Kent Women Bounce Back – Day Two Match Reports

Kent Women’s T20 team responded in resounding fashion to yesterday’s first up loss to Surrey in the Regional T20 Finals, beating them in the return fixture by 7 wickets at the start of day 2.

Having won the toss captain Charlotte Edwards opted to field. Her faith in her bowling stocks was rewarded quickly with Surrey 29 for the loss of 4 wickets by the time the ninth over had arrived. The early wickets included Surrey’s top scorer from yesterday, Natalie Sciver, caught by Erin Bermingham off the bowling of Alice Davidson-Richards for 5. A 44 run partnership for the fifth wicket looked to add some respectability but when Bryony Smith was caught by Lydia Greenway from the bowling of Laura Marsh for 20, the shackles came back on. With the run out of top scorer Libby Walters, 28, by Edwards, with the score at 85 – 8 a repeat of yesterday’s 130 + score was gone. Surrey making 89 for the loss of 9 wickets in their 20 overs. Noteworthy bowling contributions were made by Davidson-Richard, 4 overs, 12 runs and 2 wickets, Charlotte Pape, 4 overs for 13 runs, and Marsh, 4 overs, 17 runs and 2 wickets.

Set 90 for victory, Kent set off at a steady pace with openers Edwards and Greenway going at just over 5 per over. The pair were broken in the fourth over, Greenway out for 15, bowled by Rachel Candy, with the score at 23. Edwards departed, stumped for 12, with 36 on the board, and Deanna Cooper, bowled for 6 by Katherine Robson was the third and last Kent wicket to fall. Tammy Beaumont, 30 not out off 30 balls, and Grace Gibbs, 22 not out off 30, seeing the team home in 17.3 overs.

To view complete scorecard click here.

The repeat mid afternoon fixture between Surrey and Essex ended with a similar result, the Surrey Women having a comparatively comfortable win. Batting first Surrey scored 146 for the loss of 6 wickets. In response Essex could only manage 109 runs. Surrey winning by 37 runs.

The final match of the tournament, a must win for Kent if they were to progress to finals day, pitted the hosts against Essex. Having won the toss Essex elected to bat and came up against a fired up Kent bowling attack. They did manage to survive 17.4 overs but accumulated only 58 runs. Only two players, Bryony Butcher, 17, and Heather Graham, 11, managed to make double figures. All five Kent bowlers returned impressive results: Megan Belt, 3.4 overs for 7 runs and 3 wickets, Erin Bermingham, 4 overs, 15 runs and 4 wickets, Alice Davidson-Richards, 3 overs, 8 runs, 1 wicket, Charlotte Pape, 4 overs, 19 runs and 2 wickets and Laura Marsh 3 overs for 9 runs.

The Kent chase was clinical in its execution, completed in 8.1 overs for the loss of one wicket, Lydia Greenway for 1 with the score at 3. Charlotte Edwards finishing on 28 not out off 29 balls, including 5 x 4’s, and Tammy Beaumont, 27 not out from 18, including 4 x 4’s. Victory by 9 wickets.

T o view full scorecard click here.

At the end of the Tournament Kent and Surrey ended with the same playing record, played four, won three, lost one, and points but given the superior run rate the Kent Women’s team moves forward to T20 finals day, Sunday 3 August at a venue to be confirmed.

Kent Cricket Women's Team is proudly sponsored by Canterbury Christ Church University, to find out more about them pleaseclick here.