Leicestershire Cruise Through To County Cup Third Round
Sat 10 May 2025
Leicestershire recorded a commanding seven-wicket win over Cheshire at Uptonsteel County Ground to progress to round three of the Vitality T20 Women's County Cup.
Captain Becki Brooker struck a quickfire 42 to help the side canter to victory after April Herathge’s three wickets for just 11 runs dismissed Cheshire for 93.
Returning skipper Brooker won the toss and elected to bowl first a sun-soaked Uptonsteel County Ground. The captain part of a pair of changes, with all-rounder Aimee Colquhoun also entering the XI and Ellen Watson keeping wicket.
Ellie Phillips took just three balls to strike, as Emily Wilkins (2) presented a simple catch to Flora Davies at backward point. The winter arrival from Warwickshire has formed a deadly partnership alongside fellow opening bowler Emma Thatcher, with the duo’s exceptional Powerplay bowling yielding just 21 runs.
The rest of the Leicestershire attack capitalised on such a strong beginning, with the Foxes’ outfield catching particularly impressive. First, Francesca Sweet held on at deep square leg to help D’Nica Roff dismiss Rosh Prince-Navaratnam (4), before Lucy Weston ran in off the deep mid-wicket ropes to collect a chance from Ellie Mason (19) off Holly Whitfield’s bowling.
But it was Herathge’s introduction to the match at the halfway stage which tightened the screw further. The right-arm leggie spinning three for 11 in an exceptional four-over spell from the Pavilion End.
Holly Mayers (10) was first to go, edging behind to Watson, before Emily Murray (6) chipped the 24-year-old to Thatcher at mid on two overs later. A third wicket in as many overs - Emily Seddon (5) caught by Colquhoun at extra cover “ left Cheshire 65 for six at the start of the 14th.
Four wickets in successive overs at the end of the innings concluded a sensational display in the field. A bullet throw from Francesca Sweet at point ran out Grace Mitchell (3), while Roff, Thatcher, and Phillips claimed further scalps to bowl the visitors out for 93.
Brooker set about the chase in a hurry, punishing two short deliveries to the ropes in the opening over, while Sweet followed suit with two boundaries of her own before she fell for eight.
Foxes skipper Brooker and number three Flora Davies weren’t to be perturbed, however. The pair added a fifty partnership in just 45 balls, with Brooker striking nine fours en route to her 42 before she was bowled by Prince-Navaratnam.
Weston (17*) maintained the intent, pulling her first ball for four and nailing three more in Prince-Navaratnam’s next over to take Leicestershire to the brink of victory. The win was sealed with a wide two balls later, as the Foxes romped home by seven wickets inside 13 overs.
Leicestershire progress to round three, where they will face either Shropshire or Northamptonshire on the road next Saturday. Before then, Stephen Franklin’s side travel to Yorkshire on Thursday for their fourth Metro Bank One Day Cup fixture.
