Kent Women pipped to County Championship title
Friday 18th September 2015
Kent Women were pipped to the Royal London County Championship by Yorkshire who won their sixth 50-over title.
Yorkshire demolished winless bottom side Lancashire to seal a two-point advantage over Kent, who had led Division One for much of the season despite missing several England players.
With captain Charlotte Edwards, Lydia Greenway and Laura Marsh selected for England as well as Tammy Beaumont and Tash Farrant receiving Academy call-ups, a youthful Kent side took to the field for much of the summer.
Edwards hit two 50s in her five Championship matches averaging 55 and Marsh topped the Division One bowling averages with nine wickets at just 8.22 runs each, including 5/15 against Nottinghamshire at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.
Charlotte Pape topped the batting averages with only one dismissal in her four innings including a match-winning 59 not out at the Kia Oval as a young Kent defeated Surrey, ending the season with an average of 86.
Four players made their 50-over debuts that day including 14-year-old Molly Davis, a glowing endorsement of the work done by clubs and age group coaches to nurture promising talent.
Spinner Megan Belt, 17, was Kent’s top Championship wicket-taker with 13 wickets. Australian all-rounder Kara Sutherland and England all-rounder Laura Marsh claimed nine with Charlotte Pape and Tash Farrant taking seven apiece.
The White Rose county now joins Kent and Sussex with the equal most wins ahead of a major overhaul of the women's game.
In 2016, the new six-team £3million Women's Cricket Super League will be launched for 20-over cricket, with 50-over matches incorporated into the new franchise structure.
Kent finished third in the NatWest T20 competition, level on points with winners Sussex and runners-up Yorkshire.