Middlesex W v Sussex Sharks W (match 1, league two ‘double-header’) at Lord’s (St John’s Wood, North London) on Thursday, 29 May 2025
Middlesex women launched their Vitality Blast women T20 with a resounding win, with eight wickets in hand. To mark the ‘landmark occasion’ for the home crowd, former Middlesex women’s skipper Naomi Dattani (pictured) played on short-term loan from Hawks. Batting first, Sharks women were reportedly ‘wobbling’ on 67/5 after Middlesex ‘pick-of-the-bowlers’ Anaya Patel took a 4-fer (4 wickets/conceding 18 runs.) That held Sharks down to a ‘really low target’ (score.) Sharks best batters were Izzy Collis [29runs (from 27balls)] and Nancy Harman 26(19.) Middlesex women chased down their target score with relative ease and almost five overs to spare. Naomi Dattani, opened with Riva Pindoria [50*not out (from 48 balls) who carried her bat with top-score. Skipper Saskia Horley did well to set-up the moment when Riva Pindoria scored the winning ‘four’ to chalk-up the competition’s first ‘fifty’ securing Middlesex women’s victory. Post-match, Riva Pindoria paid tribute to her skipper’s leadership skills – Please see below for interview. Commentators were Kevin Hand with fellow sports journalist Andrew McKenna (talkSPORT.com); with Middlesex Head women’s coach Marc Broom interviewed from pitch-side. Weather was cloudy but mild.
Sharks women wearing pink over black with black chevron *skipper Chiara Green *[Pippa Sproul keeping wicket for Middx] *with Mollie Adams from Vipers Academy (six counties); *with Nancy Harman (short-term Hants loan) & Millie Taylor (short-term Warwicks loan); *Mollie Adams was bowled by ‘An absolute beauty,’ with bails sent flying by seamer Katie Wolfe’s third-ball; *After 6 overs power-play, 42/1; *Nancy Harman was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by spinner Anaya Patel; *Izzy Collis was caught at ‘deep mid-on’ by Saskia Horley, from Anaya Patel; *Jazz Westley went aerial, caught by Riva Pindoria running leg-side, from Anaya Patel; By mid-way (10 overs) 62/4); *Chiara Green was caught aerial at ‘extra cover’ by Sarah Pearson, from Anaya Patel; *Indigo Gentry scooped to ‘third,’ caught by Hannah Davis from Sarah Pearson; *Tia Stanley was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Georgia Irving from Saskia Horley; *Milly Taylor was ‘not out’; Sharks women batting: Izzy Collis 29(27), Nancy Harman 26(19), Milly Taylor 16*not out(19), Indigo Gentry 12(27); Middlesex women bowling Anaya Patel 4/18, Sarah Pearson 1/12, Katie Wolfe 1/15, Saskia Horley 1/15;
Middlesex women wearing navy-blue with pink underarm splash *Skipper Saskia Horley *[Mollie Adams keeping wicket for Sharks] *with Naomi Dattani – (short-term Hants loan); *Short of a ‘single,’ Naomi Dattani was ‘run out’ at the non-striker’s end by Eve O’Neill’s direct hit from ‘mid-wicket’, from Chiara Green; *Finty Trussler snicked to keeper Mollie Adams, from Tia Stanley; *After 6 overs power-play, 29/2 (vs 42/1); & 53/2 (vs 62/4) by mid-way; Middlesex women batting Riva Pindoria 50*not out (48), Saskia Horley 24*not out (27); Sharks women bowling Tia Stanley 1/11;
*Match result: Middlesex (women) 103/2 @6.7 runs-per-over from 15.2/20 overs target 103); beat Sussex Sharks (women) 102/7 (@5.1 r-p-o, from 20/20 overs); by eight wickets with 28 balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m2dd64b2a-76e2-46cd-8513-c1d83d89b8f2
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225348 SKY https://www.skysports.com/cricket/middlesex-women-v-sussex-sharks-women/scorecard/a74c8e6d-b039-5cc3-aecd-6de9caaa6493
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Middlesex Cricket (nv play) [02h57m30s] via YouTube @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udbtrwJQtxg&t=1s or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udbtrwJQtxg
*Edited highlights courtesy of Middlesex Cricket via YouTube [05m50s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV91Pf0xAz4
*Chat at the Close with Riva Pindoria courtesy of Middlesex Cricket via YouTube [02m00s] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7p0NyHmLFM
*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/
