Sussex crowned womens champions

Laura Marsh played a crucial role in Sussex's title victory

Sussex have regained the LV ECB County Championship title after rain ruined their winner-takes-all clash with Kent.

Going into Thursday's crunch match, Sussex knew anything other than a defeat would see them lift the trophy they last won in 2005. A poor weather forecast dampened Kent's hopes of a hat-trick of league wins although play did eventually start.

But the expected deluge eventually came after Sussex's innings forcing the game to be abandoned which meant Alexia Walker's team could not be caught.

Sussex had won all their previous five league matches, including defeating Berkshire and Nottinghamshire on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively as the championship reached a dramatic conclusion at Taunton.

Kent kept pace with the eventual champions but their loss to Sussex earlier in the season was the deciding factor.