For the new season the ECB has rejigged the Vitality Women’s County T20 series. The South-East Group comprises Essex, Hampshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex.
Surrey hosted Kent in two consecutive games at the attractive Chipstead CC ground. In the first Surrey put Kent in. After losing two early wickets they recovered thanks to a 104-run partnership between the 17-year-old Grace Scrivens and Alice Davidson-Richards. When ADR was finally dismissed for 36 in the 17th, Susie Rowe joined in the fun, helping the total to 195-4 in the 20 overs.
Kirstie Gordon, who joined Kent last year but had her debut much delayed by coronavirus, dismissed Alice Capsey in the first over. Amy Gordon and Aylish Cranstone steadied the ship with a partnership of 58, but Surrey lost wickets at regular intervals as they tried to force the pace. They finished on 145-9.
The second game was a much tighter affair. This time Surrey elected to bat and saw 52 on the board before losing Amy Gordon for 29. Alice Capsey (38), Kirstie White (40) and Kira Chathli (22) continued to prosper, and Surrey set the challenging total of 152 for Kent to beat.
Both Sarah Bryce and Phoebe Franklin went early, so once again Scrivens (30) and ADR (63*) had to provide the bulk of the runs. Surrey’s bowling was so much tighter this time round that six runs were still needed at the last over started. The sequence went: two dot balls, two twos and a single, so ADR had to score off the last ball. Her brave choice was a reverse lap; it went for a single, so Kent won by 5 wickets, bringing an opening haul of 8 points.
