Walker overjoyed at Sussex triumph

Alexia Walker shows off the LV ECB Women's County Championship trophy

Sussex women's captain Alexia Walker was delighted to regain the LV ECB women’s County Championship from holders Kent after rain washed out their title decider.

Victory for Kent yesterday would have seen them complete a hat-trick of consecutive titles but instead Sussex claimed the crown they last won in 2005.

Walker, whose side remained unbeaten throughout their campaign, said: “To be county champions again feels amazing.

"For two years we’ve narrowly lost to Kent so to win by a clear 20 points and without losing a match this season is fantastic - the trophy is back where it belongs. It was a shame the rain intervened today but it doesn’t feel any less special.

“This is my first year as captain and it couldn’t have gone any better. The future of Sussex cricket looks really bright with plenty of young players pushing for places. There’s no reason why we can’t stay at the top for many years to come.”

In a rain-affected finals week previous holders Kent did not have the chance to bat in their final game against Sussex on Thursday July 31, to make a stab at taking the title, and as a result finished second.

Nottinghamshire came third while Berkshire lost all six of their games and finished last.

Charlotte Anneveld showed her class as a bowler for Kent throughout the final days taking 4-18 against Berkshire on the Wednesday and following that up with 4-32 against Sussex on Thursday.

Sussex were undefeated in the championship

In Division Two, Surrey finished top after losing just one of their six matches while Somerset came second. Lancashire came third with Warwickshire fourth after not winning any of their matches.

Surrey’s Laura Joyce smashed 95 as they overcame Warwickshire on Wednesday by 61 runs.

In the same division Rachel Walsh hit 81 for Lancashire but to no avail as her side went down by four wickets to eventual winners Surrey on the last day.

Elwyn Campbell made 80 for home side Somerset during their 172-run victory over Warwickshire, again on the last day of the championships, to secure second place.

In the bowling department Somerset’s Izzy Westbury took 5-20 against Lancashire on Wednesday and then produced a phenomenal performance to record figures of 4-4 against Warwickshire on the last day.

Division Three saw Yorkshire take the honours after finishing unbeaten, with Middlesex coming second. Cheshire finished third while Derbyshire brought up the rear.

Danielle Hazell took 4-1 for Yorkshire as they played Derbyshire on Tuesday in a match that was eventually abandoned due to the inclement weather. She continued in fine form the following day when she claimed 4-18 as Yorkshire narrowly beat Middlesex by three runs.

Essex won six out of six to take Division Four, finishing ahead of Staffordshire. Worcestershire finished third with Hampshire coming last. Elsa-Marie Evans was pivotal in Staffordshire’s 10-wicket victory over Hampshire on Wednesday as she finished with 6-8.

Walker poses along with Yorkshire captain Salliann Briggs and Surrey skipper Nicola Shaw (right)

Changes are afoot for next year’s County Championships. The three or five-day festival element will be replaced by a 10-week long championship with all matches held over 10 Sundays in the season.

Teams will be in divisions of six rather than four and will play five home matches and five away. This will produce a longer county season with less chance of rain affecting the results.

Teams will also benefit from playing on pitches of higher quality and the longer county season will give teams more time to prepare and review their performances providing a more competitive tournament in years to come.