Jackson stars with bat and ball as new-look side lose at Warwickshire
Jenni Jackson hit a career-best 44 not out and took two wickets as a youthful Kent side lost their opening Women’s County Championship match of the season at Warwickshire.
The 26-year-old was one of five players to achieve career-best scores as three debutants aged 16 and under made their debuts among eight teenagers in the Kent team at the Edgbaston Foundation Ground.
Molly Davis and Lottie Bryan gave Kent the perfect platform with a patient 44-run stand in 11.5 overs.
Warwickshire’s Liz Russell grabbed four wickets as Kent lost wickets in flurries before skipper Grace Gibbs struck six fours in a brisk career-best 33.
Chelsey Rowson hit 17 on her debut and shared stands of 25 and 27 with Gibbs and Jackson.
The visitors achieved maximum bonus points in reaching 200-9, helped largely by a 66-run ninth-wicket stand with Megan Belt who struck 29.
In reply, Gibbs and Cloke each removed an open in their new-ball spells to restrict Warwickshire to 47 for two before Rowson grabbed her maiden wicket.
Half-centuries from home skipper Marie Kelly and Gardner added 89 for the fourth wicket before Jackson and Belt took two wickets each to give Kent hope.
Annabelle Richards struck on debut to give the hosts some jitters before they sealed a two-wicket win.
The side will aim to bounce back at Nottinghamshire on Bank Holiday Monday (1 May) with vice-captain Alice Davidson-Richards available after international duty to lead the side.
Other results: Lancashire (18pts) bt Middlesex (6pts), Nottinghamshire (10pts) bt Sussex (0pts), Yorkshire (10pts) by Berkshire (0pts).
The first home match is against Sussex at The County Ground, Beckenham on Sunday 14 May before a Bank Holiday double-header v Lancashire & Yorkshire on Sunday 28 and Monday 29 May.