Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) vs Worcestershire Rapids (women) – match 31, L2) – at cinch Northamptonshire County Ground (Wantage Road) on Sunday, 16 August 2026
Steelbacks women ‘booked their place’ in the competition’s semi-final knock-outs ‘in some style.’ Batting first, Rapids women were bowled-out for a barely defendable score, with a required-run-rate of less than five runs-per-over. Ella Claridge [49 runs (from 69 balls) made top-score. Skipper Anisha Patel (3/33) took three tail-enders’ wickets. Steelbacks women replied with a century opening partnership between Amelia Kemp and Chloe Hill that set the tone. Innings anchor May Drinkell made top-score with ‘fifty,’ when scoring ‘four’ to win the match by a wide margin. Commentator: Aaron Viles (Host, The County Cricket Podcast); with post-match feedback from ‘thrilled’ David Ripley (Head Coach, Steelbacks women) – please see below. Weather: mainly cloudy, hot, with occasional sunny spells 26C.
Rapids women wearing light blue front, mid-hooped back uppers over lower black with light-blue helmets; *skipper Clare Boycott; [Chloe Hill keeping wicket for Steelbacks women] *with Ella Claridge (The Blaze loan); *with Dutch international Sanya Khurana ;*also with ‘England u-19’s Sophie Beech; *Clare Boycott was bowled with ‘middle-stump’ flattened by left-armed seamer Emily Carpenter; *Madison Windeatt was caught aerial at ‘mid-on’ by May Drinkell, from Amelia Kemp’s ‘full-toss;’ *Score 56/2 (vs 48/0) after 10 overs power-play; *Left-handed batter Gwen Davies was bowled with ‘leg-stump’ flattened by Gemma Marriott; *Sophie Beech was ‘run out’ from ‘point’ by Mabel Reid’s throw to keeper Chloe Hill, receiving at the striker’s-end;
*Mid-way after 25 overs: score 132/4 (vs125/2); *Sanya Khurana was bowled ‘top-of-middle-and-off’ by Amelia Kemp; *Megan Bishop was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Amelia Kemp, from Ria Fackrell; *Short of a second run, Amy Griffiths was ‘run-out’ from ‘backward-point’ by Lenny Sims’ throw to keeper Chloe Hill receiving at the striker’s-end; *Ella Claridge went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Anisha Patel; *Jess Beach caught-and-bowled by Anisha Patel, with an athletic roll away from the pitch; *Daisy Egerton was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Anisha Patel; Rapids women batting: Ella Claridge 49(69); Gwen Davies 39(48); Emily Churms 30*not out(50); Sanya Khurana 27(31); Jess Beach 19(16); Amy Griffiths 11(15); Madison Windeatt 10(21); Steelbacks women bowling: Anisha Patel 3/33(6.3); Amelia Kemp 2/38(7); Gemma Marriott 1/20(6); Emily Carpenter 1/22(3); Ria Fackrell 1/39(10);
Steelbacks women wearing pale blue tops with black joggers and pads; *skipper (50ov) Anisha Patel; [Ella Claridge keeping wicket for Rapids women] *with Michaela Kirk (The Blaze loan) & Emily Carpenter (academy); *with Ria Fackrell (Yorks loan);*Score 48/0 after 10 overs power-play; *Amelia Kemp was caught-and-bowled by Clare Boycott; *Chloe Hill was caught by Amy Griffiths, from Megan Bishop; *Mid-way after 25 overs: score 125/2; *Michaela Kirk was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Amy Griffiths, from Megan Bishop; *Beth Ascott went ‘leg-before’ to Amy Griffiths’ full-pitched ball; *Mis-timing a ‘drive,’ Gemma Marriott was caught-and-bowled by Amy Griffiths; Steelbacks women batting: May Drinkell 51*not out(41); Amelia Kemp 49(69); Chloe Hill 37(62); Gemma Marriott 29(17); Michaela Kirk 28(24); Rapids women bowling: Amy Griffiths 2/48(8); Megan Bishop 2/61(8); Clare Boycott 1/26(7);
Match result: Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) 220/5 (@5.7 runs-per-over/target 220 from 38/50 overs); beat Worcestershire Rapids (women) 219 ‘All out’ (@4.8 r-p-o from 45.3 overs) by seven wickets with 72 balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#mc5520000-6664-a623-8362-08de2dc24fba
*David Ripley Thrilled After Win vs Worcestershire Women courtesy of Steelbacks TV and YouTube @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBrxo9c0M4w
*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/
*Top ten 20ov ‘league one’ best batters and bowlers (2026) @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/07/28/womens-vitality-blast-league-one-top-ten-for-2026/
*Top ten 20ov ‘league two’ best batters and bowlers (2026) @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/07/30/womens-vitality-blast-league-two-top-ten-for-2026/
