Derbyshire Falcons (women) vs Sussex Sharks (women) (match 1, league two – ‘double-header’ fixture); Derby, at The Central Co-op County Ground on 22 May 2026
Playing without any loaned players, only two Sharks womens batters posted double-figures with Mollie Adams – pictured as the only batter to score ‘fifty.’ Falcons best bowler was Marie Andrews who took a 4-fer upon debut, (4 wickets/conceding 11 runs.) Disaster struck Sharks innings when two wickets feel during the same over of ‘power-play.’ Turning to Falcons power-play, they nudged fifteen runs ahead, and stayed for the remainder of their innings. All four of Falcons womens’ top-order batters chalked-up double-figures, for a comfortable win. Separately, Sharks won their previous encounter, albeit at fifty overs, with loaned players scoring most of their runs (May, 2025.) Weather was hot and sunny 21C.
Sharks women wearing new colours for 20 overs: sea-blue over black with white numbers *skipper Chaira Green *[Matilda Atherton-Gater keeping wicket for Falcons]; *Issy Collis was bowled by Malisha Tennakoon; *Three balls later, sweeping across-the-line,’ Shristi Patil was bowled by Malisha Tennakoon for a third-ball ‘duck;’ *Bella Johnson was bowled by Malisha Tennakoon for a second-ball ‘duck;’ *Skipper Chiara Green was bowled by Marie Andrews; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 31/4; *Phoebe Wilkinson went ‘leg-before’ to Marie Andrews; *49/5 by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Mollie Adams was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Rhiannon Knowling-Davies; from Marie Andrews; *Six balls later, Anna Lewis was bowled with both bails sent flying by Marie Andrews, for a sixth-ball ‘duck;’ *Anna Buckle went ‘leg-before’ to Rhiannon Knowling-Davies; Sharks women batting: Mollie Adams 50(50); Eve O’Neill 29*not out (30); Falcons women bowling: Marie Andrews 4/11(4)); Malisha Tennakoon 3/23(4); Rhiannon Knowling-Davies 1/21(4);
Derbyshire Falcons women wearing dark-blue with light-blue leg stripes and blue helmets and blue numbers; *skipper Adrianna Darlow *[Mollie Adams keeping wicket for Sharks]; *Debutantes Aamna Khan & Marie Andrews (Blaze academy graduate); *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 48/0 (vs31/4); *Tash Allen was bowled ‘middle-and-off’ by Bella Johnson; *Jess Couser was caught at ‘deep backward-square’ by Anna Lewis, from Eve O’Neill; *65/2 (vs49/5) by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Frances Lonsdale came down-pitch, stumped by Mollie Adams, from Eve O’Neill; *Carbon-copy dismissal coming down-pitch four balls later, when Malika Tennakoon was also stumped by Mollie Adams from Eve O’Neill; Falcons women batting: Jess Couser 37(32); Rhiannon Knowling-Davies 16(17); Prisha Bedi 13(21); Malisha Tennakoon 11(11); Sharks women bowling: Eve O’Neill 3/18(4); Bella Johnson 1/21(4);
Match result: Derbyshire Falcons (women) 118/4 (@6.1 runs-per-over from 19.1/20 overs) beat Sussex Sharks (women) 114/8 (@ 5.7 r-p-o from 20) ov., by six wickets
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#me5e80000-9b94-4272-a050-08de2c26e47e
*Upcoming League two fixtures 20ov (2026) @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/12/17/vitality-blast-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2026-4-of-4/
*Upcoming League two fixtures 50ov (2026) @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/04/25/metro-bank-one-day-cup-womens-tournament-for-50-overs-league-two-may-update-2026/
