After a washout at Chigwell School last week, summer came to Brooklands CC on Saturday when Kent took on Surrey in the U15 Girls league. Kent won the toss and Captain Grace Gibbs chose to bat first, a decision which meant Surrey fielded in the worst of the day’s heat.

Emma Marsh came of age as a Kent opener, batting in the heat for 33 of the 35 overs and building partnerships of 33 with Charlotte Pape, 62 with Tash Farrant, 34 with Gibbs, and 23 with Philippa Skelton-Hook.  Kent were well set at 170 for 5 by the end of the 31st over and with the tail continuing to get runs they finished on 195 for 7 off their 35.

Marsh was out in the 33rd over for 54 with Farrant scoring 33 in 9 overs and Gibbs 26 in 4 overs, accelerating the score in the middle of the innings.

After Gibbs struck with the first ball of the Surrey innings, (Kerins caught by Emma Waters), Surrey were never really able to keep up with the run rate. Once the 2nd wicket partnership of 23 was broken by left handed Farrant, she took 2 further quick wickets with Skelton-Hook (2 wickets and a run out) and Waters (3 wickets) finishing off the rest.  Surrey finished on 108 all out off 26.4 overs, with Kent conceding 30 extras.

Farrant finished with bowling figures of 4 overs 3 for 8, Waters 5.4 overs 3 for 9 and Skelton Hook 5 overs 2 for 11.

There were also catches by Long, Gibbs, Kayleigh Roscoe and Farrant but the most spectacular by far was by Olivia Price who after running backwards, fell heavily ending on her back in the outfield, but still keeping hold of the ball.

Kent are at home again on 12th June against Essex.