Kent Women continue unbeaten run with Lancashire win
Kent Women continued their unbeaten start to their title defence with an eight-wicket win against Lancashire, writes Elliot Mulley-Goodbarne.
Australian all-rounder Kara Sutherland was the pick of the bowlers taking 3-17 in six overs with support from fit-again England all-rounder Laura Marsh who claimed 2-26 in ten overs after a hamstring injury delayed her start to the season.
Hannah Jelfs and Charlotte Pape took a wicket a piece with a fantastic run-out from Lydia Greenway helping the county champs restrict Lancashire Thunder to 180 for eight in 50 overs.
In a match delayed by rain, Edwards scored a quick 51 off 69 deliveries as her team tried to chase down Lancashire’s total of 180 before the rain came in.
Edwards and Tammy Beaumont used all their experience to see out the new ball as Edwards hit 51 in a 84-run first-wicket stand.
When Beaumont fell, rain was in the air before Greenway and Marsh steered Kent ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis target before the umpires finally called a halt to proceedings, only 38 short of Lancashire’s total after 33 overs.
After winning the toss under blue skies at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Charlotte Edwards invited the visitors to bat first in the Royal London One-Day County Championship match.
Edward was rewarded for her decision to field first when Emma Lamb mistimed a cut stroke in the fourth over and Lydia Greenway took an easy catch at point.
As Lancashire looked to rebuild from their early loss a change of bowlers did for the other opening batsmen. Laura Marsh came on and had Laura Marshall caught at cover by Deanna Cooper, drilling the ball straight to the fielder.
Regular wickets then hampered the Lancashire innings as Hanna Jelfs, Charlotte Pape and Laura Marsh all picked up more wickets in the ensuing 15 overs.
In stepped Kate Cross at number 6 in the 20th over with the score at 66-4. After a nervous start the all-rounder took the attack to the Kent bowlers, smashing Pape for two 4s over midwicket.
Cross then drove Natasha Farrant over the opening bowler’s head twice in an over and then cut Farrant twice to the square leg boundary in her next over.
However a magic 48th over from Sutherland saw the end of Cross as well as Lancashire’s hopes of reaching 200.
Lauren Griffiths took a great one-handed catch behind the stumps sending her back with 68 runs.
Kent's fielder extraordinaire Greenway also took another catch at point, this time running in and catching one handed on the ground to send Lancashire on their way to 180-8 after 50 overs.
Kent’s opening pair then set about chasing down Lancashire’s total. Edwards in particular looked fluent cutting the first ball of the innings for 4 with Tammy Beaumont chipping in with a couple of boundaries for herself.
The opening pair brought up the 50 after 13 overs with the opening pair looking comfortable and Edwards closing in on another 50 that she brought up with a lofted straight drive over Sophie Ecclestone’s head.
But Ecclestone had her revenge later in the over as Edwards picked out Jasmine Titmuss to leave her side exactly 100 runs to win with Lydia Greenway and Tammy Beaumont at the crease.
But Lancashire could not capitalise on the breakthrough as Beaumont and Greenway both put together another partnership worth 49 runs when Tammy Beaumont departed LBW off Patel when the rain came in.
As Kent resumed on 139 for 2 their target now reduced to 148 with 8 overs left rain came in again and stopped the game with Kent ahead of the run rate.
Skipper Charlotte Edwards said: “I’m really pleased. We’re unbeaten so far and to beat a decent Lancashire side is pleasing and I hope we can carry it on against Notts tomorrow.
“It was one of those days, we knew that there was rain around and decided to bowl first to give ourselves a chance to chase down a total.
"I seem to bat well here and I hope I will be able to continue throughout the summer with the Kia Test here as well."
Next up Kent face top-of-the-table Nottinghamshire at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence at 11am today (Monday 25 May).
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