Emeralds' success is Taylor made

Katherine Brunt showed some good form with the ball last weekend

The Emeralds and Sapphires have set the early pace after the Super 4s 50-over competition got underway last weekend at Loughborough.

The two sides each beat Rubies and Diamonds on consecutive days to top the four-team group.

On Saturday, the first day of the competition, an impressive bowling performance inspired Sapphires to a four-wicket win over Rubies.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Rubies were always up against it once they slumped to 30 for three with Katherine Brunt, Laura Spragg and Katie Cross all enjoying success with the ball.

Anya Shrubsole, Holly Colvin and Isa Guha repaired some of the damage but having got in, each got out in the 20s as Rubies finished on 146 for eight off their allotted overs. Brunt, with 2-18 from nine overs, was the pick of the attack.

Sapphires' reply was built around Leah Poulton's half-century - the Aussie hit five fours in her 87-ball stay - while Jenny Halstead and Kathryn Doherty made valuable contributions.

Guha completed an excellent all-round display by taking a Scrooge-like 2-23 from her ten overs.

Emeralds also kicked off the opening day of the tournament with a win - a 46-run victory over Diamonds.

England wicket-keeper Sarah Taylor gave the Emeralds innings a steady start with 58 at the top of the order, an innings which contained three boundaries.

Jenny Gunn and Nicky Shaw also chipped in but there was little in the way of support as Emeralds were bowled out for 166 with more than three overs to bat.

Australia's Leah Poulton terrorised the bowling (photos by Don Miles)

Georgia Elwiss, recently enrolled into the Derbyshire Academy, showed signs of her burgeoning talent with 3-15 off 8.5 overs.

In reply Diamonds made the worst start possible, losing both openers with just one run on the board as Jayne Titmuss caused havoc.

Star batter Charlotte Edwards, following on from three wickets earlier in the game, hit 50 to cap a good individual performance but Emeralds' hopes of victory looked doomed when she was fourth out with the score on 64.

They were eventually bowled out for 120 in 41.5 overs as Nicky Myers, Danielle Wyatt and Gunn followed Titmuss' lead by taking two wickets apiece. Taylor added to her half-century by claiming five dismissals.

Taylor continued her fine form 24 hours later as her 60 from just 68 balls propelled Emeralds to 163 for three in a game with Rubies that was reduced to 35 overs a side. Laura Marsh also caught the eye with an unbeaten 42 while Laura Joyce added a rapid 24.

Only two of the Rubies bowlers took wickets - Colvin and Heather Knight.

Rubies were never in the hunt with Amanda Potgieter's 26 the sole highlight as her side ended 118 for nine - some 45 runs short. Gunn and Daisy Gardner were the chief tormentors with three wickets each.

Sapphires had Danielle Hazell to thank after she took a stunning hat-trick in her side's 29 run win over Diamonds - a result that put them joint top with Emeralds.

After Alexia Walker smashed 64 from just 51 balls and Leah Poulton 69 at the top of the order, Emeralds set their opponents a daunting 193 to win from 35 overs.

Diamonds made a decent fist of the chase, Lydia Greenway top-scored with 43, but the innings was destroyed by Hazell who took five of the last six wickets to fall, including three in successive balls.

Click here (32 KB) to see the weekend's scorecards.

Click here (44 KB) to see the Super 4s fixtures.