Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) vs Gloucestershire (women) (match 36 – ‘double-header’ fixture); at Cinch County Ground, Northampton (Wantage Road) on 5 July 2026
Winning a one-sided match, Gloucestershire women’s victory cemented their qualification for finals day to play Kent in the Eliminator/Semi-final at Cardiff on 12 July. Even before the first ball was bowled, Gloucs women were under ’no pressure’ to win. When batting, Gloucs keeper Meg Ahearne was top-scorer [48*not out(from 37balls).] When bowling, seamer Caitlin Belcher took a 4-fer (taking 4 wickets/conceding 18 runs.) Gloucs womens’ keeper Meg Ahearne stepped-up, taking four catches to curtail Steelbacks womens’ run-chase. By comparison, Steelbacks women were level-pegging by mid-way but three wickets adrift, having previously lost their first four wickets during their ‘power-play.’ Commentators for Steelbacks TV livestream were John Rose (BBC Sport) with Adam Elgin (Assistant coach, Steelbacks women.) Weather: clouds lifted for fine afternoon 22C.
Gloucs women wearing yellow shirts with black side-stripes plus heraldic logos, black joggers and dark blue helmets; skipper Liv Daniels; [Chloe Hill keeping wicket for Steelbacks women]; *Prarthana Reddy (Glamorgan loan, England Women U19 Tri-Series Squad 2026); *Becca Halliday was caught at .mid-wicket’ by Gemma Marriott, from Liz Russell; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 54/0; *Overstepping, Ameile Munday was ‘stumped’ by keeper Chloe Hill, from Anisha Patel; *Score 76/2 by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Next over, Prarthana Reddy went ‘leg-before’ to Anisha Patel; *Left-handed batter Emily Geach was bowled ‘middle-and-leg’ with bails sent flying by Liz Russell; Gloucs women batting: Meg Ahearne 48*not out(37); Ameile Munday 42(25); Becca Halliday 22(19); Izzy Patel 15*not out(16); Steelbacks women bowling: Anisha Patel 2/17(4); Liz Russell 2/26(4);
Steelbacks women wearing plain pink shirts over dark blue joggers with dark blue pads; *skipper Gemma Marriott *[Meg Ahearne keeping wicket for Gloucs women]; *with Mabel Reid (Essex Academy) *Liz Russell (Warwicks loan); & Amelia Kemp (Yorks academy);*Mis-timimg a ‘drive,’ Gemma Marriott was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Emily Geach, from Caitlin Belcher; *Alicia Presland steepled a thick-edge aerial, caught-and-bowled by Caitlin Belcher running round to ‘mid-off;’ *Emma Gibbs went ‘leg-before’ to Liv Daniels coming over-the-wicket; *Next ball, after a hesitant start, Lenny Sims was’ run-out’ for a ‘golden duck’ by Emily Geach’s throw from ‘mid-off’ to Liv Daniels receiving at the non-striker’s end; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 45/4(vs 54/0); *Mis-timing a ‘flick’ without foot-movement, Amelia Kemp wafered-an-edge, caught by keeper Meg Ahearne, from Liv Daniels; *Score 75/5(vs76/2) by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Mis-timing ‘reverse-sweep,’ Mabel Reid went ‘leg-before’ to Char R Phillips; *Chloe Hill was caught by fellow keeper Meg Ahearne, from Caitlin Belcher; *Carbon-copy departure next ball, when Ella V Phillips was caught behind by Meg Ahearne, from Caitlin Belcher for a ‘golden duck;’ *Next (final) ‘over’, Liz Russell was caught ‘outside-off’ by keeper Meg Ahearne, from Liv Daniels; *Four balls later diving Emily Carpenter was run-out’ by Charlie R Phillips’ ‘direct-hit;’ Steelbacks women batting: Gemma Marriott 21(13); Mabel Reid 21(21); Alicia Presland 16(13); Amelia Kemp 12(12); Chloe Hill 12(16); Gloucs women bowling: Caitlin Belcher 4/18(4); Liv Daniels 3/8(2.5); Charlie R Phillips 1/22(3);
*Match result: Gloucestershire (women) 144/4 (@7.2 runs-per-over from 20 ov) beat Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) 101 ‘All out’ (@6.3 runs-per-over/target 145 from 20 ov) by 43 runs
*Scorecard without video, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#me5e80000-9b94-4272-2ee8-08de2c26e7a1
*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/
