it out for 4th, 5th and 6th last year on Finals Day with Yorkshire just winning out over Sussex. Yorkshire's Lauren Winfield, Katherine Brunt and Alex Macdonald can all give the ball a thump, but they will be up against Sussex's class bowling attack, and Surrey's demon leg-spinner Sarah Clarke and Kiwi Rachel Candy. Will it be the bowlers or the batsmen that come out on top? Don't forget Surrey have England batsman Nat Sciver in their ranks and Sussex have Sarah Taylor - just the ICC's Number Four ranked batsmen in the world! One good performance either way could settle each contest, which should make the day great to watch for the neutral.

The teams in Div 2 this year are:-
Cheshire, Derbyshire, Durham, Essex, Lancashire Netherlands, Staffordshire, Wales, Warwickshire

The Div 2 fixtures are :-
Cheshire, Durham and Wales at Timperley CC
Wales who finished fifth overall in Div of the T20 last year could kick-start their campaign with two wins this Sunday against Cheshire (6th last year) and Durham (7th last year). The Cheshire v Durham game is likely to be tight, but Durham might just come out on top.

Derbyshire, Essex and Lancs at Denby CC
Derbyshire won T20 Div 3 last year and have therefore been promoted. They will have their work cut out to get much out of Lancs or Essex. But Lancs are having a bit of a torrid time in Div 1 of the County Championship and Essex are struggling in Div 2, so these games might be closer than one might imagine. Derbyshire have nothing to lose and will no doubt give it their all.

Staffs, Netherlands and Warwickshire at Fordhouses CC
Netherlands were the other team promoted from Div 3 of last year's T20 tournament - runners-up to Derbyshire, but both Staffs and Warwickshire will feel they can win T20 Div 2 and are unlikely to show them any mercy. The Staffs v Warks game will probably be the best in Div 2 this weekend.

MD
9/VI/15