Sweet Scores First Foxes Fifty But Hosts Win York Battle

Leicestershire fought valiantly but succumbed to a six-wicket defeat against heavy-hitters Yorkshire in round four of the Metro Bank One Day Cup League 2.

Francesca Sweet recorded her first Foxes fifty, while Ellie Phillips struck twice in an over to add to her unbeaten 39 with the bat, but the hosts proved too strong in York.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Leicestershire made three changes to the side which defeated Cheshire, as Sophie Bennett, Hayley Brown and Laura Crofts were all restored to the XI.

Bennett was the first to depart, bowled by former Lancashire all-rounder Laura Marshall for 11. Skipper Becki Brooker (9) perished soon after, deceived by a fuller Claudie Cooper delivery to leave the Foxes 34 for two after 12 overs.

Lucy Weston, batting at three, had hit five boundaries as she spearheaded a counter-attack before losing partner Brown (8) leg-before to Maddie Ward. But the intent transferred to new arrival Sweet, who whacked her first ball at the crease for six in a sign of what was to come.

Weston (39) and Aimee Colquhoun (5) departed, but Sweet oozed class as she pressurised the Yorkshire bowlers en route to her maiden half-century in a Leicestershire shirt.

Her second six, thumped back over Olivia Thomas’ head, took her to 49, before a single the following ball brought up a 45-ball fifty.

The milestones kept coming, as she and Phillips - the two stars of the day “ accrued their fifty partnership from 65 balls in the following over.

It was eventually one shot too many for Sweet (52), who drove a Thomas low full toss to Beth Langston at mid-wicket, but the baton changed hands to Phillips, who assumed the role of aggressor.

The all-rounder helped take 18 of a Marshall over, alongside Crofts (16), to get the score up above 200, as Leicestershire ended their innings on 205 for eight. Phillips 39 not out.

Yorkshire raced to 40 without loss after five overs in reply, before Phillips struck twice in an over. First, Erin Thomas (23) mistimed a pull to Brown at deep square leg, before Rebecca Duckworth (0) top-edged to Bennett two balls later.

A 68-run stand put the hosts back in the ascendancy, before Sweet turned Lauren Winfield-Hill’s innings sour, bowling the Yorkshire skipper for 44.

Another fifty partnership for the hosts was ended by Holly Whitfield. Ward (41) had a life the over before, but Emma Thatcher ensured it wasn’t too costly by pouching the all-rounder at mid on.

It was to be the fourth and final breakthrough for the Foxes, with Ami Campbell “ who whacked an unbeaten 165 from 105 balls in Yorkshire’s last One Day Cup contest “ adding another red inker to win her side the game, ending 60 not out from only 35 deliveries. Yorkshire winners by six wickets.

Leicestershire return to action on Saturday, as they resume the Women’s T20 County Cup away at Northamptonshire.