KYC Under 15 girls played away to Sussex at Lancing College on Saturday 10th July.

As the college was closed for the summer, the girls were able to play on the main pitch this year, which is overlooked by the impressive college chapel, proving an attraction for some of the parents to visit before the match. Despite the threat of the sea mist visible across the coast, the sun remained out all day and while the wind kept the players cool, the spectators were divided between those chasing the shade early in the day and those chasing the sun once the shadows started falling across the ground.  Captain Grace Gibbs won the toss and chose to bat first.

The Sussex opening bowlers were getting plenty of bounce from the pitch, giving the opening batters some painful blows. Only 2 Kent batters got out of single figures, one being Gibbs herself, with a quick 28 (including five 4’s) before being bowled by Davies. Thankfully Katherine Long came into form, stuck to her task and was on a superb 119 (including eighteen 4’s and one 6) when she herself was eventually caught by Davies off the bowling of McPhilemy in the 31st over.  This was the highest individual score for the team this season. The biggest partnership of the day was 73, between Long and Lottie Bryan (6) and Grace Franklin and Rebecca Wickington both hit super fours in their first outing with the bat for the under 15’s. With a light sprinkling of runs from the rest and 15 extras, Kent finished on 183 for 9 in their 35 overs.

The Sussex batters struggled from the start losing Harvey in the first over, bowled by Gibbs for 0. Paniment was then caught behind by Long off the bowling of Gibbs also for 0, Janman was run out by Emma Waters throwing in to Long and Davies was caught behind by Long off the bowling of Charlotte Pape. Phillipa Skelton-Hook and Bryan joined the party, taking a wicket each and by the 14th over Sussex were 27 for 6.

Left hander Norris dug in and along with Harrod put on 23 for the 7th wicket before some nimble fielding by Waters off her own bowling saw Harrod run out backing up at the non strikers end. While not a hat-trick in the true sense of the word, Waters bowled Norris and Freeborn in the next 2 deliveries to complete a personal 3 wickets from 3 balls.  She had to wait while the umpires allowed the batter to leave the field for a ‘comfort break’ before bowling her official hat-trick ball which was defended. They didn’t have to wait long for the final wicket though, which went to Olivia Barber in the next over and Sussex were all out for 52 (23 of those coming from extras).

With 6 wins out of 6 and the likelihood that the rain affected match v Essex will not be replayed, Kent have one more match v Surrey at St. Johns School, Leatherhead this Saturday 17th July, to secure a place in the quarter finals. 

The scorecard is available for download here.