Berkshire v Oxfordshire
A nail-biter played out at Falkland CC as Oxfordshire triumphed over neighbouring Berkshire by just one wicket.
Chloe Westbury and Emilia Bartram starred with the ball for the Ox, both picking up three wickets, with the former finishing up with astonishing figures of 3-7 from 7.1 overs.
The duo had Berkshire 25-3, clattering into the stumps of the top order, before Lauren Avery and Izzy Storrar helped the home side’s recovery.
They ground out partnership of 71 with both batters reaching the 30s before Avery gave a catch to Westbury off the bowling of Genny Porter for a 97-ball 36.
Georgia Haworth then added to her wickets column by dismissing both Freya Johnson and Kali-Ann Docherty, with Bartram, Westbury, and Georgia Prestedge finishing off the Berkshire innings to have them 135 all out.
In reply, a strong opening partnership between Porter and Carla Wood set the foundation for Oxfordshire.
The scoreboard showed 85 runs before the first wicket fell off the bowling of Shayna Chikhlia as Wood was caught by Francesca Clarke for 25.
Despite being only 50 runs away from their target, the visitors found themselves in trouble when Hollie Summerfield ripped through the middle order, dismissing Finty Trussler, Aimee Diab and Emilie Bartram, with Chiklia removing Porter for a well-made 63, to peg Oxfordshire back to 124-6.
Two more wickets fell in quick succession as Honor Murray was bowled by Chiklia for one, whilst Ellie Ingram failed to trouble the scorers – Oxfordshire needed seven runs with two wickets in hand.
With the scores level, captain Abi Currie was lbw to Clarke for four, and Georgia Haworth strode out to bat.
Three balls later, and the match was over as Haworth and Katie Waugh ran through for a single to give Oxfordshire the victory by just one wicket.
Dorset v Buckinghamshire
Rain was the winner after 41 overs were played between Dorset and Buckinghamshire at Kilmington and Stourton CC.
Winning the toss and electing to put their opposition in, Dorset started well as Loren Dean removed Bucks skipper Isabella James for 13, as players getting starts then getting out seemed to be a pattern of the visitors’ innings.
Cara Duggan was the next to fall, bowled by Emily Roberts, before Lizzie Williams picked up two quick wickets of Ella Claridge (21) and Rosie Lloyd (0) to leave the visitors at 69-4.
A partnership of 46 then came to fruition from the bats of Natasha MacBean and Megs Woodward, the latter making a run-a-ball 26 before being bowled by Leah Cutler.
MacBean then fell for the last double figure score of the innings as Bucks found themselves on 128-6, as Cutler, Dean, and Emilia Butler – plus a run out from skipper Victoria Pack – bowled Bucks out for 146.
After the innings break, Alissa Shannon struck in the very first over, cleaning up Emilia Butler for a five ball duck, but unfortunately no more play was possible as play was abandoned after a single over of Dorset’s reply.
Hampshire v Sussex
Sussex came out victorious in the latest el clasicoast clash at Lord Wandsworth College.
Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the Sussex prawns ended their 50 overs on 231-8 with Southern Vipers’ Nancy Harman top scoring with 49.
Former Viper Gemma Lane struck early to remove Phoebe Wilkinson for four, but despite starts from Izzy Collis, Lucy Western, and Mollie Adams, wickets fell semi-regularly for Sussex as Talitha Stanley and Katie Jones got stuck in with the ball.
Jorja Wright picked up the wicket of Chiara Green for 32 as Sussex were faltering slightly at 129-5, but a partnership with 77 between Harman and Reginia Suddahazai pushed the Prawns past the 200 mark.
Spinner Harman was dismissed one shy of her half-century, before Stanley dismissed Suddahazai for 35 to give her her third wicket of the game.
Tidy bowling in the death overs from Stanley, Lane, Darcey Clarke and Caitie Croft, kept Sussex to 231 as only five runs were scored off the final 12 deliveries.
In reply, a Izzy Pugh and Ashneet Chahal took nine runs off the opening over before the former was caught by Green off the bowling of Faye Mullins in the fourth.
Continued pressure from the Sussex bowlers brought about another wicket, as Clarke went for five to Lottie Jeffreys, and Hampshire were 20-2 after the first ten.
Jeffreys then picked up another two wickets in two overs, as she claimed Abby Stevenson for one, and the experienced Dani Ransley for two – Hampshire 39-4 after 16.
Chahal was still there though, but a substantial partnership was yet to come by as Mia Clark was bowled by Harman in the 21st over, and the home side found themselves five down needing a further 180 runs.
Bella Mitchell was dismissed for six at the halfway mark, with Wright cleaned up for a duck by Suddahazai before she caught Gemma Lane for a single off the bowling of Harman.
At 75-8 after the 31st over, Hampshire were up against it, but a partnership finally came in the form of Chahal and Stanley.
In the 37th over, opener Chahal reached her 50 from 103 balls, and two overs later, the fifty partnership was brought up in just 53 balls as the home side were determined to drag things back in their favour.
However, after another three runs, Stanley was cleaned up by Chiara Green with 104 runs still required in less than ten overs.
Some clean striking from number 11 Croft showed that the game wasn’t done just yet, and Sussex had to work hard to claim victory.
Twelve runs were taken off the 43rd over, all from the bat of Croft, but the run rate continued to climb thanks to tidy bowling from Izzy Collis.
Coming back into the attack, Suddahazai struck in the second over of her spell as Croft was stumped by Mollie Adams for 28 off just 21 deliveries, leaving Ashneet Chahal 61 not out having carried her bat, as Sussex claimed victory by 69 runs.
The South Central Counties Cup continues on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th August with the following matches:
For the full list of South Central Counties Cup fixtures, please follow the link below.
The Business Development Executive will support the day-to-day operation of our hospitality and advertising sales efforts and play a key role in identifying new opportunities, leads, and supporting the delivery of memorable experiences for our guests.
The Business Development Executive will support the day-to-day operation of our hospitality and advertising sales efforts and play a key role in identifying new opportunities, leads, and supporting the delivery of memorable experiences for our guests.
Watch the live stream of Hampshire Men's Rothesay County Championship match against Worcestershire at Utilita Bowl
