Roff and Thanawala Fire Foxes To Opening Game Victory

By Billy Tinnion

Leicestershire’s U18 Girls dominated their season opener, beating Warwickshire by a massive 125 runs in gloomy, overcast conditions at Mosely CC on Thursday. 

Stephen Franklin’s side were helped to victory by a terrific unbeaten century from Prisha Thanawala, who carried her bat through to the end of the innings, and a devastating five-fer from leg spinner and skipper D’Nica Roff.

Warwickshire captain Olivia Smith won the toss and unsurprisingly opted to spend the first innings in the field due to the bowler friendly conditions. 

Leicestershire’s openers Thanawala and Florence Conn made a steady start to the innings. However, as they started to get comfortable with the surface Florence was given out LBW to Indira Singh for 20 in the 12th over.

Lucinda Hunter had her stumps removed in the twentieth over for 12 by Ellie Phillips. Skipper Roff hit a quick fire 19 from 20 balls before being removed by opposite number Smith, who took a catch off her own bowling in the 25th over. 

Wickets started to tumble as the Foxes lost three for 17 runs in only 30 balls. First, Faith Teekasingh was caught behind by Warwickshire keeper Natasha Smitten off the bowling of Smith, before Jayde Patterson suffered the same fate two overs later. Eleanor Ashcroft then fell to Sabrina Burrows in the 32nd over.

Thanawala added some stability with Faye Stanley, as she bought her fifty up with a four in midway through the 36th over. The pair continued to press on, reaching 100 runs for the partnership after 46.1 overs (87b). 

Thanawala was able to reach her century in the same over after pulling behind square for four. A fine knock from the 17-year-old.

Sadly, Stanley was out LBW to Sabrina Burrows in the next over for a well-made 35 and new batter Isla Rose-Williamson was bowled only two balls later for a duck.

Thanks to some more extravagant batting form Thanawala and Sophie Lawrence, Leicestershire would make 258/8 by the end of the 50-over innings.

Warwickshire made a far quicker start to their innings, before both openers were bowled in consecutive balls at the end of the 6th over and start of the 7th to Teagan Broughton and Isla Rose-Williamson respectively.

Only a few overs later, Sabrina Burrows fell LBW to Broughton who took her second of the day. In the 16th over, Zara Collinson was bowled by D’Nica Roff and Libby Snowden departed in similar fashion in the next as a result of a good delivery from Lucinda Hunter. 

Three overs later, Ellie Phillips was caught and bowled by Roff as the Warwickshire collapse continued. Keeper Natasha Smitten provided some resistance but she inevitably departed when she was bowled by Roff en route way to her five-fer.

The wickets kept coming for Leicestershire’s skipper as she had Samah Kahn stumped by Stanley in the 26th. She completed her five-wicket haul in the 30th over when Stanley caught by Amy Robinson behind the stumps for three.

Warwickshire only lasted five more overs as Rhea Busst was caught by Lawrence off the bowling of Thanawala - a fitting way to end a match she had a great impact on.

A full scorecard can be viewed HERE.