The ECB Women’s County Championship was due to come to a conclusion this weekend, with all eight groups having a finals day against the other teams in their group. Due to the weather last week, some of these games had to be postponed and will be replayed at a later date.
Those games that did manage to beat the rain and go ahead saw many Sunrisers First Team, Academy, and EPP players feature. The majority were on show at Felsted School, whilst two players were down at Sussex’s County Ground in Hove.
Find out how they got on:
GROUP 4 – Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk
Unfortunately because of the rain that fell last week, the ground was not safe for any play.
GROUP 5 – Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Sussex
Semi final 1: Hampshire v Buckinghamshire (Izzy James)
Izzy James featured for Buckinghamshire as they faced Hampshire at the 1st Central County Ground in Hove. Hampshire batted first and posted 176/4, with James claiming a run out in the final over of the innings. In reply, the Hants bowlers proved to be too strong for their opponents, bowling Buckinghamshire out for 60 to win by 116 runs.
Semi final 2: Sussex v Berkshire (Mia Rogers)
Mia Rogers kept wicket for Berkshire, as they faced the hosts in the second semi final. Sussex reached 136/5 in the first innings, before restricting Berkshire to 72/7 from their twenty overs to win by 64 runs. Sussex then went on to beat Hampshire in the final by 25 runs.
GROUP 6 – Kent, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Surrey
Similarly to Group 4, due to last week’s rain no play was possible in Group 6.
GROUP 7 – Essex, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Suffolk
Semi final 1: Northamptonshire (Jo Gardner, Jodi Grewcock, Flo Miller) v Suffolk (Maddie Reynolds)
Three Sunrisers First Team players were in action for Northamptonshire as they faced Suffolk at Felsted School. Grewcock (17), Miller (14), and Gardner (14*) all helped Northants towards a total of 155/3 from their twenty overs, playing key supporting roles to Josie Groves who hit 68. Reynolds took the catch to dismiss Grewcock.
In reply, Suffolk could only reach 76 all out against a strong bowling attack. Gardner (1 for 10 from four overs) picked up the wicket of Reynolds (10), who was caught by Grewcock, who also claimed a run out. Miller also took a catch in the field.
Semi final 2: Essex (Prisha Bedi, Kelly Castle, Sally Chapman, Hollie Dring-Richardson, Scarlett Hughes, Bella Johnson, Katherine Speed) v Hertfordshire (Elsa Barnfather, Mabel Reid)
Essex then faced Hertfordshire in the second semi final of the day, and chose to bat first. Hughes (31) laid the foundations at the top of the order, as Essex posted 133/6 from their allocated overs. Barnfather picked up two wickets in her four overs, including the dismissal of Johnson.
Herts then got off to a flyer in response, with Barnfather (38*) and Gemma Marriott (72) forming an opening partnership of 100. Bedi and Castle picked up a wicket apiece, before Hertfordshire completed an eight wicket victory with twenty balls to spare.
Final: Northamptonshire v Hertfordshire
Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to bat against Hertfordshire, before proceeding to bowl superbly and get their opposition all out for 65. Gardner (2 wickets for 10 runs) was one of three bowlers to pick up two wickets, whilst Alicia Presland took 3 for 8. Gardner then hit 29* in the response, supported by Grewcock’s 20, to guide her side to a comfortable win with eight overs to spare.
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