Sussex Sharks women edge narrow win over Glamorgan

Gemma Porter took her tally to 12 wickets in five One Day Cup games but could not prevent a Sussex win [Huw Evans Picture Agency]

MetroBank One Day Cup, League Two, Neath

Glamorgan 239 (45 overs): Sturge 63, Parfitt 41; Johnson 3-42, Buckle 3-46

Sussex 241-8 (47.3 overs): Wilkinson 53; Porter 4-31

Sussex win by 2 wickets

Sussex Sharks women squeezed to a narrow two-wicket win over Glamorgan as they chased down a target of 240 in the One-Day Cup at Neath.

It was the visitors' first win over the Welsh side, who suffered their first defeat in the 50-overs competition this season.

Megan Sturge top-scored with 63, but Anna Buckle and Bella Johnson claimed three wickets each as Glamorgan were dismissed for 239.

Sussex's top order performed strongly with Phoebe Wilkinson hitting 53 and captain Chiara Green making 45.

Despite home spinner Gemma Porter claiming 4-31, the Sharks scrambled a win with 2.3 overs in hand.

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Glamorgan, who turn professional next season, won the League Two T20 Blast earlier this month and were returning to the 50-over group stage for the first time since May.

They gave Warwickshire's Abbey Freeborn her first loan game of the season, but she was unable to repeat last year's century at Neath as she was bowled for 14 by Buckle in the fourth over.

Lauren Parfitt and Sturge added 94 for the second wicket, Parfitt striking three fours and a six before being bowled by rival skipper Green (2-43).

But wickets fell regularly after that, Sturge hitting six boundaries in her knock off 89 balls before she was sixth out to former Glamorgan loan player Poppy Tulloch (2-47).

Porter tried to hold the lower order together with an unbeaten 34 off 35 balls, but Buckle and Johnson claimed a further two wickets apiece as Glamorgan were dismissed with five overs unused.

Sussex opener Mollie Adams hit a quick 25 before Izzy Collis (25) and Wilkinson added to a solid platform with a stand of 55 for the second wicket.

Glamorgan's change in tactics to field two seamers, Anna-Mae Shearn and Surrey teenager Charlotte Lambert, did not quite pay off despite two wickets for Lambert.

Wilkinson struck six boundaries in her half-century before becoming the first victim for Porter as the Sharks faltered briefly at 143-5.

Green and Johnson (27) got them in striking range with a stand of 68, but Porter had Green stumped by Freeborn for the first of three victims in quick succession.

Tulloch and Buckle came together for the ninth wicket with 19 still needed, but the pair held their nerve and Buckle coolly ramped Lambert for four to seal the result.

Glamorgan remain top of the table but have only a three-point lead over Middlesex, who have a game in hand despite losing to Kent, while Sussex are third, a point further behind after claiming their third win in five.

The top four will contest the semi-finals in September with the final at Bristol.

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