FIRE in a nearby field, halting play for 15 minutes, failed to prevent Kent U13B girl cricketers from clinching their fourth win in a row against county opponents.

Jess Denniff and Miranda Frizzelle were both at the crease when flames leapt from a nearby corn field, sending dense black smoke swirling close to the Sutton Valence ground.

But they did not let the interrruption disturb their concentration and went on to set up victory in a tight match against Middlesex.

Opener Jess, from Sevenoaks, hit six boundaries before retiring on 34, while Miranda, from Blackheath – named player of the match for a confident all-round performance – slammed four fours in her innings of 28 retired.

Laura Bassant, 10, Gemma Greenwood, 12 not out, and Kate Stent, 16 not out, moved the score to 138 for four after the allotted 30 overs.

Middlesex turned up with only nine players and two members of Kent’s 13-strong squad made up the numbers.

Katharine Wickington, from Canterbury, and Bryony Scott, from Harrietsham, did not let the visitors down.

Katharine bowled a tidy spell of four overs, including a maiden and conceding only 11 runs. Bryony made life hard for her usual team-mates by top-scoring.

She was at the crease for the final over when Middlesex, with seven wickets down, needed 15 runs for an unlikely victory. But they managed only five, leaving Bryony not out 24, Middlesex 129 for seven, and Kent the winners by nine runs.

Kent made it hard for themselves by giving away too many extras. Exceptions to a generally below-par bowling performance were wicket-takers Laura Bassant, 2-24, Miranda Frizzelle, 2-13, and Katie Osborn, 1-9.

Josie Osborn bowled tidily without reward in a three-over spell that cost just six runs. There were two run outs.

Kent U13Bs, supported by SeaFrance, had previously beaten Essex, Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire.

Kent U13B squad, managed by John Bassant and coached by Andy Stent: Lucy Arman, Jess Denniff, Miranda Frizzelle, Katie Osborn, Laura Bassant, Gemma Greenwood, Zoe Sturgess, Kate Stent, Amy Rye, Josie Osborn, Rachael Joynson, Bryony Scott, Katharine Wickington, Claudia O’Connell, Chloe Seymour, Caitlin Campbell.