Women start Championship season with thrilling win

For the second season running, a Sussex bowler took six wickets in the opening Championship fixture as the team sneaked a thrilling one-wicket victory over Warwickshire at the Sir Rod Aldridge Cricket Centre in Falmer.

Leg-spinner Nancy Harman took 6 for 40 as Warwickshire were dismissed for 163 having been inserted at the home of Sussex Women.

Tara Norris was the other wicket taker, removing England international Amy Jones, while Izzy Collis was responsible for two of three run outs.

In reply, openers Georgia Adams (25) and England Academy player Ella McCaughan (18) made a solid start to take Sussex to 65 for one.

A middle order collapse saw the next five wickets fall for 26 runs, however, swinging the momentum back Warwickshire’s way.

Carla Rudd, playing her first match for the Sussex senior side since 2011 after rejoining the county over the winter, made a crucial 33 from number four and combined with Ella Wadey to add 62 for the seventh wicket to lift Sussex to within 11 runs of victory.

There was a further twist when Wadey was dismissed for a career best 38 and quickly followed back to the pavilion by Freya Davies and Rudd.

Norris and Harman held their nerve, however, to see Sussex home in the 45th over.

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Sussex are in action again tomorrow, when Nottinghamshire are the visitors on Women’s County Cricket Day. Play starts at 11am and entry and parking are free. Directions to the ground are available here.