Kent claim Women's County Championship title after Bank Holiday double success

Kent needed 15 points from their game against Lancashire to make the title mathematically certain, and this they achieved as promising teenage fast bowler Chelsey Rowson took 4-24 to bowl Lancashire out for 161

Kent have won a record eighth Women’s County Championship title, seeing off both their closest rivals over the Bank Holiday weekend to crown themselves with a game to spare.

Taking on Yorkshire at Harrogate on Sunday, Kent were bowled out for 121 off the final ball in a rain-affected game – Fran Wilson and Maxine Blythin joint-topscoring with 32.

It proved five too many for Yorkshire, who finished 116 for 7, Leah Dobson 30 not out at the end.

The result left Kent needing 15 points from their game the following day against Lancashire to make the title mathematically certain, and this they achieved as promising teenage fast bowler Chelsey Rowson took 4-24 to bowl Lancashire out for 161.

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An undefeated half-century from Wilson then wrapped things up with six overs to spare, to send the trophy back to its forever-home in Kent.

Elsewhere, Hampshire picked up their first two wins – Providence Cowdrill taking 4-19 as they defeated Warwickshire, and captain Katie George hitting 80 not out to see off Notts.

Warwickshire also finally got a win on the board – Amy Jones smashing an unbeaten 101 off 96 balls to defeat Surrey. This completed a sorry weekend for Surrey, who also lost to Notts despite a run-a-ball hundred from Bryony Smith.

Meanwhile England fans will be delighted to see that Sarah Taylor made her return for Sussex, after missing most of the season through injury; though it didn’t help them much as they failed with the bat yet again versus Yorkshire – bowled out as they were for 139.

Sussex did get a win against Lancashire, thanks to Nancy Harman who took 4-19 as Lancs failed to chase 135 in a rain-reduced match at Kate Cross’s home club ground Heywood CC.

The Cricketer is syndicating CRICKETher's coverage of women's domestic cricket in England and Wales throughout the 2019 season