Foxes Show Fight but Rapids Claim Victory at Uppingham
Sun 27 Apr 2025
Leicestershire right some wrongs but fall to the Rapids in a well fought contest, losing by 63 runs.
Leicestershire fell to a 63-run defeat against Worcestershire despite debut performances from Brown, Colquhoun, and Whitfield, with the Foxes chasing 266 but finishing on 202/7. Skipper Brooker led with 57, but Amy Wheeler's unbeaten 70 and three wickets proved decisive for the visitors
Visiting skipper, Hill, called correctly and elected to bat first on a stunning day at Uppingham School. Leicestershire named 3 changes after their defeat to Northamptonshire the previous week, with Hayley Brown, Aimee Colquhoun and Holly Whitfield making their debut for the county.
Thatcher continued her good form with the new ball as she took the early wicket, cleaning up Gwen Davies (2) in just the third over. Whitfield then got in on the action picking up the second wicket of Chloe Hill (9) leaving the visitors 44/2 after 16 overs.
At the other end, Ellie Phillips was keeping things tight as the visitors found themselves going at less than 3 an over for the first 20 overs.
Veteran Crofts would take the third as Ruby Davis (25) would play a lofted cover drive to Francesca Sweet who made no mistake and took the catch comfortably to leave the visitors 89/3 after 25 overs.
Clare Boycott (75), who opened the batting, was joined at the crease by Bryony Gillgrass (36) put 65 runs on for the forth wicket before Gillgrass would succumb to the return of Whitfield as she held out mid-off.
Whitfield would pick up her third as Sophie Beech (1) pushed at a delivery outside the off stump and brought wicket keeper Sophie Bennett into the game by feathering one through. This however brought Blaze loanee, Amy Wheeler (70*) to the crease and she got off to an electric start hitting eight 4’s on her way to her unbeaten 70.
Ellie Phillips would snatch two quick wickets at the back end as Emily Churms (18) and Pheobe Brett (0) would fall as they attempted to match Wheeler’s scoring rate.
The Foxes would have been happy to see Wheeler only face one ball in the final over, and with only 3 runs coming off it, Worcestershire would finish on 265/8.
The Foxes got off to a solid start as Brooker slapped a free hit into the leg side to score her first boundary of the season. The second sigh of relief came when Bennett also got off the mark. However, the relief didn’t last long as Bennet was deemed to be caught in front of the stumps as Wheeler picked up her first of three wickets.
Out came debutant Hayley Brown with one job, ensuring the collapse was avoided. Which both her and Brooker did successfully as they put on 79 runs for the 2nd wicket. It wasn’t until the 28th over where Brown (26) would eventually fall “ again by LBW, this time by Boycott.
Watson would enter the frame at 4 and would be there to see Brooker past her first half-century of the season. Watson would add 12 to the score before getting cleaned up by Blaze loanee Wheeler.
Out came the hard-hitting Francesca Sweet at 5 and lived up to expectations by hitting boundaries to all parts of the ground. Skipper Brooker (57) looked to get in on the action but would hold out to Beach at long on and would walk off to a large applause by those waiting in the pavilion.
Sweet (31) would be the next to fall the following over as Churm was able to one to move in off the seam and Sweet was sent on her way.
Good batting from Colquhoun (14*) and Crofts (17) would help the Foxes get over the 200 mark with contributions from Phillips (6) and Whitfield (7*) adding to the runs column. Leicestershire would finish on 202/7 off their 50 overs. Resulting in a 63 run victory for Worcestershire Rapids.
The Foxes have their first away trip next Saturday and will be heading down to Kent still in search of their first victory in tier 2.
