Match Centre

MIDDLESEX WOMEN V LEICESTERSHIRE WOMEN | MATCH REPORT

Middlesex Women progressed to the Tier Two Vitality Blast final after their 10-wicket victory over Leicestershire Foxes in the semi-final in Northampton earlier today.

After winning the toss and electing to field, Gaya Gole opened the bowling for Middlesex. While Leicestershire initially proved tough to wear down, reaching 40/0 by the end of the powerplay, Hannah Davis eventually made the breakthrough in her first over, as she had Rebecca Brooker caught by Rachana Cambampaty for 16.

Davis struck again in her second over, taking the crucial wicket of Francesca Sweet who was bowled for 38 to leave Leicestershire on 69/2 by the end of the 11th over.

Thanks to further wickets from Saskia Horley, Issy Routledge, and another for Davis, Leicestershire were held to 140/7. Davis was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 3/17 from her four overs.

As the rain began to fall here in Northampton, however, the covers came on, and Middlesex were forced to postpone their chase.

With a revised target of 108 from 14 overs, Issy Routledge and Finty Trussler opened the batting for us. The pair accelerated quickly, reaching 45/0 by the end of the 4.1-over powerplay.

They consistently found the boundary, scoring well above the required run-rate. After ten overs, Routledge and Trussler remained in the middle, with only eight runs needed from the remaining four overs.

They sealed the deal in the next over with Trussler hitting the winning four to bring up her half-century as Middlesex closed on 109/0 from 10.4 overs. Routledge and Trussler finished unbeaten on 45 and 52, respectively.

Next up, we will face Yorkshire in the final at 6:45pm, following their seven-wicket victory over Glamorgan in today’s second semi-final.