Sussex Sharks (women) vs Middlesex (women) – (match 23, L2) at Arundel, Arundel Castle Cricket Ground on Sunday, 2 August 2026
Middx women won a well-contested match in which Abbie Whybrow [49 runs (from 51 balls)] played a ‘match-defining’ innings; and at one point Layla Judge took three wickets for 5 runs. When summing-up, commentators added that Sharks women could ‘take heart’ from recent performances, not only having given Middx – the second-best side – a ‘scare;’ but also having beaten Glamorgan women – the top-side – last week at Neath. Batting first, Nancy Harman 91(82) made top-score for Sharks. Middx skipper Saskia Horley also took a 3-fer (taking three wickets/conceding 39 runs.) Turning to Middx women’s reply, Artemis Downer 57(57) scored back-to-back ‘fifties’ and Bella Johnson took a 3-fer (3/33.) The match reached its climax during the final ‘over’ with level-scores, when Issy Routledge scored the winning run. Commentators: Scott Read (Sports journalist); Steven Finn (former Sussex cricketer); Jack Williams (Sussex Cricket Marketing) with guest player Izzy Collis. Weather: continuing ‘heatwave’ 27C.
Sharks women wearing pink (50ov) with black joggers; skipper Chiara Green *[Scarlett Hughes keeping wicket for Middx women]; *with Nancy Harman & Poppy Tulloch (Hants loans); *with Mollie Adams & Shristi Patil (England u-19s); *Izzy Collis was caught behind by keeper Scarlett Hughes, from Siya Nanavati; *Score 41/1 after 10 overs power-play; *Mollie Adams was bowled top of ‘middle-and-leg’ by Sonali Patel; *Phoebe Wilkinson was bowled ‘middle-and-off’ by Saskia Horley; *Chiara Green was caught at ’short-third’ by Artemis Downer, from Hannah Davis for an eighth-ball ‘duck;’*Mid-way after 25 overs: score 104/4; *Shristi Patil was bowled ‘middle-and-off’ by Saskia Horley; *Nancy Harman was caught aerial at ‘deep extra-cover’ by Issy Routledge, from Layla Judge; *Two balls later, Poppy Tulloch was caught at ‘point’ by Riva Pindoria, from Layla Judge for a second-ball ‘duck;’ *Left-handed batter Tia Stanley was caught at ‘point’ by Riva Pindoria, from Layla Judge; *Bella Johnson was caught at ‘cover’ by Issy Routledge, from Saskia Horley; *Short of a second-run, Anna Buckle was ‘run-out’ by Sonali Patel’s direct-hit to the striker’s end; Sharks women batting: Nancy Harman 91(82); Shristi Patil 38(56); Mollie Adams 33(41); Phoebe Wilkinson 29(52); Bella Johnson 22(30); Middlesex women bowling: Layla Judge 3/39(9); Saskia Horley 3/39(10); Sonali Patel 1/53(8); Siya Nanavati 1/28(6); Hannah Davis 1/40(7);
Middlesex women wearing wearing navy-blue with underarm splash and navy pads, skipper Saskia Horley, also Scottish international; [Mollie Adams keeping wicket for Sharks women] *with Pippa Sproul (Scots international); *Score 55/1 (vs 41/1) after 10 overs power-play; *Pippa Sproul wafered-an-edge, caught by keeper Mollie Adams, from Kali-Ann Docherty; *Riva Pindoria was bowled ‘middle-and-leg’ by Bella Johnson; *Artemis Downer was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Shristi Patil, from Bella Johnson; *Mid-way after 25 overs, score 126/3 (vs 104/4); *Left-handed batter Scarlett Hughes went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Bella Johnson; *Saskia Horley was ‘bowled’ off her pads by Chiara Green; *One short of ‘fifty,’ Abbie Whybrow was caught at ‘backward-point’ by Tia Stanley’s direct-hit, from Anna Buckle; *Next over, Sonali Patel was ‘run-out’ from ‘backward-point’ by Tia Stanley at the non-striker’s end; *Missing a ‘drive,’ Hannah Davis was ‘clean-bowled’ by Kali-Ann Docherty; Middlesex women batting: Artemis Downer 57(57); Abi Whybrow 49(41); Izzy Routledge 34*not out(59); Saskia Horley 34(45); Riva Pindoria 20(31); Pippa Sproul 19(32); Sharks women bowling: Bella Johnson 3/33(10); Kali-Ann Docherty 2/38(9); Anna Buckle 1/40(5); Chiara Green 1/56(10);
Match result: Middlesex (women) 249/8 (@4.9 runs-per-over/target 249 from 50 overs;) beat Sussex Sharks (women) 248 ‘All out’ (@ 5 r-p-o from 49.1/50) ov., by two wickets
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#c651dae65-9bfe-4f8a-897d-180550441e01_mc5520000-6664-a623-6f8c-08de2dc24f31
*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/
*footnote: actual match photo
