BERKSHIRE Women made a winning start to their ECB Women's County Championship Division Two season over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Playing at North Maidenhead, they hammered Cricket Wales by 157 runs on Sunday.

England captain Heather Knight, who has stayed loyal to the county despite their relegation, scored 105 off 120 balls and Carla Rudd 55 as Berkshire reached a very respectable 242-9 in their 50 overs.

They then skittled the visitors out for just 85 in 30.4 overs with Lauren Bell taking 3-15 off seven overs and Emma Walker 3-16 from four.

Only three Wales players reached double figures but their highest contribution came from the extras column which totalled 21.

Berkshire found Devon tougher opponents on Monday, but won a low-scoring game by 21 runs.

The hosts were dismissed for 123 and even that total was largely due to their tailenders. Knight (21) was the only top-order batter to get some runs as Berks slumped to 71-7.

Ashleigh Muttitt and Millie Atherton, batting at seventh and ninth respectively, each made 11, but it was the 33 from No. 10 Bell and the 22 extras that enabled Berks to finish with 123.

And Bell went on to shine with the ball, taking 4-17 off eight overs. Berks were slightly held up by No. 6 Georgina Hennessy, who made 44 off 72 balls, but Devon were all out for 102 in the 42nd over. Walker took 2-18 and Knight 2-22.

So a very pleasing start by the team who this Sunday travel to Billericay to play Essex, who also won both their matches last weekend.

  • BERKSHIRE Over 60s slipped to a heavy 104-run defeat at Kent in their County Championship South Group encounter on Tuesday.

Captain Jim Phillips (78no), opener Chris Swadkin (67) and Mike Lanning (44no) were all among the runs as Kent racked up an imposing 255-3 in their 45 overs, Errol Masters (2-44) the pick of the visitors' attack.

Berkshire started steadily with Dave Tooze (28) and Richard West (21) putting on 36, but with only Ian Harvey (58) also making double figures, they were bowled out for 151.

The Over 60s 2nds (152-9) were defeated by Sussex by six wickets.

Richard Wyatt top scored with 50, while Fred Herbert claimed 2-39.

They had previously lost to Hampshire by 59 runs at Royal Ascot.

The visitors totalled 152-7, but Berkshire collapsed to 93 all out.