Amelia Kemp (54) and Michaela Kirk (47) shared a 97-run partnership that helped Northamptonshire Steelbacks to a three-wicket win against Kent despite a valiant fightback from the hosts.
The Steelbacks went from 132/2 to to 153/7, providing some late drama for those at The County Ground, Beckenham.
Having won the toss and electing to bowl, Northamptonshire got off to an ideal start with Emily Carpenter taking three wickets inside the first 9 overs.
After being 33/3, Kent Women provided some resistance with Sturge and Barnfather crafting a 55-run partnership.
However just before the halfway mark, Barnfather was caught smartly by Michaela Kirk on the leg side boundary. Kirk was busy in the field as she also caught Sturge on the rope for 40.
In the 38th over, Beth Ascott produced a moment of magic in the field, taking a remarkable one-handed catch to remove Singer.
A run out was the final wicket and Kent Women were restricted to 163 all out in 48.4 overs.
Amelia Kemp and Chloe Hill started the chase with the pair making a steady start before Hill fell in the eighth over for 23.
Kemp continued to lead from the front however and was joined by Kirk who continued to show her class. The pair scored quickly and looked dangerous together at the crease with 50 partnership brought up in just 41 balls.
In the 21st over Kemp brought up her half century as she struck six 4s and one 6 from 60 deliveries. Two balls later and Kemp was dismissed after wanting a single to mid off, only to be turned back by Kirk and run out.
With Kirk falling next ball, it started a mini collapse for the Steelbacks and they lost four more wickets for just 21 runs.
The Steelbacks needed 11 more runs but were seven wickets down and under immense pressure from the fired up Kent attack. A boundary from May Drinkell in the 29th over helped to relieve some of that pressure and in the following over, the Steelbacks reached the target as a wide trickled to the rope to secure a three-wicket win.