Kent Women beat Lancashire at Beckenham
Tammy Beaumont and Alice Davidson-Richards hit half-centuries after Laura Marsh took three wickets as Kent defeated 2017 champions Lancashire at The County Ground, Beckenham.
England off-spinner Marsh followed her three-wicket haul on Sunday with 3/34 in ten tidy overs as Lancashire recovered from 38-5 to post 157 before Beaumont and Alice Davidson-Richards’ unbroken 121 stand saw the hosts home.
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Kent skipper Beaumont won the toss and again opted to field first in a repeat of her decision in the win against Yorkshire on Sunday.
New-ball duo Arlene Kelly (2/27) and Tash Farrant (2/23) struck early thanks to smart catches by wicketkeeper Lauren Griffiths, standing up to the stumps on her 50th appearance for Kent.
With Eve Jones and Shachi Pai back in the Pavilion, Rachel Duckworth soon followed thanks to a smart Alice Davidson-Richards throw denied her an ambitious single.
The spin duo of Megan Belt (2/19) and Laura Marsh entered the fray to further restrict the scoring and it was Marsh who struck three times to put Kent in control.
The Kent Cricket Academy graduate removed the dangerous Emma Lamb who holed out to Grace Gibbs before bowling England team-mate Kate Cross with a beauty that clipped the top of off stump to the delight of the off-spinner.
The Farnborough-born bowler then induced the edge of Eleanor Threlkeld into the gloves of Griffiths to continue her superb start to the season.
Belt moved to 99 wickets in her Kent career by bowling Jess Couser and removing England international Sophie Ecclestone, caught superbly overhead by Alice Davidson-Richards at cover.
Farrant returned to take a second wicket a good catch to remove Rachel Dickinson who hit 36 to boost Lancastrian hopes with a gritty stand of 44 in 14 overs with Nalisha Patel top-scoring with 38 as the visitors posted 157.
In reply, Dover-born Beaumont (70*) and Tunbridge Wells all-rounder Alice Davidson-Richards (61*) recorded their 22nd and third one-day half-centuries for Kent.
Scorecard >
Other results: Hampshire bt Warwickshire, Yorkshire bt Middlesex, Notts bt Somerset.
Next up Kent travel to Mill Hill School to play Middlesex on Sunday (13 May, 11am).
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