Leicestershire Foxes (women) vs Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) (match 19, league two – ‘double-header’ fixture) at The Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester (Grace Road) on 7 June 2026
Steelbacks Women bagged their second t20 win over Leicestershire Foxes in a low-scoring match to go third (at time of match.) Confusingly, both teams lost early wickets to bowlers called Phillips, both of whom took ‘power-play’ wickets. Spinner (and 50ov. Skipper) Anisha Patel took a 3-fer (taking 3 wickets/conceding 24 runs): that restricted Foxes’ score. With confidence to chase-down a comparatively low score, Beth Ascott – pictured 39*not out(42) staged three match-winning partnerships. The first with Ava Clive added 36 runs, followed by a second with Chloe Hill that added 30. That was followed by another 33 added with Alicia Prestland to win the match, with at least two overs remaining. Best Foxes bowlers who both took 2/15 were left-armed seamer Emma Thatcher and right-armed seamer Caitlin Chissell who bowled one more over for her full quota. Weather as elsewhere, fine but blustery 17C.
Foxes women wearing new colours for 20 overs: dark-green shirts with black sleeves, red trim and white numbers over black joggers; skipper Becki Brooker; *[Chloe Hill keeping wicket for Steelbacks women]; *without Laura Crofts, April Herathge, Lucy Higham (Blaze) or Lucy Western; *Faith Teekasingh was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Alicia Presland, from Ella V Phillips; *Next over, Lucy Weston went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Mabel Reid for a fourth-ball ‘duck;’ *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 14/2; *Becki Brooker went ‘leg-before’ to Ilenia ‘Lenny’ Sims; *34/3 by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Flora Davies was bowled ‘middle-and-off’ bail sent flying by Anisha Patel; *Ellen Watson was bowled with her ‘off-stump’ knocked back by Anisha Patel; *Aimee Colquhoun was caught-and-bowled leaping one-handed by Anisha Patel; *Insisting on taking a second-run, Ellie M Phillips was ‘run-out’ from ‘cover’ by Beth Ascott’s throw to keeper Chloe Hill; Foxes women batting: Caitlin Chissell 28*not out(22); Flora Davies 25(29); Ellen Watson 14(13); Indira Singh 10*not out(5); Steelbacks women bowling: Anisha Patel 3/24(4); Mabel Reid 1/5(3); Ella V Phillips 1/19(4); Ilene ‘Lenny’ Sims 1/22(4);
Steelbacks women wearing plain pink shirts over dark blue joggers with dark blue pads; *skipper Gemma Marriott [Ellen Watson keeping wicket for Foxes women] *with Liz Russell (Warwicks loan); *also with Mabel Reid (Essex Academy) & Amelia Kemp (Yorks academy); *Gemma Marriott was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Becki Brooker from Emma Thatcher for a second-ball ‘duck;’ *Next over Mabel Reid was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by Ellie M Phillips; *Two balls later, Amelia Kemp went ‘leg-before’ to Emma Thatcher; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 35/3 (vs14/2); *Ava Clive was bowled ‘outside-off’ by Caitlin Chissell; *50/4 (vs34/3 ) by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Chloe Hill was bowled ‘outside-off’ by Caitlin Chissell; Steelbacks women batting: Beth Ascott 39*not out(42); Alicia Presland 22(15); Ava Clive 16(22); Chloe Hill 10(14); Foxes women bowling: Caitlin Chissell 2/15(4); Emma Thatcher 2/15(3); Ellie M Phillips 1/20(3);
Match result: Northamptonshire Steelbacks(women) 109/5 (@6.1 runs-per-over from 17.5 overs/target 109 from 20 ov.) beat Leicestershire Foxes (women) 108/7 (@5.4 r-p-o; from 20ov.) by five wickets with 13 balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#me5e80000-9b94-4272-15e3-08de2c26e62c
*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/
