Charlotte Stubbs hits two half-centuries for Durham Women’s Academy in a narrow 9-run defeat to Yorkshire in their opening 3-day game at South Northumberland.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, the visitors got off to a solid start at 116/2 with Frances Lonsdale laying down the foundation with 47. As soon as Amelie Butterwick found her way through Lonsdale’s defence, Yorkshire fell away.
The White Rose soon found themselves 118/5 after Freya Rook took two wickets in as many balls and losing their final eight wickets for 77 runs. Yorkshire managed to post 193 after a mini recovery from Elizabeth Fidler and Emma Wrightson.
Rook and Laura Trotter were the pick of Durham’s bowlers with four wickets apiece, backed up by a pair of scalps for Butterwick.
Durham began with a strong response as openers Harriet Robson (56) and Emma Thompson (72) both scored half-centuries. Emily Whiting added 36 as Durham cruised to 155 for one but was dismissed shortly before the close on day one.
Yorkshire hit back with three early wickets on day two and continued to chip away at Durham’s batting lineup. Charlotte Stubbs top scored with 79 from 81 as the hosts made it past 300 and took a 113-run first innings lead.
Jeanie Lee took four wickets for the visitors with Ines Blackwell claiming three.
Amelia Oliver, Yorkshire’s captain, led her side’s fightback with 96 from 84 balls as the visitors levelled the playing field without loss in a 130-run opening partnership.
Navya Gutta (48), Ellie Nightingale (43) and Lonsdale (30) aided Yorkshire to a total of 284 with Stubbs, Rook and Whiting picking up three wickets each.
Durham were set 172 to win but Nat Brown got the visitors off to a flying start with the ball, reducing the hosts to 9/3 inside three overs.
Whiting (43) and Stubbs steadied matters with a partnership of 68 but a flurry of wickets that followed had Durham seven down before reaching 100.
Stubbs added a further 25 alongside Trotter before sharing a 34-run partnership with a defiant Rook- who scored 10 from 35 but Durham found themselves with one wicket remaining whilst requiring a further 15 for victory.
Jasmine Passman secured victory for the visitors, claiming the final two wickets of Trotter and Rook with Yorkshire prevailing by just nine runs while Stubbs finished unbeaten on 79.