Favourites tussle at top

Sussex and Kent are locked in a battle at the top of the LV= Women's County Championship.

Champions Sussex have won all three games to date, a feat matched by Kent, winners in 2006 and 2007, who are level on 60 points but trail due to having an inferior run-rate.

The two-way battle mirrors last season's climax where Sussex and Kent met on the final day to decide who would lift the trophy. Charlotte Edwards' Kent, needing a win, were left frustrated by the rain which consigned the game to a draw meaning the title went to Alexia Walker's side.

Sussex are top of Division 1 but only run-rate separates them with Kent who are keen on retaining their title

Nottinghamshire are just 14 points behind the top two, having won two matches, while Somerset have one victory so far. Berkshire, who boast the world's top batter Claire Taylor and England seamer Isa Guha, languish at the foot of the table alongside Surrey with both yet to break their winless run.

Yorkshire are the only unbeaten side in Division 2 with three wins from as many games.

Katherine Brunt, who was instrumental in England's unprecedented success this year, has been key in her county's fortunes and this was evident in the win over Middlesex where she smashed 86 not out and took 3-33.

Cheshire lead the chase with two wins while trailing behind are Middlesex, Essex, Warwickshire and Lancashire who have one victory each.

Just four points separate the top three sides in Division 3 as Scotland, Devon and Staffordshire all jostle for pole position.

Unbeaten Staffordshire, in third, are best positioned having played just two games and they will leap into top spot if they win their game in hand.

Hertfordshire lead the way in Division 4 having won all three games this season as they push for promotion.

Three sides are 15 points adrift, including Durham who gave the leaders a scare in the last round of matches. Set 195 to win, Durham were 164 for six but lost their last four wickets for just 20 runs leaving Catherine Chapman undefeated on 96.

In Division 5 South & West, Netherlands and Shropshire lead the way with two wins while in Division 5 North & East, Cumbria, Ireland and Suffolk each have a win apiece.