Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) vs Leicestershire Foxes (women) (match 20, L2) at the ‘cinch’ County Ground (Wantage Road) Northampton on 26 July 2026
Evenly balanced tied-match, that ended ’staggeringly’ with a ‘tail-end heave’ for a last-ball tie. Batting first for Steelbacks women, Amelia Kemp – pictured [107 runs (from 115 balls)] scored her maiden ‘ton.’ Both teams innings were characterised by eight double-figure batting partnerships. For Steelbacks, Michaela Kirk 45(57) delivered a century fourth-wicket stand with Ava Clive 52(57.) Separately, Ella M Phillips and April Herathge took two wickets each. Turning to Foxes womens’ reply, Becki Brooker 58(63) played a skipper’s innings with ‘fifty’ from three partnerships. Bowler-turned-batter Ellie Phillips 55(56) was lauded as ‘exceptional,’ scoring ‘fifty,’ that enabled April Herathge (as ‘Foxes No.11’) to nudge 3 runs from the final ball for an ‘extraordinary’ tie. Commentators: Dan Jadzevics (lead) for Steelbacks TV, with Aaron Viles (Cricketfanaticsmag.com) Weather: continuing ‘heatwave’ 20-26C.
Steelbacks women wearing pale blue tops with black joggers and pads; skipper (50ov) Anisha Patel *[Lucy Western keeping wicket for Foxes women]; *with Michaela Kirk (Blaze loan); *Short of a ‘single,’ diving Chloe Hill was ‘run-out’ from ‘cover’ by Caitlin Chissell’s throw to keeper Lucy Western receiving at the striker’s-end. *Score 33/1 after 10 overs power-play; *Michaela Kirk wafered-an-edge, caught by keeper Lucy Western, from April Herathge; *Playing across-the-line, Beth Ascott was bowled with her ‘middle-and-off’ bail dislodged by April Herathge; *Mid-way after 25 overs, with drinks taken on 116/3; *Scoring ‘fifty,’ but mis-timing ‘reverse-sweep,’ Ava Clive was bowled ‘middle-and-off’ by Ellie M Phillips; *Centurion Amelia Kemp was stumped by Lucy Western, from left-armed seamer Emma Thatcher; *Mis-timing ‘reverse-paddle,’ Ilenia ‘Lenny’ Sims was bowled ‘middle-and-off’ by Ellie M Phillips; *Mabel Reid was bowled, top of ‘middle-and-off’ by Prisha Thanawala; *Swinging ‘across-the-line,’ Ellie V Phillips was bowled ‘middle-and-off’ by Caitlin Chissell; Steelbacks women batting: Amelia Kemp 107(115); Ava Clive 52(57); Michaela Kirk 45(57); Gemma Marriott 40*not out(18); Ellie V Phillips 11(12); Foxes women bowling: Ella M Phillips 2/49(10); April Herathge 2/63(10); Caitlin Chissell 1/33(4); Emma Thatcher 1/45(8); Prisha Thanawala 1/62(10);
Foxes women wearing two-tone red-and-black with black joggers; *skipper Becki Brooker; *[Chloe Hill keeping wicket for Steelbacks women]; *with Ellen Watson, Scottish international; *Prisha Thanawala was caught at ’deep mid-wicket’ by Beth Ascott, from seamer Beth Robinson; *Score 60/1 (vs 33/1) after 10 overs power-play; *Lucy Western ‘wafered-an-edge,’ caught by keeper Chloe Hill, from seamer Amelia Kemp; *Flora Davies went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Lenny Sims; *Mis-timing to ‘square,’ Becki Brooker went ‘leg-before’ to Anisha Patel; *Mid-way after 25 overs, on 150/4 (vs 116/3); *Sophie Grayson was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Gemma Marriott; *Ellen Watson was bowled by Gemma Marriott; *Caitlin Chissell was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Michaela Kirk, from Anisha Patel; *Non-striker Indira Singh was ‘run-out’ by Gemma Marriott’s direct-hit; *Mis-timing a ‘scoop’ Ella M Phillips was bowled by Gemma Marriott; Foxes women batting: Becki Brooker 58(63); Ellie V Phillips 55(56); Ellen Watson 34(30); Indira Singh 28(23); Sophie Grayson 23(24); Caitlin Chissell 22(32); Flora Davies 20(27); Prisha Thanawala 18(17); April Herathge 16*not out(5); Lucy Western 11(17); Steelbacks women bowling: Gemma Marriott 3/53(8.3); Anisha Patel 2/60(10); Amelia Kemp 1/20(4); Beth Robinson 1/41(5); Ilenia ‘Lenny’ Sims 1/56(10);
Match result: Northamptonshire Steelbacks (women) 311/8 (@6.2 runs-per-over from 50 overs;) tied with Leicestershire Foxes (women) 311/9 (@6.2 r-p-o/target 311 from 50 overs;)
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#mc5520000-6664-a623-dd3e-08de2dc24ef2
*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/
