LCB Women’s 1st XI returned to NatWest Women’s County T20 Championship Division 1 action on Sunday (02 July) at Widnes CC with games against Somerset and Middlesex, and once again emerged victorious in both games to maintain their 100% record in the competition.
Match 1 v Somerset
Somerset won the toss and elected to bat in ideal conditions and got off to a confident start with 40 runs coming in the first 4 overs before the Lancashire bowlers managed to get a measure of control back as Natalie Brown grabbed the initial breakthrough at 58. Adcock and Luff then combined to add 57 for the 2nd wicket before both fell in quick succession and the Somerset innings closed on 126 for 3.
Lancashire’s reply got off to a bad start losing the first wicket at 10, but then Kate Cross joined Evelyn Jones to help take the score up to 50 before Cross was bowled out. Brown joined Jones and together they saw Lancashire home with an unbroken stand of 78 in under 10 overs. Jones finished on 46* from 49 balls and Brown 45 off just 34 balls as the win was secured with 20 balls to spare.
Scorecard -> LCB Women won by 8 wickets
Match 2 v Middlesex
With Middlesex having also beaten Somerset the stage was set for a thrilling climax to the day, but the visitors were swept aside by an impressive 74 runs.
Having won the toss Lancashire batted first and at 24-2 were struggling early on, but Natalie Brown joined Emma Lamb and carried on her form from the first game as together they added 83 to help take the game away from Middlesex. Lamb was unlucky to be run out for a fine 45 off 38, whilst Brown went on to make a superb 70 off just 36 balls. A brief cameo from Eleanor Threlkeld helped push the total up to 143-7.
The Middlesex reply never really looked like threatening the target as wickets tumbled regularly, and it was only a stand of 28 for the 6th wicket that gave the total a semblance of respectability. Brown was again to the fore as she took 2/13 in her 4 overs whilst skipper Megan Fairclough wrapped up the tail with 3/0.
Scorecard -> LCB Women won by 74 runs
The wins leave Lancashire locked at the top of the table with Warwickshire, both counties having won 4 out of 4. The next round of fixtures on July 16th takes place at the Edgbaston Foundation Ground where Lancashire will play Warwickshire and Sussex.
NatWest Women’s County T20 -> Division One Table
Report courtesy of LCB
