Marsh and Farrant shine in Middlesex loss

Laura Marsh continued her fine start to the season with the ball and Tash Farrant’s career-best 27 were not enough as Kent lost to Middlesex at Mill Hill School.

Without captain Tammy Beaumont resting a niggle, vice-skipper Alice Davidson-Richards won the toss and elected to field as Kent did in their opening two wins of the season.

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Middlesex, winless in the opening weekend double-header, batted patiently to see off the new ball as openers Naomi Dattani (16) and Natasha Miles (40) added 62 for the opening wicket.

England off-spinner Marsh made the breakthrough and removed both openers before former England internationals Fran Wilson (37) and Beth Morgan (34) frustrated the Kent attack.

Wilson was trapped LBW to Kent’s overseas signing Arlene Kelly as the New Zealander broke the resistance before a sharp Chelsey Rowson run-out dismissed Morgan.

Farrant returned to complete a tidy but wicketless 10-over spell which yielded just 31 runs as the hosts posted 203 for five in 50 overs.

In reply, Kent’s inexperienced top order was tested as Lottie Bryan was bowled by Gayatri Gole for 9 before Phoebe Franklin’s cameo of 19 off 23 balls was ended by Katie Wolfe as the visitors slipped behind the required run rate.

England duo Davidson-Richards (6) and Marsh (17) tried to occupy the crease with plenty of overs to spare but fell to England Academy seamer Sophia Dunkley, who was the pick of the attack with 4-23.

Fellow England Academy player Izzy Cloke (15) was one of four Kentish batsman to reach double figures with 16-year-old Rowson reaching an unbeaten 15 as Kent were dismissed for 155.

Next up for Kent is a trip to high-flying Hampshire next Sunday (20 May) at Andover (11am). The newly-promoted county have former Kent duo Charlotte Edwards and Suzie Bates in their ranks.

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