Match Preview | Women's T20 Blast | Northamptonshire Steelbacks | 1 June 2025

It’s time for Blast Off, as Leicestershire make the short trip down the M1 to take on Northamptonshire in round one of Vitality Blast Women League 2.

It’s the third meeting between the two East Midlands rivals already this season, with each county winning one apiece in the previous two clashes.

The last contest, a County Cup knockout tie a fortnight ago, saw Stephen Franklin’s side right the wrongs of their opening day defeat, as Francesca Sweet clubbed a rapid fifty before taking three for 10 to book the Foxes’ quarter-final spot.

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“The County Cup gave us a little bit more understanding of the way we want to play our T20 cricket. It’s given us a platform to take forward into the Blast, which we’re all looking forward to.

“There's a lot of friendship but also a rivalry between us and Northants, which only fuels the fire in your belly to win.

“We didn’t get off to a great start when we played them in our first game, but I think the win a couple of weeks ago proved what we’re truly capable of and was a bit of redemption.

“That performance, as well as what we’ve taken from Lancashire and Yorkshire, puts us in a good stead for the first round of the Blast. Hopefully we can get off to a strong start and snowball some momentum.”

Squad:

Hayley Brown comes back into contention against her former club. Flora Davies and D’Nica Roff are away with The Blaze.

Leicestershire Foxes: Brooker*, Bennett, Brown, Colquhoun, Crofts, Herathge, Phillips, Sweet, Thatcher, Watson, Weston, Whitfield.

Follow Live:

A play-by-play feed will be available via @leicswomenccc on X, while updates will be issued via Leicestershire CCC Women on Facebook and @leicswomenccc on Instagram. You can also follow the action live via our Match Centre.