Women Downed By Glamorgan On 50-Over Return

Leicestershire Women were comfortably beaten by a strong Glamorgan side on their return to Metro Bank One Day Cup action, despite an impressive fightback with the ball.

Emma Thatcher (10“0“31“1) led the way for the Foxes, but debutant Abbey Freeborn “ on loan from Warwickshire “ made an unbeaten 108 to help the hosts to a 125-run victory in Neath.

After an impressive run in both the Vitality Blast and T20 County Cup, the Foxes arrived in South Wales full of confidence, but faced a stern test against a Glamorgan side bolstered by three Tier One loanees.

Captain Becki Brooker won the toss and elected to bowl first. With Lucy Weston and Laura Crofts absent, there were opportunities for Aimee Colquhoun and D’Nica Roff.

Leicestershire made a solid start with Thatcher and Ellie Phillips restricting Glamorgan to just 35 runs from the opening 10 overs. Due to over limits for Phillips “ agreed with The Blaze - the attack was rotated immediately thereafter, with Holly Whitfield and April Herathge taking over in a double change.

A key breakthrough followed when Glamorgan skipper Lauren Parfitt (28) miscued a low full toss from Whitfield straight to Thatcher at mid-on, breaking a promising partnership. Whitfield then backed it up with a maiden in her next over to maintain the pressure.

It was to be her final involvement with ball in-hand, however, as two accidental full tosses above waist height forced her removal from the attack after 3.4 overs.

Freeborn continued to advance, but she lost partner Bethan Ellis in the 22nd over as D’Nica Roff struck with her first ball, flighting one up to the Warwickshire loanee (28), who chipped it straight back for a return catch.

Another breakthrough came via a run out with 11 overs to go. Some hesitation between the batters allowed Herathge to pounce at mid-wicket, with Scarlett Hughes on hand to complete the run out of Beth Gammon (29) behind the stumps.

Colquhoun savoured a special moment, dismissing Rose Evans “ also for 28 “ to claim her first Tier Two wicket, before the in-form Thatcher bowled Georgie Porter (12), leaving the Foxes with a target of 261 from 50 overs.

Despite a promising start from Brooker and Cesca Sweet, the home side quickly seized the initiative. Sweet (5) top-edged a pull and was caught by ‘keeper Georgia Parfitt, before Glamorgan then removed Hughes (5) and Brooker (8) in successive overs.

Following the early losses, Flora Davies and Ellen Watson looked to rebuild, putting together the highest partnership of the innings with a stand of 42. Davies (23) was eventually bowled in the 16th over, and Colquhoun (10) followed shortly after.

Watson (23), Phillips (2), and Whitfield (9) all fell around the halfway point, leaving Leicestershire’s chances looking slim at 103 for eight. Roff (22) and Herathge (11) batted for seven-and-a-half overs but Leicestershire were eventually bowled out for 136.

The Foxes will look to bounce back when they return to Women’s One Day Cup action on Saturday 9 August away to Sussex at Arundel.