Kent women enjoy resounding home win over Surrey women

Kent women got their chance to play at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence on Sunday and grabbed it with both hands, enjoying a resounding victory over Surrey women. This followed the disappointment last summer when two fixtures at the ground were completely washed out.

Kent won the toss and elected to bat, a decision that surprised no-one.

Charlotte Edwards and Tamsin Beaumont got the home side off to a cracking start putting on 118 for the first wicket before Lottie's luck finally ran out. She had been dropped twice, the first time when she was on only 16, but moved on to 64 before being the first of Sarah Clarke's victims after blasting 11 4s from her 71 ball innings. Her opening partner Tamsin Beaumont continued with Lydia greenway and they put on another 30 before Tammy became Clarke's number two ( of 3), being stumped for 53 . She had found the boundary 7 times.

Greenway was joined at the crease by Laura Marsh and they continued to help build on the foundations laid by the one and two by adding 56 , taking kent to 204 – 3 Lydia made 50 from 56 deliveries, but was caught the following delivery. Marsh was joined by Deanna Cooper and became the forth Kent player to pass 50 making 66 from 68 balls before being bowled by Edie Kelly . As the overs ran out, Kent continued to pile on the runs and finished on 271-5

Surrey never really looked like they were going to get close. The first wicket fell in the first over with just 1 run on the board and, although Sophie Pout and Natalie Sciver put on 30 for the second wicket, theirs was the highest partnership. The bowling honours were spread evenly through the Kent side, two for Dee Tress and three for Deanna Cooper , and one a piece for Jenni Jackson, Hannah Jelfs, Charlotte Pape, Elysa Hubbard and, on her bowling debut, Megan Belt.

With just 125 on the board as the last wicket went down, Surrey were 146 runs shy of the Kent total – and Kent take maximum points to the table, with just the last game of the season between them and a place in the title final play off at the beginning of September. Kent play Yorkshire at Harrogate next week.

A big thank you to all at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence who made Sunday's match possible. Particularly, Jamie Clifford who was so disappointed that the two games last season were lost to the weather , and who came along with many others from Kent Cricket Board to show support for the women on the day.