Yorkshire Women marched to victory in their first ever professional encounter against Lancashire Women on Saturday at Emirates Old Trafford.
Australian superstar Jess Jonassen scored her first professional hundred before taking four wickets with her left-arm spin in an excellent all-round display, as the Metro Bank One Day Cup continued.
The White Rose were bowled out for 241 in 49.2 overs, before skittling their bitter rivals for 158 in 41.4 overs, emerging victorious by 83 runs.
Jonassen’s 108 (122), consisted of 13 fours and two sixes, with Sterre Kalis providing vital support, scoring 45 (54).
Head Coach Richard Pyrah, said: “You’re not going to get much better than that partnership between Jess Jonassen and Sterre Kalis. It put us into a really good position, and then Jess just shows her class again.
“We knew she was a good player when we signed her, but she’s just been outstanding.”
Jonassen has made over 200 appearances for Australia since her debut in 2012, winning five ICC T20 World Cups and one ICC Cricket World Cup. She is the captain of both the Queensland Fire and Brisbane Heat down under.
In the run chase, Claudie Cooper’s 3-24 (6.4), combined with Jonassen’s 4-30 (10) to take the bragging rights.
Yorkshire sit fourth in the table, with Lancashire down in seventh after a third defeat in four.
Batting trio keep Yorkshire in great position heading into final day
Overseas gun and Doncaster-born batsman, Sam Whiteman, scored a maiden Yorkshire century in glorious sunshine as Joe Root made an emphatic return to the County Championship on Sunday.
Western Australia veteran, Whiteman, heroically battled through a painful low-blow on Saturday afternoon to reach his hundred after receiving a lengthy period of medical attention by the Yorkshire physios.
He said: “To score my first hundred, especially at home, for Yorkshire was special. It’s still a nice wicket, but I felt good out there.
“A couple of quick ones in the morning and you never know where the day will end up.”
Sheffield’s Root scored 96, falling agonisingly short of a hundred in his first domestic match since England’s defeat in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.
He edged behind a Henry Crocombe delivery into the reliable hands of John Simpson.
Fellow opener Finlay Bean scored 105, helping Yorkshire edge to a miniscule first innings lead of nine runs over an in-form Sussex side, led by exiled England fast bowler, Ollie Robinson.
Sussex closed the day on 31-2, leaving Yorkshire with a chance to make an immediate impact on day four and search for a much needed victory.
Yorkshire sit bottom of the table after their opening two fixtures, with Sussex in fourth place, despite receiving a 12-point deduction due to financial difficulties.
Reflecting on their chances, Whiteman added: “It’s a pretty good wicket, but when there’s pressure on, funny things happen in first-class cricket.
Day four on Monday sees the resumption of the high-scoring encounter where both sides will need to up their tempo if a result is to happen.
Updates to follow throughout the day on the Sheffield Wire social media channels.
