Under-15 Girls into County Championship final after win over Staffs.

Sussex Cricket's Women & Girls Development Officer, Charlotte Burton reports from Grantham:

The Sussex under-15 girls won their ECB National County Championship semi-final against Staffordshire by 93 runs on Tuesday to book their place in tomorrow’s final.

After losing the toss at Grantham CC, Sussex were put into bat. McCaughan and Mendis started well before McCaughan was bowled for 12 and Mendis followed soon for two.

Anderson and Sweet made a good start against Staffordshire’s spinners, but were separated when Anderson was bowled for 7. Sweet went for 12 soon after.

Young and Angel came in and worked the ball around before a Staffordshire player took a nasty fall on the boundary and the game was suspended for quite some time whilst an ambulance attended.

After the resumption, Young and Angel put on a good partnership before Angel was bowled for 33 off just 18 balls; the top score of the innings.

Young followed soon on 28 and Spooned and Kemp rebuilt. Spooned scored 21 off 22 balls and it was Kemp (29) and Eagle (26) who put on a good partnership at the end to help Sussex to 222-9 from their 40 overs.

Sussex started well with the ball keeping the runs down and it wasn’t long before Anderson took the first wicket. Kemp struck shortly after to dismiss Staffordshire’s other opener.

Buckle then came to the party and took her first wicket thanks to a great overhead catch from Young. The spin of Young, Spooned and McCaughan further becalmed Staffs. who found it increasingly difficult to score.

The pressure told and wickets tumbled at regular intervals and Staffordshire fell well short having been dismissed for 129 in 37.2 over.

Young was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2-11 off 8 overs.  McCaughan took 2/13 off 4.2 and their were also wickets for Kemp (1/11 off 5), Buckle (1-8) , Eagle (1-5), Anderson (1-16) and Spooner (1-25).

Sussex play Yorkshire in the final tomorrow, also at Grantham CC (10.45am start).