Amy Gordon stars with a blistering 70 as Kent women defeat Sussex by nine wickets at the St Lawrence Ground.

In the first game of a T20 Blast Double Header on a sweltering bank holiday Monday, Kent’s bowlers managed to restrict Sussex to 130 for 6 on what looked to be a flat pitch. Mollie Adams top-scored with 57*, while Gordon and Hollie Young picked up two wickets each.

The Kent reply was swift and clinical as Gordon hit a rapid 70 from 46 balls, including ten fours and two sixes, while Coco Streets batted more sedately for a well-made 48* from 40 balls to see Kent home.  

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Sussex were immediately given a lifeline as Izzy Collis was dropped at mid-off while still on 0.

The visitors had a solid powerplay, scoring 37 runs without loss in the opening six overs. Mollie Adams was the main aggressor, striking consecutive fours from Zeena Bilal’s opening over.

Kent got their first wicket in the eighth over as Collis was caught by Izzy James for 15 off Hollie Young’s bowling.

Adams continued to be Sussex’s main threat with the bat as she scored with relative ease, but she was dropped twice in the space of two overs by James and Bilal.

After ten overs, Sussex had reached 60 for 1 and were well set to increase the scoring rate.

James picked up the wicket of Shistri Patil for 7, caught by Young.

Adams reached her 50 with a scoop over fine leg in the 15^th over, which brought up her second half century in as many matches.

After a few expensive overs, Amy Gordon was reintroduced into the attack and picked up two wickets. Bella Johnson was clean bowled for 10, then Adams was stumped for 57.

Chiara Green played a brief cameo, hitting 19 from 11 deliveries, including three fours in James’ final over, before she was bowled by Young in the 19^th over.

Gorham delivered an impeccable final over for Kent. She conceded a single from the first ball, followed by the wicket of Darcey Clarke, caught and bowled, then four consecutive dot balls.

Sussex ended their innings on 130-6, which seemed under-par given the conditions.

The Kent chase began with some rapid scoring from Gordon in the powerplay. She hit six fours and two huge sixes over long-on and square-leg as Kent made 57 without loss in the first six overs. Streets provided good support, scoring at quicker than a run a ball with two fours.   

Gordon reached her half-century in the eighth over from 31 balls. The Kent run-rate was above 9 and Sussex were looking deflated in the bank holiday heat.

After ten overs, Kent were 90 without loss with Gordon and Streets on 63* and 25* respectively. Kent needed 40 runs for victory from 60 balls.

After completing their century stand, Kent lost their first wicket in the 12^th over as Gordon fell for 70, caught and bowled by Bella Johnson for 70 from 46 balls.

Streets and new batter Kelly Castle comfortably knocked off the required runs with Streets hitting a four through cover to reach 132-1 in the 16^th over. Streets ended on 48* with Castle on 11* as Kent brought up their first Blast win of the season.