Middlesex (women) vs Northampton Steelbacks (women) (match 38, L2 Semi-final 1) at the Brunton Memorial Ground, Radlett (Herts) on Sunday 13 September 2026
Middlesex women turned-around ‘almost certain defeat’ into a stunning win, and move forward to play Glamorgan women in the final at Bristol on 26 September. Batting first, Middx women were bowled-out for a relatively low-score on the same high-scoring ground. Abbie Whybrow [75 runs (from 75)] made top-score with an ‘extraordinary innings.’ Steelbacks women replied well, at power-play with two wickets advantage [50/0(vs 34/2)]; gaining another two wickets advantage by mid-way [108/3(vs 92/7).] An ‘extraordinary match’ unfolded. Summarising the match, commentator (Kevin Hand, Sports journalist) lauded Middx womens’ skipper Saskia Horley who turned fortunes around in a ‘stunning fashion.’ When batting, Middlesex women who were ‘well behind’ and fell short of a half-decent score. Weather intervened brining light drizzle interruptions with nine overs docked from each innings. Steelbacks reply seemed destined for a ‘carbon-copy’ re-run of 9 August, when Steelbacks women by 105 runs. Instead, the home team (who’d been written-off by commentator’s curse) staged an ‘astounding fight-back.’ Weather: overcast with rain stoppages 16C.
Middlesex women wearing navy-blue split with lilac fronts, underarm splash and navy pads, skipper Saskia Horley (Scottish international); [Chloe Hill keeping wicket for Steelbacks women]; *with Pippa Sproul (Scots international & Hants women); *With ‘movement off-the-seam,’ Artemis Downer was bowled with her off-stump flattened by Mabel Reid, for a third-ball ‘duck;’ *Riva Pindoria ‘pulled away,’ caught aerial at ‘mid-wicket’ by Lenny Sims, from Beth Robinson *Score 34/2 after 10 overs power-play; *Issy Routledge was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by Gemma Marriott; *Saskia Horley was caught one-handed, diving to ‘slip’ by keeper Chloe Hill, from Beth Robinson; *Left-handed batter Scarlett Hughes was caught at ‘short-square’ by rolling Ava Clive, from Gemma Marriott; *Pippa Sproul was bowled with her ‘off-stump flattened’ by Amelia Kemp; *Commentator’s curse struck ‘with work to do’ also ‘tough for Middx’ when Hannah Davis was caught aerial from a ‘leading-edge’ at ‘forward-square’ by Ella Phillips running round, from Amelia Kemp; *Mid-way after 25 overs: score 92/7; *Siya Nanavati was caught by a rolling catch at ‘cover’ by Ava Clive, from Ilenia ‘Lenny’ Sims; *Abbie Whybrow was caught by keeper Chloe Hill, from Anisha Patel; *Lauren Turner was caught-and-bowled by Lenny Sims; Middlesex women batting: Abbie Whybrow 75(75); Saskia Horley 23(21); Issy Routledge 16(43); Pippa Sproul 11(22); Steelbacks women: Amelia Kemp 2/23(9); Beth Robinson 2/23(9); Gemma Marriott 2/30(6); Ilenia ‘Lenny’ Sims 2/34(5); Anisha Patel 1/12(3); Mabel Reid 1/29(7);
Northampton Steelbacks women [Scarlett Hughes keeping wicket for Middx women]; *also with Michaela Kirk (The Blaze academy loan); *Score 50/0(vs 34/2) after 10 overs power-play; *Amelia Kemp was caught by keeper Scarlet Hughes, from Issy Routledge; *Michaela Kirk was caught ‘aerial’ at ‘extra-cover’ by Abi Whybrow, from Hannah Davis; *May Drinkell was clean-bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by Saskia Horley; *Mid-way after 25 overs: score 108/3(vs92/7) *Chloe Hill ‘hit-wicket,’ flattening her ‘off-stump,’ bowled by Rachana Cambampaty; *Ava Clive was caught inside-the-circle’ at ‘cover’ by Saskia Horley, from Siya Nanavati; *Ilenia ‘Lenny’ Sims feathered-an-edge, caught by keeper Scarlett Hughes, from Saskia Horley; *Mabel Reid was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by Saskia Horley for a ‘golden duck;’ *Ella V Phillips, went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Saskia Horley; *Raising her bat, Anisha Patel padded ‘leg-before’ to Hannah Davis for a fifth-ball ‘duck;’ *With hesitation, Beth Robinson was ‘run-out’ by Rachana Cambampaty’s throw to Saskia Horley, breaking the non-striker’s-end stumps, for a fourth-ball ‘duck;’; Steelbacks women batting: Chloe Hill 46(81); Amelia Kemp 27(36); Gemma Marriott 26*not out(31); Michaela Kirk 15(22); Middlesex women bowling: Saskia Horley 4/27(8.5); Hannah Davis 2/42(8); Rachana Cambampati; 1/48(3); Issy Routledge 1/24(5);
Match result: Middlesex (women) 169 ‘All out’ (@4.1 runs-per-over from 41/50 overs.) beat Northampton Steelbacks (women) 135 ‘All out’ (@4.1 r-p-o /with variable DLS target from 32.5/50 ov.) by 29 runs by Duckworth-Lewis-Stern ‘DLS’ method
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#c651dae65-9bfe-4f8a-897d-180550441e01_m73a915d7-0c1a-40bd-80b0-043bf447e8c0
*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/
