Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) vs Kent (Horses) (women) – match 4 – League Two – at Wantage road, Northamptonshire County Ground; on Sunday, 12 April 2026
Expecting bad weather that ‘never materialised,’ both teams made record total scores. Steelbacks women were put in to bat, posting three hundred runs. That beat their previous best: 264 (vs Foxes on 20 April 2025.) Commentators were impressed by Chloe Hill’s maiden ‘fifty’ [59 runs (from 51 balls).] Previously, Chloe Hill played five matches for Steelbacks, last August. Also ‘immensely’ impressed by Meg Austin’s ‘brilliant’ 123(108) on debut. Commentators later added that Beth Ascott – pictured– 56(74) played a ‘prominent role’ by scoring her second competition ‘fifty’ on her home ground. Meg Austin’s match-winning partnership with Beth Ascott added 142 runs. Turning to Horses, commentators complemented skipper Megan Belt for her bowling-changes, also for taking a consolation ’5-fer:’ taking 5 wickets conceding 50runs (from 10 overs.) Horses vice-captain Coco Streets 78(84) was a ‘pleasure to watch,’ when ‘batting fluently.’ ‘Horses from Kent’ also beat their previous best score. Commentators: Dan Jadzevics (lead) for Steelbacks TV, with guest Aaron Viles from Bears TV. Weather: repeatedly described as ‘ominous,’ but not evolving into rain until the very last ‘over.’ 12-14C.
Steelbacks (women) wearing pale blue tops with black joggers and pads; skipper (50ov) Anisha Patel [Rachel King keeping wicket for Kent (Horses)]; *debutantes: Meg Austin (Bears loan); & Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Russell; *Score 62/0 after 10 overs power-play; *Amelia Kemp snicked-an-edge to keeper Rachel King, from Izzy Cloke; *Scoring ‘fifty,’ Chloe Hill was caught aerial at ‘backward point’ by Amy Gordon’s rolling catch, from Isabella ‘Izzy’ James; *Drinks taken (139/2) midway after 25 overs; *Scoring seventeen ‘fours,’ Meg Austin was caught ‘in-the-deep’ by Amy Gordon, from Megan Belt’s slower ‘leg-spin’ ball; *Gemma Marriott was caught ‘safely’ at ‘mid-off’ by Isabella ‘Izzy’ James, from Megan Belt; *Beth Ascott snicked-an-edge to keeper Rachel King, from Megan Belt; *Four balls later, Ilenia ‘Lenny’ Sims was caught aerial at ‘mid-off’ by Isabella ‘Izzy’ James’ slower ball; *May Drinkell went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Megan Belt; *Ella V Phillips was caught-and-bowled overhead one-handed by Amy Gordon; from the penultimate innings ball; Steelbacks women batting: Meg Austin 123(108); Chloe Hill 59(51); Bethany ‘Beth’ Ascott 56(74); Mabel Reid 25*not out(19); Amelia Kemp 15(28); Kent (Horses) bowling: Megan Belt 5/50(10); Izzy Cloke 1/44(8); Amy Gordon 1/57(10); Issy James 1/61(10);
Kent (Horses) women wearing deep blue tops with red-and-black neck chevrons and dark blue joggers, caps and pads; skipper Megan Belt [Chloe Hill keeping wicket for Steelbacks women]; *debutantes: Kelly Castle, Rachel King; & Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones; *returner: Izzy Cloke; *Score 41/0 (vs 62/0) after 10 overs power-play; *’Pivotal’ moment when Coco Streets ‘who batted fluently and was enjoyable to watch’ was caught by May Drinkell, from Ella V Phillips *Drinks taken 122/1 (vs139/2) midway after 25 overs; *’Breakthrough’ came when Izzy Cloke was trapped ‘leg-before’ to Lenny Sims; *Kelly Castle was bowled by Gemma Marriott; *Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones was caught by Lenny Sims, from Ella V Phillips; *Amy Gordon was caught by Mabel Reid, from Liz Russell; *Following bowling change, Elsa Barnfather was caught by Amelia Kemp, from Gemma Marriott; *Rachel King was caught by Liz Russell from Lenny Sims; *Zeena Bilal was caught by Meg Austin from Lenny Sims; *Following bowling change, Isabella ‘Izzy’ James was caught by Gemma Marriott from Mabel Reid; *With rain falling, Sydney Gorham was caught by Lenny Sims from Mabel Reid’s penultimate match ball
Kent (Horses) women batting: Coco Streets 78(84); Kelly Castle 64(73); Issy James 27(17); Izzy Cloke 22(39); Rachel King 18(23); Zeena Bilal 15(18); Steelbacks bowling: Lenny Sims 3/52(10); Mabel Reid 2/28(6.5); Ella V Phillips 2/31(10); Gemma Marriott 2/39(7); Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Russell 1/45(7);
Match result: Steelbacks (women) 307/8 (@6.1 runs-per-over from 50/50 overs) beat Kent (Horses) (women) 268 ‘All out’ (@ 5.3 r-p-o from 49.5 ov., target 308 from 50 ov) by 39 runs with one ball remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#mc5520000-6664-a623-41ab-08de2dc24da4
*Upcoming League two fixtures 50ov (2026) @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/12/17/metro-bank-one-day-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-2026-2-of-4/
*Top ten ‘leagues one and two’ best 50ov batters (2025) @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/03/30/inaugural-metrobank-one-day-cup-2025-womens-top-ten/
*Top ten ‘leagues one and two’ best 50ov bowlers (2025) http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/04/03/inaugural-metrobank-one-day-cup-2025-womens-top-ten-bowlers/
