THERE was double disappointment for Berkshire women as they were beaten by both Hampshire and Durham in Division Two of the County Championship T20 on Sunday, writes Richard Ashton.

In their opening eight-wicket defeat to Durham, Berkshire chose to bat at North Maidenhead, but they suffered an early setback when Sherisa Gumbs was bowled by Layla Tipton to leave the hosts 8-1.

Captain Alice Macleod (19) and Phoebe Graham (16) put on 27 for the second wicket, but their stand was ended when the former was stumped by Laura Hockaday off the bowling of Tipton.

Carala Rudd was trapped lbw by Tipton (3-16) for a golden duck, and when Graham fell to Rachel Petherwick – caught by Becky Glen – Berkshire were 52-4.

There was precious little resistance from the lower order as Petherwick (4-20) claimed three further scalps, and with Millie Alerton run out, the home side could only muster 96-9 in their 20 overs.

Hockaday (40no) and Rachel Hopkins (22) put on 78 for the opening wicket as Durham – boosted by 29 extras including 20 wides – made light work of the chase, passing their required score with 26 balls to spare.

Berkshire again won the toss in their game against Hampshire later in the day, but the same failings of not scoring enough runs came back to haunt them in a seven-wicket reverse.

Gumbs and Amanda Potgeiter gave their side a better start than in the earlier match, with the score on 21 when the latter was trapped lbw by Alice Monaghan.

The bowler then turned catcher to account for Gumbs off the bowling of Charlie Dean, and when Rudd was given out lbw to Monagahan, Berkshire were wobbling on 27-3.

Emily Cunningham was bowled by Ella Chandler to make it 48-4, and when Macloed was dismissed for the top score of the innings, 16, the hosts were in real trouble.

Ashleigh Muttitt and Rachel Hardy chipped in with double figures, but Berkshire’s 83-8 never looked like being enough.

Berkshire gave themselves a faint degree of hope when Emma Walker ran Chandler out with the score on 29, and Hardy then had Dean caught behind by Alerton seven runs later.

When Hardy (2-16) bowled Emily Windsor, it appeared Berkshire may have a sniff of victory, but an excellent unbroken stand of 40 between Danieele Ransley and Fi Morris ensured Hampshire raced to their target in only 12.4 overs.