Durham Women dropped bottom in Division 2 of the Royal London Women’s County One-Day Championship after losing two away fixtures to Berkshire and Essex last weekend.
Durham lost a narrow game to Essex in the very last over and despite posting their highest total of the season against Berkshire, the side didn’t reach the target.
Rachel Hopkins hit her first half-century and Ami Campbell fell just 8 short of 50 against Berkshire but the side’s improved batting performance didn’t translate into a win.
Durham vs Berkshire
Result: Berkshire (285-6; Sophie Day 59; Alice MacLeod 53*; Kate Coppack 3-38; Phoebe Graham 3-39) beat Durham (249-9; Rachel Hopkins 54; Ami Campbell 42; Laura Ellison 2-50) by 36 runs
Sophie Day and Emily Cunningham opened for Berkshire with a strong stand, hitting seven boundaries each, with Cunningham getting one over the boundary.
Durham’s first wicket didn’t fall until after Day and Cummingham reached a century partnership. Helen Fenby pinned Cummingham lbw for 41 to make the breakthrough.
Hannah Knowles then dismissed Day for 59. Heather Knight quickly scored four boundaries and added 38 off 46 balls, before Becky Glen caught her out off Laura Ellison’s ball.
Alice MacLeod, batting fourth, offered resistance in the middle for Berkshire, finishing on 53 not out.
Knowles removed Amanda Potgieter and Ami Campbell caught Anya Shrubsole and Lauren Bell off Ellison’s and Bailey Wanless’s balls respectively but Berkshire were already on 274, leaving the innings on 285.
Durham were to face the highest target they’ve been tasked with this season. The visiting side had a tough initiation to their innings after quickly losing opening batters Laura Hockaday and Rachael Petherick to lbw off Shrubsole’s and Phoebe Graham’s balls.
Rachel Hopkins, batting at No. 3, gave the team some confidence with seven boundaries and 54 runs. But her knock was cut short by Alice MacLeod’s ball, which got the batter stumped.
Campbell and Glen made solid contributions of 42 and 37, before MacLeod made another breakthrough to dismiss Campbell and Kate Coppack pinned Glen lbw.
Durham posted 249 in their innings, the highest batting figures for the side so far, but this fell short of the target
Durham vs Essex
Result: Essex (172-9; Kelly Castle 43; Anje Lague 2-18; Mady Villiers 2-27) win against Durham (171-9; Laura Ellison 37 & 2-29; Bailey Wanless 2-23) by 1 wicket.
Put in, Durham’s opening batters Laura Hockaday and Layla Tipton set up a half-century partnership, before Hockaday was stumped for 14.
Mady Villiers bowled and caught Layla Tipton (28) in only the next over, before repeating the same to dismiss Campbell.
Laura Ellison offered resistance at the crease. She had support through the innings, without a major contribution from anyone. Ellison departed for 37 before she was adjudged lbw at 157-8.
Essex were chasing 172 to win, but began their innings nervously. Durham’s bowlers had restricted the side to 36 in ten overs and the first wicket came soon after when Rachel Petherick dismissed Beth Dodd for 10.
In the next 15 overs Bailey Wanless took two wickets, while Hannah Knowles added another to keep Essex to 76-4.
Opening batter Kelly Castle batted fluently for Essex to keep them on target, contributing six boundaries and 43 before she was removed by Ellison.
Essex needed 48 in the last ten overs but Durham’s Wanless was as reliable as ever to produce 2-23 and one maiden over, supported by Ellison, who bowled 2-29 and a maiden over.
With six balls to go, Essex were two short of the target. One run from Anje Lague meant a draw but Hayley Arrow scored another to seal the win in a nail-biting game.
Durham dropped a catch, which would have bowled Essex out and cost them the game for a disappointing end of their away fixture.