Northamptonshire Steelbacks women vs Leicestershire Foxes women (match 3, league two ‘double-header’) at Northampton County Ground (Wantage Road) on Sunday, 1 June 2025
Steelbacks women won by a narrow margin of eight runs, following a closely-contested Midlands derby, on their home ground. Both teams played ‘almost identical innings’ until mid-way. Thereafter, both teams struggled to ‘maintain their momentum’ as their run-rates declined during the closing stages. Commentators complimented Steelbacks bowlers who ‘built pressure’ needed to ‘squeeze out’ Foxes tail-enders who came tantalisingly close to victory. Match reached its climax during the final over when Foxes tail-enders lacked fire-power needed to score ’sixes’ from their last two balls. Home team commentators ‘sat three floors up’ were Alan Gaffney (Professional sports coach) with Phil Rowe (Steelbacks Cricket Academy Director at Wantage Road.) Weather was cloudy 14C, with slight wind chill.
Steelbacks women wearing purple with light blue splash over dark blue with dark helmets; *skipper Gemma Marriott (20ov);*[Ellen Watson keeping wicket for Foxes]; with Bella Howarth (Blaze) and Mabel Reid (Essex loan); *Amelia Kemp chipped to ’mid-off’ caught by Becki Brooker, from Ellie Phillips; *Mabel Reid was ‘run-out’ by keeper, without her bat grounded when stepping forward to ‘practice a shot’, at striker’s end, from Laura Crofts; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ with 47/2; *‘Key batter’ and top-scorer Gemma Marriott was caught at ’mid-off’ by Becki Brooker, from Francesca Sweet; *By mid-way 59/3; *Bethany‘Beth’Ascott was caught at ‘extra cover’ by Holly Whitfield, from Francesca Sweet; *Katherine Speed ramped the ball, defected onto her own stumps and bowled by Francesca Sweet; *Bella Howarth was bowled through-the-gate by Ellie Phillips; *Next over Ella Phillips was caught aerial inside the circle at ‘mid-wicket’ by April Herathge, from left-armer Emma Thatcher; *Next ball, Poppy Smart was bowled for a ‘golden duck’ from Emma Thatcher; *Anisha Patel struck a ’single’ from the ‘hat-trick’ ball and ‘four’ to close the innings next over; Steelbacks batting: Gemma Marriott28(22), Bella Howarth22(26), Mabel Reid14(10), Bethany‘Beth’Ascott10(20); Foxes bowling: Francesca Sweet 3/10, Ellie Phillips 2/19, Emma Thatcher 2/25, Laura Crofts 1/16;
Foxes women wearing red-with-green-splash *skipper Rebecca ‘Becki’ Brooker; *[Poppy Smart keeping wicket for Steelbacks] with Ellen Watson (Scotland international); *Level-pegging after 6 overs ‘power-play’ 43/0 (vs 47/2); *Francesca Sweet ‘mis-timed,’ bowled ‘top-of-middle’ with bails sent flying by Lenny Sims; *Lucy Weston was bowled ‘leg-stump’ around-her-legs, by Amelia Kemp; *By mid-way 67/2 (vs 59/3); *Going for a second run, Becki Brooker was ‘run-out’ by Beth Ascott’s throw from deep ‘mid-wicket’ correctly judged to keeper Poppy Smart at the striker’s end; *Hayley Brown overstepped her crease and was ‘run-out’ by bowler Ella Phillips coming around-the-wicket and ‘flicking’ the deflected ball backwards onto the non-striker’s stumps; *Ellie Phillips went aerial, caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Mabel Reid, from Ella Phillips coming around-the-wicket; Foxes batting: Francesca Sweet37(35), Becki Brooker33(36), Ellen Watson23(21); Steelbacks bowling:Amelia Kemp 1/15, Lenny Sims 1/15, Ella Phillips 1/22;
Match result: Northamptonshire Steelbacks (Women) 123/8 (@6.1 runs-per-over from 20/20 overs); beat Leicester Foxes (Women) 115/5 (@5.7 r-p-o, target 124 from 20/20 overs); by 8 runs
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m9f50bfb1-9b04-47a7-9891-8bbc2cf54c1d
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225350 SKY https://www.skysports.com/cricket/northamptonshire-steelbacks-women-v-leicestershire-foxes-women/scorecard/21da1773-e4aa-5e9b-82e5-a849ffcde098
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Steelbacks TV (vertu) [03h05m02s/07h06m34s] via YouTube @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYngMJEM5S0
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/11/27/vitality-blast-fixtures-for-season-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/11/27/vitality-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2025/
