Women Exit County Cup At Quarter-Final Stage

Leicestershire’s Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup run ended at the quarter-final stage, as a star-studded Lancashire Thunder side won by 109 runs at Kibworth.

Thunder boasted the likes of world number one bowler Sophie Ecclestone, as well as fellow England teammates Emma Lamb and Kate Cross, who proved too hot to handle for the Foxes on Friday.

Winning the toss and electing to bowl, Leicestershire continued their season-long theme of snaring early wickets, as visiting opener Tilly Kesteven (2) chipped a simple return chance to Ellie Phillips - looking to turn to leg “ at the end of the second over.

Lancashire responded well, and despite the final two overs of the Powerplay costing just five runs combined from Holly Whitfield and Phillips’ respective overs, the away side found themselves 63 for one after eight.

Lamb had done the bulk of the scoring, but she was stopped in her tracks on 41 by a bullet throw from Lucy Weston at deep cover. The opener dismissed at the non-strikers’ end pushing for a second.

It sparked the Foxes into life, as Laura Crofts had Fi Morris caught behind by ‘keeper Ellen Watson for a golden duck four balls later. Lancashire now 69 for three from nine overs.

The biggest partnership of the match then ensued, with Seren Smale and skipper Ellie Threlkeld adding 89 from 59 balls in unison.

The latter, having cruised her way to 45 (27b), was bowled by Whitfield to stifle the late innings momentum, but Ecclestone’s seven-ball cameo, worth 15*, helped take Thunder to 180 for four from their allotted overs.

Leicestershire’s reply got off to an inauspicious start, as in-form opener Francesca Sweet fell for a duck to Tara Norris, while captain Becki Brooker (2) and 17-year-old Flora Davies (1) both went leg-before in successive overs.

By the time Watson (2) edged Norris to Sophie Morris at short third, the Foxes had slumped to 16 for four. Phillips (11) added some resistance before she was caught and bowled by Fi Morris two balls shy of the halfway point.

Weston pummelled Ecclestone to the ropes for her second boundary but was stumped the following delivery trying to repeat the trick, leaving Leicestershire 35 for six after 11.5 overs.

Crofts (11) and Whitfield (10) added 26 in tandem for the seventh wicket, although Thunder continued to chip away at regular intervals. Ecclestone had Whitfield and April Herathge (6) caught in the ring to seal Lancashire’s place at Finals Day on Monday.

Leicestershire 71 all out with D’Nica Roff unable to bat after sustaining an injury to the webbing on her hand. The Foxes return to action on Sunday in their Vitality Blast opener away at Northamptonshire Steelbacks.