Leicestershire Foxes vs Derbyshire Falcons (women) (match 28, league two stand-alone fixture) at the Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester on Sunday, 6 July 2025 at 14h30
‘Local’ East Midlands derby described by home-team commentator as a ‘narrow’ third back-to-back win for the hosts. Despite their resounding success, Foxes women could miss their opportunity to play the semi-finals should their net-run-rate fall below their nearest rivals. Falcons played a competitive match, but the visitors departed with three back-to-back losses. Batting first, Falcons posted around one-run-per-ball, with Ella Porter undefeated [38*not out (from 51 balls.)] Two Foxes bowlers took 2-fers (Emma Thatcher and Lucy Higham taking two wickets each.) When batting, Foxes ‘made hard work’ of their reply having ‘taken risks’ to boost their run-rate floundering on 61/5 approaching mid-way. Lucy Higham – pictured staged a determined recovery, scooping the winning ‘four’ to nudge Foxes women ‘over-the-line’ with two balls remaining. Separately, Lucy Higham made match-winning top-score [36*not out (from 30 balls).] Commentator: Sam Martin (BBC Sport) Weather: ‘pre-match’ rain until 14h19, cleaning away to become ‘fine and sunny’ 18C.
Falcons women wearing dark blue with light-blue leg stripes and blue helmets; *skipper Adrianna Darlow *[Ellen Watson keeping wicket for Foxes] *with Millie Gray, Maria Andrews & Lara Shaw (Blaze academy loans) & *Ellie Nightingale (Yorks academy loan); *Rain delayed the start of play by an hour, without any loss of overs, but with ball-towelling; *’Going for the big shot,’ Jessica ‘Jess’ Couser was caught by keeper Ellen Watson, from left-armed seamer Emma Thatcher for a ‘golden duck;’ *Ellie Nightingale was caught at ‘point’ by Lucy Weston, from Emma Thatcher; *Maria Andrews was caught at ’square’ by Lucy Higham, from Ellie Phillips; *Lara Shaw was caught ‘in-the-covers’ by Rebecca ‘Becki’ Brooker from Lara Crofts; *Megan Pittman was caught at ‘backward-point’ by Flora Davies, from Lucy Higham; *After 6 overs power-play, 25/5; & 61/5 by mid-way (10 overs); *Natasha ‘Tash’ Allen was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Lucy Higham; *Short of a second run, Adrianna Darlow was ‘run out’ by Poppy Davies’s throw from ‘deep mid-wicket,’ from Lara Crofts receiving at the non-striker’s end; *Rhiannon Knowling-Davies, was ‘run-out’ by Scarlett Hughes’ direct-hit from Ellie Phillips; Falcons women batting: Ella Porter38*not out (51), Adrianna Darlow20(20), Natasha ‘Tash’ Allen17(17); Foxes women bowling: Emma Thatcher 2/18, Lucy Higham 2/13, Lara Crofts 1/10, Ellie Phillips 1/13 ;
Foxes women wearing red-with-green-splash *skipper Rebecca ‘Becki’ Brooker; *[Megan Pittman keeping wicket for Falcons] with Ellen Watson (Scotland international); *Lucy Higham (Blaze loan) *Flora Davies & Scarlett Hughes (Blaze/Academy loans), without D’Nica Roff (Blaze); *Rebecca ‘Becki’ Brooker was bowled by Francesca Clarke ‘top-of-off stump’ for a ‘golden duck;’ *Francesca Sweet mis-timed, was caught aerial at ‘long on’ by Rhiannon Knowling-Davies, from Adrianna Darlow; *After 6 overs power-play, 40/2 (vs 25/5) *Lucy Weston was bowled by Caitlin McDonald ‘top-of-middle stump’ for a second-ball ‘duck;’ *Next over Ellen Watson mis-timed, caught at ‘short-third’ by Natasha ‘Tash’ Allen, from Rhiannon Knowling-Davies;*Approaching mid-way Flora Davies was bowled ‘outside-off’ by Francesca Clarke; *By mid-way (10 overs) 65/5 (vs 61/5); *Scarlett Hughes went ‘leg-before’ to Rhiannon Knowling-Davies; *Mis-timing slog-sweep, Laura Crofts went ‘leg-before’ (off stump) to Rhiannon Knowling-Davies; Foxes women batting: Lucy Higham36*not out (30), Scarlett Hughes30(23), Francesca Sweet23(21), Laura Crofts10(13); Falcons women bowling: Rhiannon Knowling-Davies 3/18, Adrianna Darlow 1/16, Caitlin McDonald, 1/18, Francesca Clarke 2/27;
Match result: Leicestershire Foxes women (women) 119/7 (@6 runs-per-over, 19.4/20 overs/, target 118 from 20/20 ov.) beat Derbyshire Falcons (women) 117/8 (@6 r-p-o from 19.1/20 overs) by three wickets with 2 balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#mde60a4a0-6337-4647-9e65-d1b560abf9ee
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225374 SKY Sports @url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/leicestershire-foxes-women-v-derbyshire-falcons-women/scorecard/690e500e-9fa6-521d-8d26-1a0af7ba20c1
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of LeicesterCCC/FoxesTV/nv play via YouTube [04h00m25s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aNXiktcl8E
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/06/22/vitality-blast-league-one-fixtures-and-results-to-june-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/07/02/vitality-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2025-2/
