In the inaugural Vitality T20 County Cup, Kent secured their place in the second round with a decisive five-wicket victory over Middlesex at Radlett, chasing down a modest target of 137. A significant contribution came from Elsa Barnfather, who impressed from the No. 6 spot with a quickfire 29 from just 14 balls, helping her team finish the chase with over two overs to spare.
Middlesex initially appeared well-positioned, reaching 85 for 1 in the 12th over, largely due to Finty Trussler’s composed half-century. Trussler, however, departed for 52 after facing 41 balls and hitting ten fours, triggering a loss of momentum. Opener Artemis Downer managed 30 off 34 balls, but aside from Gayatri Gole, who made it to double figures, the rest of the batting line-up struggled, closing on 136 for 7. Kent’s Amy Gordon captured two wickets, while wicketkeeper Molly Davis contributed with three stumpings.
In response, Kent’s openers, Gordon and Grace Poole, hit the ground running, adding 42 within the first five overs. Although Kent faltered slightly when Gordon was bowled by Hannah Davis, Anaya Patel’s economical spell of 3 for 18 wasn’t enough to stop Barnfather, who capitalised on her recent form—having just scored a century and taken five wickets in a friendly—to guide her side to a second-round berth against Berkshire.
The “FA Cup-style” competition, orchestrated by the ECB, invites 37 teams from across three tiers of the women’s county system. All 13 match-ups in the first round featured teams from Tiers 2 and 3, with Tier 1’s professional teams joining in the third round.
Another highlight was Yorkshire’s commanding 122-run win over Derbyshire at Harrogate, where Lauren Winfield-Hill struck an impressive 88 off 52 balls, including 19 boundaries. They’ll next face Staffordshire, who outclassed Cumbria by seven wickets.
In a potential upset at Hove, Sussex narrowly avoided being toppled by Tier 3’s Buckinghamshire. Sussex, in trouble at 58 for 5, were rescued by Talitha Stanley’s unbeaten 29. Stanley also performed with the ball, taking three wickets as Buckinghamshire folded for 78.
Additional results included Glamorgan’s robust home win over Gloucestershire by 33 runs, courtesy of a 77 off 41 blitz by Bea Ellis, following a solid foundation laid by captain Lauren Parfitt. Meanwhile, Northamptonshire prevailed over Worcestershire by five wickets, and in a nail-biting encounter, Devon edged Dorset by four wickets with five balls remaining.
The second round promises more exciting fixtures, with match-ups such as Yorkshire vs Staffordshire and Berkshire vs Kent leading the lineup.
