A win each for Sussex and Middlesex ensures nothing between sides in race for second

Cassidy McCarthy took five wickets across the two matches (Photo: Lee Floyd)

Sussex and Middlesex shared the spoils from their two matches in the Vitality Women’s County T20 at Mill Hill School on Sunday. In two low-scoring encounters, Sussex won the morning fixture by six wickets, with the home side exacting their revenge in the afternoon with a 16-run victory.

In the first game, Sussex’s stand-in captain Chiara Green lost the toss and her side were asked to field first. Middlesex made a solid start to their innings, putting on 47 for the first wicket. Green’s introduction to the attack removed both openers in quick succession, however, with Lucy Porter bowled and  top-scorer Naomi Dattani stumped by Carla Rudd.

Middlesex struggled to regain any momentum thereafter and limped to 90 for 6 from their 20 overs. Green finished with excellent figures of 2 for 8 from her four overs. Off-spinner Beth Harvey also took two wickets, while Cassidy McCarthy, who had borne the brunt of Dattani’s 35 from 39 balls,  returned strongly at the death to pick up a wicket. The seamer was also active in the field taking a catch and executing a run out. While ending wicketless, Tara Norris was her usual economical self, conceding just nine runs from her allocation.

Sussex’s chase was anchored by Ella McCaughan, who made 40 not out from 53 balls. Her main support came from Green and Mary Taylor who made 15 and 10 respectively, both at exactly a run-a-ball. Victory came with seven balls to spare, Emily Spooner (6 from 5 balls) the other unbeaten batter.   

In the afternoon match, Middlesex once again won the toss and elected to bat and then went on to reach the same total of 90, but for nine wickets this time. Norris (1 for 15) dismissed the dangerous Dattani with a full, straight delivery in the third over, and once again Middlesex then found the going tough. McCarthy took 4 for 28, Harvey again was rewarded for her tidy bowling with two wickets and there was one each for the Taylor twins, Mary and Millie.

An excellent new-ball spell from Katie Wolfe saw openers Norris and McCaughan dismissed in consecutive balls as Sussex’s chase got off to a poor start. Middlesex’s bowlers were disciplined and the pressure told when both Rudd and Green were run out thanks to direct hits from Natash Miles.  Sarah Taylor (21 off 34) and Mary Taylor (16 not out from 14) were Sussex’s main contributors, but Middlesex made scoring difficult throughout so that the visitors could only reach 74 for 6 from their 20 overs.

Full scorecards are available here.

A win each meant that both sides took four points from the day and are now one of four teams on 12 points, as Hampshire and Surrey also won one and lost one against each other. Kent maintained their 100% record after beating winless Essex twice and with 24 points are now uncatchable at the top of the South East Group table.

The battle for second place will conclude in the final round of matches next Sunday, with Sussex taking on Kent in Maidstone, Hampshire welcoming Essex to Totton & Eling CC and Surrey playing host to Middlesex.

Points table is available here. 

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