Kent Women cantered to a ten wicket victory at The County Ground, Beckenham over Staffordshire Cricket Women’s First XI after a fine all-round display, kicking off their Royal London Cup campaign in style.

In a fifty-over a side scheduled game less than fifty overs were bowled in total as the hosts experience shone through.

Winning the toss Kent elected to field first and it was soon apparent which way the game may eventually swing as opening bowlers Tash Farrant and Alice Davidson Richards gave little away, the former making inroads into the visitors’ batting order from the off.

Farrant’s left arm deliveries full of a length saw the opening pair of Jones and Whyle succumb missing straight ones with the stumps uprooted whilst Lamb did get something in the way of another straight one – Unfortunately for her, it was her pads, out LBW, giving Farrant three early wickets.

Mixed in with a run out after excellent close fielding by Charlotte Pape, Kent had reduced Staffordshire to 19/4 and after the opening ten over’s the visitors’ scorecard read 23/4.

New signing and New Zealand captain Suzie Bates came on at the Crystal Palace End, and was soon rewarded as McDonald (7) edged behind to Lauren Griffiths (28/5) and with Farrant taking a rest Laura Marsh continued where she left off – Captain Charlotte Edwards taking a fine, sharp catch at first slip (37/6).

Mixing up the bowling Edwards brought on Pape and the move almost had immediate dividend. However Pape put down a tough and low caught and bowled chance (47/6), whilst an edge then flew between Griffiths and Edwards in the slips (50/6).

Pape wasn’t to be denied as she broke the largest partnership of the innings (26), trapping Butler leg-before (17, 63/7).

With the hosts firmly into the tail, Edwards brought Farrant back to the attack who did not disappoint maintaining her earlier accurate line and length to finish of the innings with the final three wickets – Two Leg-before whilst the final wicket of the innings saw M. Jones (0) loop the ball kindly to Davidson Richards at square-leg.

Staffordshire all out for 72 and perhaps disappointingly for the hosts the extras tally contributing twenty-eight of the total (twenty-six wides) although only one boundary was conceded.

Farrant finished with excellent figures of nine over’s, five maidens, six wickets for sixteen runs, with Bates (1/11), Marsh (1/15) and Pape (1/16) ably supporting.

It was perhaps inevitable the result would go the way of the hosts however Tammy Beaumont and Bates still had to go about the game as any other. Starting steadily they played themselves in.

Bates soon began to play a variety of quick run-scoring shots, in particular making great use of her straight drive and through the off-side picking off gaps in the field and sending the ball to the rope – Also striking a six over the bowlers head and sight-screen into the Crystal Palace End.

Bates brought proceedings to a close finishing with her seventh boundary also bringing up her half century – off thirty-three balls.

Kent’s emphatic win provided maximum points setting them up well for a return to the same ground in twenty-four hours time to face Surrey (11am start).

Kent Women: Beaumont, Bates, Pape, Davidson Richards, Farrant, Belt, Franklin, Edwards ©, Griffiths (w), Marsh, Greenway

Staffordshire Cricket Women’s First XI: C Whyle, E Jones, MacDonald, Howells, Lamb, Butler, K Whyle, Allcock, Hale (w), Kelsall, M Jones

Staffordshire Cricket Women’s First XI: 72 (Butler 17; Farrant 6/16)

Kent Women: 76/0 (Bates 53*, Beaumont 20*)

Kent Women win by ten wickets