Tammy Beaumont hits ton as Kent Women are pipped to T20 title
Monday 17th August 2015
It was double T20 heartbreak at the weekend as Kent Women fell just short in their bid to win the title as the reigning 50-over county champions’ bid to win the 20-over crown ended.
Kent Women were pipped to the T20 title by Sussex on net run rate despite an emphatic 31-run win against Surrey on Sunday inspired by skipper Tammy Beaumont’s unbeaten century at Polo Farm.
A heavy defeat in the earlier match against Nottinghamshire meant they finished second on run rate as Kent were locked at the top on 22 points with Sussex and Yorkshire.
Sussex won two matches at East Grinstead after Kent and Yorkshire both lost one of their final two fixtures.
Skipper Beaumont struck 104 from 76 balls including 12 boundaries and a massive six into the Canterbury Cricket Club nets as Kent posted 146 without loss from their 20 overs.
Partner Alice Davidson-Richards played her part as she gave her partner the strike in her knock of 33 not out.
In reply, the main resistance came from Susie Rowe who smashed 46 off 41 balls in her final ever cricket match at the age of 28.
The former Kent and England bat and current Canterbury Hockey Club player struck six fours before Hannah Jelfs trapped her LBW on the way to 4-23.
England international seamer Tash Farrant gave Kent the ideal start by removing both openers and Megan Belt took 2-20 as Surrey were all out for 110.
In the opening match, Kent were comprehensively beaten by Nottinghamshire thanks to an excellent all-round display by England Test bowler Jenny Gunn.
The seamer recovered from the neck injury that kept out of the Kia Women’s Test at Canterbury to smash an unbeaten 51 off 37 balls as the visitors posted 136 for 4 off 20 overs.
Opener Sonia Odedra scored 46 after left-armer Tash Farrant took the early wickets of Danni Wyatt and Georgia Boyce.
Aussie all-rounder Kara Sutherland and 17-year-old Phoebe Franklin each took 1/20 off three overs as Gunn and Odedra added 62 in 61 balls to get Notts into three figures to a target that Kent could not threaten.
Skipper Tammy Beaumont’s brisk 25 off 17 balls included five fours to give the county champions a strong start but Kent collapsed from 28-2 to 56 all out.
The county champions will hope to bounce back by completing an unbeaten season in 50-over cricket on August 30-31 with trips to Middlesex (Merchant Taylor's School) and Berkshire (North Maidenhead).
Two wins will secure a record seventh County Championship title, making Kent the most successful county in women's cricket.
Final 2015 T20 Division One table
Current 2015 Royal London Women's One-Day County Championship table