Foxes Secure Stunning 68-Run Derby Day Win Over Steelbacks

Leicestershire Women secured a thumping 68-run victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks on Friday evening to record their second successive Vitality Blast win.

Lucy Higham and April Herathge each claimed three wickets after the Foxes had crunched their way to 153 for six in a dominant display at Uptonsteel County Ground.

On a sun-kissed evening, Foxes captain Becki Brooker won the toss and elected to bat first on the wicket used for the Men’s four-day contest against Glamorgan earlier in the week.

There was a second debut for Higham, the homegrown star “ who signed on loan from The Blaze on Thursday - replacing D’Nica Roff in the only change to the XI which defeated Worcestershire Rapids last time out.

Leicestershire got off to an inauspicious start, as Brooker (0) chopped on fourth ball to left-arm seamer Emily Carpenter. It didn’t perturb the home side, however, as Francesca Sweet and Scarlett Hughes mounted a 55-run partnership for the second wicket in a defiant response.

Hughes took on the role as aggressor, hitting Carpenter for successive boundaries in identical fashion “ driving over mid off - midway through the fifth to take the score to 31 for one.

When she eventually perished for 29 (22b) “ bowled by Amelia Kemp with the score on 55 “ Leicestershire were well placed to attack the middle overs with venom. And that’s exactly what they did.

Lucy Weston showed an array of shots, pulling, driving and sweeping, to find the ropes three times in four balls as the all-rounder pummelled 16 off Lenny Sims’ opening over. Her fun was interrupted by Anisha Patel when she missed an attempted pull and saw the ball hit off her stump on 15 (10b).

Sweet “ subdued by her usual attacking instincts “ was anchoring well, but she too began to put her foot on the accelerator as the second half of the innings ensued. First, she whacked Ella Phillips over cow corner for six, before repeating the trick dancing down the track to Patel in the following over.

It took the Foxes to 96 for three, which immediately became 96 for four as Sweet (35, 38b) cut Patel to Abby Butcher at backward point.

Again, the wicket didn’t deter the hosts as Scotland international Ellen Watson and 17-year-old Flora Davies began a 46-run stand for the fifth wicket. The pair combining for three boundaries to accumulate 16 from the 16^th.

Watson was held for 20 (19b) by Butcher off Kemp, before Higham (7, 5b) was spectacularly caught by fellow Blaze loanee Michaela Kirk at deep-midwicket. Davies ended on 30 not out from 23 balls, her highest score of the season, as the Foxes reached 153 for seven after their allocation.

Leicestershire couldn’t have dreamed of a better start with the ball. Emma Thatcher struck with the very first delivery of the innings, bowling Steelbacks skipper Gemma Marriott for a golden duck.

It got even better for Stephen Franklin’s side when Ellie Phillips deployed her trademark in-swinger to bowl the dangerous Kirk “ who scored a century on her last visit to Uptonsteel County Ground - for two (6b). Northants six for two after a couple of overs.

Davies backed up her impressive batting display with a bullet throw from cover to run out Bella Howarth (5, 11b) before Herathge earned her first by bowling Amelia Kemp (23, 23b) round her legs to leave the visitors tottering on 33 for four.

Higham then struck twice in as many balls to further cement Leicestershire’s dominance. First, she took a sharp return chance to see off Beth Ascott (1, 6b) before beautiful flight and turn beat Sims’ forward defence (0) first ball.

Northants never recovered, as Higham snared her third thanks to a brilliant catch in the deep from Watson, who was lending the gloves to Hughes for the evening. The Scottish ‘keeper was in the game again at deep mid-wicket shortly after, racing in to run out Emma Gibbs (2, 7b) as the visiting ‘keeper looked to sprint a second.

Herathge wrapped up the innings with the final two wickets “ Phillips LBW for nine (11b) and Carpenter (5, 11b) caught by Sweet at backward point “ giving Leicestershire victory by a whopping 68 runs.

It moves the Foxes up to second in the table ahead of their clash with Derbyshire Falcons at Uptonsteel County Ground on Sunday 6 July.