Yorkshire (women) vs Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) (match 31, L2); double header at Leeds Headingley Stadium on Sunday 13th July 11h00
Unbeaten Yorkshire women pulled-off their sixth successive victory at 20 overs with two matches to play. Standing top-of the Northern group competition table, Yorkshire had ‘already qualified’ for the semi-finals. Playing on a ‘belter’ of a pitch (used nine days ago) Georgia Boyce – pictured ‘built a ‘decent foundation.’ Firstly when partnered by opener Erin Thomas, the openers added 51. Secondly, when partnered by Becca Duckworth the paid addied 85. Georgia Boyce was also said to be the ‘seventh highest run-scorer in league-two,’ closing on 2215 career runs from 104 domestic t20s played-to-date. Separately, drama struck Steelbacks womens’ reply when skipper Gemma Marriott[41 runs (from 46 balls)] suffered a rebound-injury, causing Umpires to stop play for eight minutes. Once the skipper decided she could ’soldier-on, Umpires signalled two ‘leg-byes’ as Rachel Slater continued bowling her ‘over.’ Post-match, Ria Fackrell (2/19), was announced as ‘top wicket’ taker in ‘league-two’ with 15 wickets-to-date for Yorkshire women, previously taking two ‘4-fers.’ Commentators: Michael McCann (Sports commentator, presenter and journalist) with Dr Jane Powell (Performance Manager England Disability Cricket at ECB; President at Yorkshire Cricket & former player England & Yorks women.) Also with guest player Grace Hall (Yorks women.) Presented pitch-side by Richard Graves who interviewed Georgie Boyce and mentioned that the match was the second double-header match at Headingley where both men and women’s teams were playing. Weather: clear blue sky with ‘Yorkshire Sun, 27C’
Yorkshire women wearing sheer diamond-patterned light blue over dark blue; *skipper Maddie Ward (England u19s) *[Ariana Dowse keeping wicket for Steelbacks] *debutante Holly Garton *with Georgie Boyce (Blaze loan) & Rachel Slater (Scotland international) & Beth Langston, without *Sterre Kalis (NL) & Lauren Winfield-Hill (both playing ’tier one’ matches), *without Amelia Love & Amelia Oliver (both England u-19 development call-up) *Also without Grace Hall – injured arm (seen on commentary); *Erin Thomas was caught at ‘long-on’ by Gemma Marriott, from Mabel Reid; *After 6 overs power-play, 51/1; *By mid-way (10 overs) 79/1; *Rebecca ‘Becca’ Duckworth was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ with bails sent flying by Lenny Sims; *Scoring ‘fifty,’ Georgie Boyce, was caught ‘in-the-covers’ by Mabel Reid from Emily Carpenter; *Left-handed batter Ami Campbell was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ with bails sent flying by by Ella Phillips; Yorks women batting: Georgie Boyce55(50), Rebecca ‘Becca’ Duckworth32(36), Erin Thomas28(19), Maddie Ward 13*not out(9), Ami Campbell11(8); Steelbacks women bowling: Mabel Reid 1/13, Lenny Sims; 1/22, Ella Phillips 1/27, Emily Carpenter 1/29;
Steelbacks women wearing purple with light-blue splash over dark blue with dark helmets; *skipper Gemma Marriott (20ov); [Maddie Ward keeping wicket for Yorks] *debutante Emily Carpenter (Blaze loan); with Bella Howarth (Blaze loan), *Also with Adriana Dowse & Mabel Reid (Essex loans), without Abby Butcher (Essex loan) Emma Gibbs or Alicia Presland; *Amelia Kemp was caught at ‘backward point’ by Ami Campbell, from Claudie Cooper; *After 6 overs power-play, 31/1 (vs 51/1); *Mabel Reid was ‘run out’ by Holly Garton’s throw from ‘fine-leg’ to Ria Fackrell receiving at the ’non-striker’s end; *By mid-way (10 overs) 50/2 (vs 79/1); *Mis-timing a ‘pull,’ Adriana Dowse was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Olivia’Liv’Thomas, from Ria Fackrell; *Also mis-timing a ‘pull,’ Gemma Marriott was caught at ‘long-off’ by Erin Thomas, from Ria Fackrell; Steelbacks(women) batting: Gemma Marriott 41(46), Bella Howarth23*not out(20), Adriana Dowse17(23), Amelia Kemp13(13); Yorks women bowling: Ria Fackrell 2/19, Claudie Cooper 1/23;
Match result: Yorkshire (women) 167/4 (from 20/20 overs) beat Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) 114/4 (from 20/20 overs) by 53 runs
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#m99d7f85d-7663-4d3e-812d-1b844bb7ffae
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225379 SKY Sports @url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/yorkshire-women-v-northamptonshire-steelbacks-women/scorecard/42556330-d873-549b-a68d-ab20f655ce7a
*Full match (including interviews) free-to-air, including highlights of players performances during previous matches courtesy of Yorkshire Cricket/Vertu Live Stream [07h19m50s] via ‘YouTube’ @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRoYvaEGIlk
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/06/22/vitality-blast-league-one-fixtures-and-results-to-june-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/07/02/vitality-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2025-2/
