Colquhoun Hits Sparking Fifty But Gloucestershire Inflict DLS Defeat

Aimee Colquhoun struck her maiden Tier Two half-century before heavy rainfall saw Gloucestershire inflict a final day defeat on Leicestershire at Uptonsteel County Ground.

The all-rounder made a quickfire 53, while Francesca Sweet (55) impressed once again, but an undefeated 91 from Prarthana Reddy saw the visitors home by 28 runs on DLS.

Captain Becki Brooker won the toss and elected to bat first on what started out as a sun-drenched day in Aylestone. The Foxes making just one alteration as Colquhoun overcame a toe injury to replace Ellen Watson.

After the early of loss of Lucy Weston (5), Brooker and last week’s centurion Hayley Brown rebuilt well to take Leicestershire to 43 for one at the conclusion of the Powerplay.

That progress was halted by Chloe Skelton, who had Brooker (24) caught top edging a sweep to short fine leg in the following over.

Sweet took just two balls to get into her stride, firing Skelton to the long on ropes, before both she and Brown hit the same bowler away for four in her next over as Leicestershire reclaimed the impetus.

The pair had added 60 by the time drinks arrived at 108 for two from 25 overs. But as it so often does, the break brought about a wicket. Melissa Story’s introduction accounting for Brown, trapped leg-before for 34.

Leicestershire’s leading run-scorer in 2025, Sweet wasn’t perturbed. The 21-year-old carved Story through point to advance to a 51-ball half-century, before a Sophie Bennett boundary brought up the duo’s fifty alliance after only 42 balls two overs later.

The former’s departure - caught by Georgina Cant at mid-wicket for 55 “ signalled Colquhoun’s arrival to the crease. The all-rounder wasted little time in getting into her work, twice hitting Skelton to the ropes before a mighty heave down the ground took the Foxes beyond 200.

A mix up with Bennett saw Leicestershire’s wicketkeeper ran out for 30, but Colquhoun’s attacking intent never wavered, reaching a 46-ball fifty with a delicate prod behind point for her ninth four.

It helped the Foxes add 39 runs from the final five overs as Leicestershire ended their innings on 259 for nine.

Emma Thatcher’s tight start with the ball was rewarded with the wicket of Becca Halliday (4), as the left-arm seamer hurtled the ball into the Gloucestershire’s opener’s middle stump.

The away side rebuilt admirably, seeing out the Powerplay with the score on just 24, before Meg Ahearne and Reddy launched into their attacking stride.

Ahearne was dropped in a tough return chance for Ellie Phillips, but the former Warwickshire all-rounder had the last laugh in her next over, as the Gloucestershire wicketkeeper was stumped by counterpart Bennett for 50.

It ended a stand of 109 for the second wicket and proved to be the final act before a half an hour rain delay. With only two overs lost “ and a revised target of 252 from 48 “ Leicestershire fought back well, conceding just nine runs off the bat in the following five overs.

But two hefty overs before the second, and ultimately terminal, rain delay bumped Gloucestershire “ who needed 86 from 15 overs - well ahead on DLS. Conditions failed to improve, and play was subsequently called off at 5:15pm, giving the visitors a 28-run victory on DLS.