Match Report: Sussex Women vs. Kent Women
After a postponement against Surrey, Kent Women’s Women’s London Championship campaign began against Sussex Women at the BACA Ground in Falmer.
Kent Women’s Women’s London Championship (WLC) title defence got off to a rocky start with a six-wicket defeat away to Sussex.
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A very useful 50 not out down the order from Darcey Carter helped Kent post 191 all out, which Sussex chased down in 33.3 overs to secure victory.
After winning the Toss and electing to bat, Kent Women Head Coach Dave Hathrill handed a debut to Hayes CC & Kent Under-15s’ Zeena Bilal amongst a mixture of youth and experience in the Horses’ eleven, with player availability at a premium due to the pending start of The Hundred.
Kent would loser opener Megan Sturge as well as Coco Streets in the fifth over as Cassidy McCarthy took two quick wickets to leave the visitors 18/2 and already in trouble.
South East Stars Academy prospect & Kent Women’s Emerging Player of the Year, Jemima Spence, helped with the Horses’ recovery by adding 43 runs despite losing another batting partner, Isla McCullouch for 10, until she was caught from the bowling of Chiara Green for 43 off 41.
Bilal was run out for no score, with Green bowling Jodie Hobson for two.
The batting pair of Carter and Kent skipper Megan Belt heaved Kent up from 69/6 to the 103-run mark before Belt was caught from the bowling of Asha Hinley, with Chelsey Rowson adding 19 to the total before being dismissed by the same bowler.
Kent’s batting then focused around Carter as she provided steadfast resistance after coming in ‘at nine’, posting a Kent career-best 50 not out from 51 to marshal Kent up to 191 all out – Mary Taylor bowling both Sydney Gorham and Alice Grant for low scores.
With 192 to win in 50-overs, Sussex’s batters could afford to start slowly and build their innings as they looked to gain victory over the 2021 champions.
Taylor and Phoebe Wilkinson built an opening stand of 50 runs until Wilkinson was bowled by Gorham for 24, but in came Chiara Green to again steady Sussex towards their target.
Green fell in the 22nd over, caught Gorham bowled Carter, but by this time Taylor had secured her half century with Sussex on course for victory.
She made 67 from 73 until being caught off Belt’s off-spin, and ‘keeper Rachel King was run out for nine, but Sussex reached 192/4 in the 34th over to pick up the victory.
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Kent Women’s next match is away to Middlesex next month, with details to be confirmed.
The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence will once again host a full England Women’s One-Day International (WODI) match in 2022, with a Royal London WODI against India under the lights in Canterbury on Wednesday, 21 September.
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Entry to England vs. India is FREE for all valid 2022 Kent Members & Ticket Bundle holders, and this fixture will count as one day of any Six Pack or Six Pack Plus Ticket Bundle.
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Entry to all Kent Women home matches will be FREE for 2022 Members and Ticket Bundle Holders.
