Women Fall Short Against Steelbacks In Vitality Blast Opener

Leicestershire spurned the chance to win their Vitality Blast Women League 2 opener after a batting collapse gifted Northamptonshire Steelbacks victory by eight runs.

Chasing 124 at The County Ground, the Foxes were more than halfway to the target at 62 without loss after eight overs. But the loss of opener Francesca Sweet (37) proved a pivotal turning point as the hosts sneaked home an eight-run win.

Northants skipper Gemma Marriott won the toss and elected to bat first. Leicestershire brought in Hayley Brown for her T20 debut against her former county, while Aimee Colquhoun was also restored to the XI.

Ellie Phillips got the opening breakthrough with the score on 18, as Amelia Kemp drove straight to Brooker at mid off for a comfortable catch at the start of the fourth.

The hosts responded emphatically, taking 27 from the next 2.3 overs before quick thinking from ‘keeper Ellen Watson had the dangerous Mabel Reid stumped for 14.

A Laura Crofts maiden and just five from April Herathge’s second over continued to build the pressure, which paid dividends when Marriott (28) skied Sweet to Brooker to leave the Steelbacks 59 for three at halfway. The all-rounder struck again in her following over, as Beth Ascott (10) chipped to Holly Whitfield at short extra cover.

A 32-run alliance, the biggest of the innings, ensued between Bella Howarth and Katherine Speed, with the former helping herself to back-to-back boundaries off Herathge to accelerate the rate. But Sweet returned to put the brakes on, as Speed (9) was bowled attempting to scoop.

It sparked a flurry of late wickets as Howarth (22) was also cleaned up by a Phillips delivery that angled in beautifully to hit leg stump, before two in two deliveries for Emma Thatcher “ Ella Phillips caught for five and Poppy Smart bowled for a duck “ tightened the Foxes’ grip, as the Steelbacks concluded their innings on 123 for eight.

Leicestershire flew out of the traps in response, with Sweet belting successive balls off Phillips to the ropes to conclude the fourth. Brooker followed suit, piercing the off-side twice in the final over of the Powerplay to leave the Foxes well in charge on 48 without loss.

Sweet, who registered a half-century in Leicestershire’s win against the Steelbacks a fortnight prior, smoked Anisha Patel for three more boundaries two overs later to bring up the fifty partnership from just 45 balls.

But her departure soon after “ bowled by Lenny Sims for 37 from 25 deliveries - inspired a Northants resurgence. Lucy Weston (1) was bowled by Amelia Kemp as the Foxes took just 14 from five overs.

Runs became harder to come by as Brooker and Brown were bogged down by the home attack. Both were eventually run out for 33 and (36b) and six (18b) respectively, to leave Stephen Franklin’s side 87 for four after 15, still requiring 37 from 30 balls.

Ellie Phillips’ departure (3), and only five runs taken collectively from the 17th and 18th overs left Leicestershire with too much to do at the death, as the Steelbacks eased home by eight runs. Watson 23*, Colquhoun 3*.

The Foxes return to action on Sunday, when they take on Yorkshire at Headingley.