Middlesex (women) vs Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) (match 27, L2) at the Radlett Cricket Club (Brunton Memorial Ground) on Sunday, 9 August 2026Â Â
Steelbacks women produced a ‘clinical performance,’ to beat Middlesex women by 105 runs. Top-scorer Chloe Hill – pictured wearing previous colours [93 runs(from 125 balls) played a ‘huge role,’ forming six batting partnerships, including ‘fifty’ with Ria Fackrell for Steelbacks seventh-wicket. Record Steelbacks womens’ ninth-wicket stand between skipper Anisha Patel partnered by Mabel Reid added another 47. Middx women’s bowler Sonali Patel took a consolation season’s-best 3-fer (taking three wickets/conceding 51 runs.) Faced with a mammoth score, an unprecedented mid-order collapse followed Artemis Downer’s departure, four runs short of (what would have been) a third back-to-back ‘fifty.’ Five wickets fell relatively cheaply when 63/3 became 124/8. Spirited resistance from Abbie Whybrow 80(51) partnered by Lauren Turner 13(26) added 69 runs followed by two wickets and twelve ‘dot’ balls. Without commentary from Middlesex Cricket Livestream. Weather: continuing ‘third’ heatwave 24-28C.
Steelbacks women wearing pale blue tops with black joggers and pads; skipper (50ov) Anisha Patel [Pippa Sproul keeping wicket for Middx]; *with Michaela Kirk (The Blaze loan); *with Ria Fackrell (Yorks loan); *Amelia Kemp was caught from a thick-edge, by keeper Pippa Sproul, from Lauren Turner; *Score 47/1 after 10 overs power-play; *Michaela Kirk was caught aerial by diving keeper Pippa Sproul, from Sonali Patel’s seam; *Four balls later, Beth Ascott was bowled by ‘middle-and-off’ by Sonali Patel for a fourth-ball ‘duck;’ *Mid-way after 25 overs: score 111/3; *Playing-on from a mis-timed ‘reverse-sweep,’ Ava Clive was bowled by Issy Routledge; *Gemma Marriott was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Abbie Whybrow, from Alica Whitmore; *Non-striker Ilenia ‘Lenny’ Sims was sent back, but ‘run-out’ by substitute fielder’s (Georgia Irving’s) direct-hit; *Ria Fackrell was caught aerial at ‘long-on’ by Sonali Patel, from Issy Routledge; *Next ‘over’ just short of a ’ton,’ top-scorer Chloe Hill was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Finty Trussler, from Sonali Patel; Steelbacks women batting: Chloe Hill 93(125); Anisha Patel 33*not out(21); Ria Fackrell 31(28); Michaela Kirk 28(31) Amelia Kemp 22(28); Ava Clive 21(27); Mabel Reid 15*not out(14) Ilenia ‘Lenny’ Sims 15(14); Middlesex women bowling: Sonali Patel 3/51(10); Issy Routledge 2/57(10); Lauren Turner 1/30(8); Alica Whitmore 1/31(3);
Middlesex women wearing navy-blue split with lilac fronts, underarm splash and navy pads, stand-in skipper Finty Trussler; [Chloe Hill keeping wicket for Steelbacks women]; *with Pippa Sproul (Scots international);*Pippa Sproul was caught at ‘slip’ by Michaela Kirk, from Beth Robinson; *Score 51/1 (vs47/1) after 10 overs power-play; *Issy Routledge steepled from a top-edge, caught-and-bowled one-handed by Gemma Marriott; *Artemis Downer was bowled ‘middle-and-leg’ by Amelia Kemp; *Riva Pindoria went went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Amelia Kemp; *Carbon-copy dismissal when Finty Trussler went ‘leg-before’ to Amelia Kemp; *Alica Whitmore was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Beth Ascott, from Ilenia ‘Lenny’ Sims for a sixth-ball ‘duck;’ *Mid-way after 25 overs: score 123/7 (vs111/3); Sonali Patel went aerial, caught at ‘deep-square’ by Gemma Marriott, from Anisha Patel; *Anaya Patel went went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Ilenia ‘Lenny’ Sims; *Top-scorer Abbie Whybrow was caught aerial at ‘long-on’ by Michaela Kirk, from Amelia Kemp; *Finally, Lauren Turner was caught aerial at ‘long-on’ by Michaela Kirk, from Ilenia ‘Lenny’ Sims; Middlesex women batting: Abbie Whybrow 80(51); Artemis Downer 46(52); Finty Trussler 14(29); Lauren Turner 13(26); Steelbacks women bowling: Amelia Kemp 4/21(6); Ilenia ‘Lenny’ Sims 3/29(7.2); Gemma Marriott 1/36(5); Anisha Patel 1/19(2); Beth Robinson 1/46(8);
Match result: Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) 298/8 (@5.9 runs-per-over from 50ov.) beat Middlesex (women) 193 ‘All out’ (@5.4 r-p-o/target 299 from 35.2/50 overs) by 105 runs with 88 balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#mc5520000-6664-a623-454d-08de2dc24f75
*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/
