The 1997 Women's County One-Day Championship was the inaugural cricket Women's County Championship season, succeeding the Women's Area Championship. It took place in July and saw 7 county teams, 3 county Second XIs and 6 regional teams compete in a series of divisions. Yorkshire Women won the title, topping Division 1 unbeaten.
Competition format Teams played matches within a series of divisions with the winners of the top division being crowned County Champions. Matches were played using a one day format with 50 overs per side.
The championship works on a points system with positions within the divisions being based on the total points. Points were awarded as follows:
Win: 12 points. Tie: 6 points. Loss: Bonus points. No Result: 11 points. Abandoned: 11 points.
Up to five batting and five bowling points per side were also available.
Teams The 1997 Championship consisted of 16 teams, with Divisions One and Two consisting of six teams apiece and Division Three with four teams. Teams played each other once.
Division OneEast AngliaKentSurreyWest MidlandsWest of EnglandYorkshire Division TwoEast MidlandsLancashire and CheshireMiddlesexThames ValleySussexYorkshire Second XI Division ThreeDerbyshireHampshireSurrey Second XISussex Second XI
Qualifier
Division One TeamYorkshire (C) 5 5 0 0 0 21 20 0 101West Midlands5 3 2 0 0 15 17.5 0 68.5Surrey5 3 2 0 0 19 12 0 67West of England5 2 3 0 0 17 12 0 53Kent5 1 4 0 0 16.5 15 0 43.5East Anglia (R) 5 1 4 0 0 17 5 0 34 Source: Cricket ArchiveWomen's County Championship 1997 Tables, Cricket Archive.
Division Two TeamThames Valley (P)5 4 1 0 0 19 16.5 0 83.5Lancashire and Cheshire5 3 2 0 0 18.5 20.5 0 75East Midlands5 3 2 0 0 20 15.5 0 71.5Yorkshire Second XI5 3 2 0 0 15.5 17 0 68.5Middlesex5 1 4 0 0 16 10 0 38Sussex 5 1 4 0 0 12 13 0 37 Source: Cricket Archive
Division Three TeamDerbyshire (P)3 3 0 0 0 11 10.5 0 57.5Surrey Second XI 3 2 1 0 0 10.5 10.5 0 45Hampshire3 1 2 0 0 8 8.5 0 28.5Sussex Second XI3 0 3 0 0 6.5 2.5 0 9 Source: Cricket Archive
Statistics Most runs Player Team Matches Innings Runs Average 100s 50sJane SmitEast Midlands55429143.0013622Ruth LuptonSurrey5529674.00151*11Claire TaylorThames Valley5529698.669703Lucy McGrotherLancashire and Cheshire5527669.0095*02Mandy FreemanSurrey5522645.2010411 Source: CricketArchive
Most wickets Player Team Balls Wickets Average BBI 5wHelen PackWest Midlands300119.184/210Amanda BeehagSurrey Second XI10196.446/121Debra StockThames Valley281912.774/140Allyson ByrneLancashire and Cheshire240916.113/230Karen SmithiesEast Midlands227810.256/151 Source: CricketArchive
References