A CAPTAIN'S innings by Claudia O'Connell helped Kent U13B girl cricketers notch up three county wins in a row with a two-wicket victory over Buckinghamshire.

After a shaky start, which reduced them to 11 for three, O' Connell, from Hollingbourne, steadied the innings and provided the backbone to Kent's reply at the Great Kingshill, High Wycombe, ground.

In previous matches, the SeaFrance-backed "Wonderbees" had beaten Essex and Cambridgeshire.

Bryony Scott, from Harrietsham, gave her skipper useful support with 19 before she was caught and bowled. Kent remained well behind the asking rate and with half the 30 overs gone, they had made just 45. Bucks target of 118 looked beyond them.

But Chloe Seymour, Katie Osborn, both from Sevenoaks, Laura Bassant, from Vigo, and Kate Stent, Welling, had other ideas and quickened the tempo. O'Connell gambled on some cheeky singles and the Kent pressure paid off as Bucks fielders began to make mistakes.

Jess Denniff, from Sevenoaks, joined O'Connell at 107 for eight and the pair steered Kent home with three overs to spare. O'Connell was 25 not out, with Denniff unbeaten on seven.

Earlier, Lucy Arman, from Dover, with three wickets for six runs, and Stent, two for five, were the pick of the bowlers. Katharine Wickington, from Canterbury, Scott, Seymour, Denniff and Osborn all chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Team, managed by John Bassant and coached by Andy Stent: Katharine Wickington, Zoe Sturgess, Rachael Johnson, Claudia O'Connell (captain), Bryony Scott, Chloe Seymour, Laura Bassant, Kate Stent, Jess Denniff, Miranda Frizzelle, Katie Osborn, Lucy Arman.