Leicestershire Foxes (women) vs Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) (match 19-L2 – double-header fixture) at Uptonsteel County Ground Leicester on Friday 27 June 2025 (17h30)
‘Local’ East Midlands derby described by home-team commentator as a ‘professional performance’ and a ‘resounding win.’ Scores were level-pegging after six-overs ‘power-play,’ but Foxes had car advantage by mid-way [75/2 vs 46/6.] Thereafter Steelbacks face d ‘scoreboard pressure.’ They needed at least one lower-order batter to step-up, but instead fell behind. Best bowler was Lucy Higham – pictured who took a match-winning three wickets (3/17), upon her Foxes debut at 20 overs. Commentator Sam Martin . Described as ‘warm’ afternoon inside the commentary box. Weather: mainly hot and sunny 24C
Foxes women wearing red-with-green-splash *skipper Rebecca ‘Becki’ Brooker; *[Emma Gibbs keeping wicket for Steelbacks] with Ellen Watson (Scotland international); *debutante Lucy Higham (Blaze loan) *Flora Davies & Scarlett Hughes (Blaze/Academy loans), without D’Nica Roff (Blaze/ Rep of South Africa); *Rebecca ‘Becky’ Brooker was bowled by Emily Carpenter for a fourth ball ‘duck’; *After 6 overs power-play 37/1; *Scarlett Hughes was bowled by Amelia Kemp; *Mid-way(10ov) 75/2; *Mis-timing a ‘swipe,’ Lucy Weston was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by Anisha Patel; *Francesca Sweet was caught horizontally at ‘backward-point’ by Abby Butcher from Anisha Patel; *Ellen Watson was caught at ‘backward-point’ by Abby Butcher, from Amelia Kemp; *Lucy Higham was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Blaze team-mate Michaela Kirk, from Emily Carpenter; Foxes women batting: Francesca Sweet35(38), Flora Davies30*not out, Scarlett Hughes29(22), Ellen Watson20(19), Lucy Weston15(10); Steelbacks women bowling: Amelia Kemp 2/19, Anisha Patel 2/23, Emily Carpenter 2/25;
Steelbacks women wearing purple with light-blue splash over dark blue with dark helmets; *skipper Gemma Marriott (20ov); [Scarlett Hughes keeping wicket for Foxes] *debutante Emma Gibbs, *Michaela Kirk (Blaze loan) *Abby Butcher *Mabel Reid (Essex loans); *Gemma Marriott was bowled ‘top-of-off’ bail, dislodged fro a ‘golden duck’ from left-armed Emily Thatcher; *Michaela Kirk was bowled by Ellie Phillips;*Bella Howarth was ‘run-out’ by Flora Davies’ direct hit from ‘cover’; *After 6 overs power-play 32/3 (vs 37/1); *Mistiming ‘slog-sweep,’ *Amelia Kemp was bowled by April Herathge; *Beth Ascott was caught-and-bowled by Lucy Higham; *Next ball, Lenny Sims was bowled ‘off-stump,’ for a ‘golden duck’ from Lucy Higham; *Mid-way (10ov) 46/6 (vs 75/2) *Abby Butcher was caught ‘brilliantly’ by Ellen Watson diving-and-rolling at ‘deep-mid-wicket,’ from Lucy Higham; *Emma Gibbs was ‘run-out’ by Ellen Watson’s throw from ‘deep-mid-wicket’ to keeper Scarlett Hughes receiving at the striker’s end from Lucy Higham; *Ella Phillips went plumb ‘leg-before’ to April Herathge; *Emily Carpenter ‘edged’ and was caught at ‘backward-point’ by Francesca Sweet, from April Herathge; Steelbacks women batting: Amelia Kemp23(23), Abby Butcher14(15); Foxes women bowling:Lucy Higham 3/17, April Herathge 2/11, Ellie Phillips 1/8, Emily Thatcher 1/17;
Match result: Leicestershire Foxes (women) 153/6 (@7.8 runs-per-over from 20/20 overs) beat Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) 85/10 (@4.8 runs-per-over, 17.3/20 overs/ target 154 from 20/20 ov.) by 68 runs
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m10de77e6-ab7d-434e-adb5-af55ffadc669
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225367 SKY @url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/leicestershire-foxes-women-v-northamptonshire-steelbacks-women/scorecard/6c6979b8-cd24-5306-8ea1-64fa3c0c17cd
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Foxes Cricket TV & Leicestershire CCC (nv play/Vertu) [02h59m11s] via YouTube @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi2H3jzlgoY
*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/
