Derbyshire Falcons (women) vs Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) (match 36-league two, double-header fixture) at The Central Co-Op County Ground, Derby on Friday 18 July 2025 14h30
‘Local’ East Midlands derby, in all likelihood played as a ‘dead rubber,’ with Falcons as hosts closing ‘bottom of table’ for league-two’s northern group. Falcons ‘went big’ to make a good start, by (later) comparison with one wicket’s advantage until mid-way, to close on a ‘competitive score.’ Anisha Patel – pictured was best bowler for Steelbacks, taking a 3-fer [3 wickets/conceding 19 runs.] Match-advantage swung when second-placed Steelbacks faltered who losing two quick wickets, but recovered. Having earlier taken two wickets, skipper Gemma Marriott chalked-up top-score with ‘fifty’ [54 runs (from 56 balls)] together with Adriana Dowse [32(28)] whose partnership scored a match-winning 82 runs. Commentators made their best efforts to ‘build-up’ the occasion when Bella Howarth [19*not out(15)] saw Steelbacks over-the-line. *Senior BBC commentator Dave Fletcher (Radio Derby cricket correspondent), and Freddie Cardy (Gooner Fanzine) ‘from Derbyshire,’ with visiting guest announced as ‘Greg’ (believed to be Greg Smith, Steelbacks Coach from Northampton.) Weather fine, blue sky 20C.
Falcons women wearing dark-blue with light-blue leg stripes and blue helmets; *skipper Adrianna Darlow (Poppy Smart keeping wicket for Steelbacks) *with debutante Millie Gray, *also with Maria Andrews & Lara Shaw (Blaze academy loans) & *Ellie Nightingale (Yorks academy loan); *Mis-timing a ‘sweep,’ Jess Couser was caught at ‘long-on,’ by Gemma Marriott from Ella Philips coming around-the-wicket; *Power-play (6 overs) score 45/1; &*Mid-way 62/1; *Lara Shaw, was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Mabel Reid, from Anisha Patel; *Ellie Nightingale was stumped by keeper Poppy Smart from Anisha Patel; *Megan Pittman was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Anisha Patel; *Natasha ‘Tash’ Allen was caught by keeper Poppy Smart, from Amelia Kemp; *Ella Porter was bowled by Gemma Marriott; *Millie Gray was caught by Bella Howarth from Gemma Marriott’s last innings ball; Falcons women batting: Gemma Porter34(25), Lara Shaw34(33), Ellie Nightingale15(22), Megan Pittman12(10) Jess Couser12(14); Steelbacks women bowling: Anisha Patel 3/19; Gemma Marriott 2/7 Ella Philips 1/15, Amelia Kemp 1/31;
Steelbacks women wearing purple with light-blue splash over dark blue with dark helmets; *skipper Gemma Marriott (20ov); (Megan Pittman keeping wicket for Falcons) *Michaela Kirk (Blaze loan) *Abby Butcher, *(Mabel Reid (Essex loans); *Amelia Kemp was caught behind by keeper Megan Pittman, from Francesca Clarke; *Mabel Reid was bowled by Caitlin McDonald; *Power-play (6 overs) score 52/2 (vs 45/1); *Mid-way 77/2 (vs 62/1) *Mis-timing a ‘scoop,’ Adriana Dowse was caught at ‘slip’ by Ella Porter, from Francesca Clarke; *Gemma Marriott was bowled ‘off-stump’ by Adrianna Darlow; *Katherine Speed was run-out’ by Lara Shaw’s throw from ‘deep-square’ to keeper Megan Pittman receiving at the striker’s end; Steelbacks women batting: Gemma Marriott54(56), Adriana Dowse32(28), Bella Howarth19*not out(15) Falcons women bowling: Francesca Clarke 2/24, Adrianna Darlow 1/24, Caitlin McDonald 1/34;
Match result: Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) 133/5 (@6.8 runs-per-over from 19.3/20 overs/target 133 from 20/20 ov.) beat Derbyshire Falcons (women) 132/7 (@6.6 runs-per-over, 20/20 overs)by five wickets
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m5b7b32e5-9af8-4fdc-8ff5-068aa9517239 & https://cricket.derbyshireccc.com/fixtures/womens-squad/2025-season/vitality-blast/falcons-women-vs-northamptonshire-t20-2025/?tab=m_summary
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225381 SKY Sports @url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/derbyshire-falcons-women-v-northamptonshire-steelbacks-women/scorecard/1c58bc41-8972-59a8-ac49-f55bc39f7357
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Derbyshire Cricket/nv play via YouTube [02h50m54s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u99wjhwKu0 & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u99wjhwKu0&t=12s
*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/
Tags:
