KENT U13 girl cricketers underlined their growing reputation as the A squad cruised into the national league semi-finals and the B team notched up their second county win of the season.

The As play their semi-final early next month and will now be favourites to clinch a place in the national final at Taunton in September.

They recently defeated Sussex by 12 runs, with strong batting from Laura Bassant (33), Katharine Long (25) and Deveena Pithia (27) giving the home team a total of 134.

Sussex were on course for victory, but three wickets apiece by Jess Denniff, Gemma Greenwood and Pithia halted the run chase and had Sussex all out for 122 to give Kent victory by 12 runs.

The girls had already beaten Middlexex by 152 runs at Sutton Valence. A second-wicket partnership of 124 between Long (75) and Bassant (26) laid the foundations for an impressive 192-2, with Pithia chipping in 18 in the final overs.

Middlesex were skittled out for 44 in 16.2 overs, with Kate Stent and Katharine Wickington each taking 3-5.

The following day, the team travelled to picturesque Billericay Cricket Club in Essex and beat the home side by 100 runs. Kent scored 179-8 in 30 overs, thanks to another good partnership between Long (50) and Bassant (12), with Stent (20no) and Wickington (19) posting good scores.

Essex were bowled out for 79 in 20.4 overs, with Pithia taking 3-21 and Stent 2-17.

Meanwhile, Kent U13B celebrated a convincing 154-run triumph over Suffolk at Castle Hill, Brenchley.

Kent hit 195-4 in 30 overs, helped by an entertaining opening stand of 73 between Charlotte Pape, from Nonington, and Emma Marsh, from Deal.

Emma made 23 before she was run out. After being dropped in the first over, Pape went on to score 41 but her hopes of a first county half-ton were dashed when she was retired by team manager Adrian Conner.

The all-rounder showed considerable promise with some attractive strokeplay, including stylish cover drives, several pull shots to the square leg boundary, and some powerful straight driving.

Kent - dubbed the Wonderbees and, along with the As, part of a countywide development programme backed by SeaFrance - continued the onslaught, with Amy Rye, from Nonington, and Kayleigh Roscoe, from Sidcup, piling on the pressure. Big-hitting Rye was eventually retired on 34 and Roscoe was bowled for 17.

Suffolk struggled, pegged back by some accurate bowling from Marsh, Miranda Frizzelle, from Blackheath, Bryony Scott, from Harrietsham, Rebecca Clarke, from Chatham, Jemma Conner, from Welling, Emma Waters, from Westgate on Sea, Rebecca Belt and skipper Zoe Sturgess, from Maidstone.

Conner took four wickets with her looping spin, and there was one apiece from Scott, Rye, and Sturgess. Pape made it an afternoon to remember by taking her second wicket to wrap up the Suffolk innings at 41 with three balls to spare.

Squad: Zoe Sturgess, Bryony Scott, Emma Marsh, Charlotte Pape, Jemma Conner, Amy Rye, Kayleigh Roscoe, Rebecca Clarke, Rebecca Belt, Miranda Frizzelle, Bethany Hirst, Abbie Izzard, Lucy Keir, Olivia Price, Mary Wilson. Team manager - Adrian Conner. Coach Nicki Collins.