Match Centre

MIDDLESEX WOMEN V DERBYSHIRE FALCONS | MATCH REPORT

Middlesex Women maintained their perfect record in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Derbyshire Falcons at Merchant Taylors’ School yesterday.

The visitors were bowled out for 76 in 29.1 overs, Anaya Patel leading the way with 4/17 while Lauren Turner finished with 3/13. In reply, Middlesex chased down the target inside ten overs, with Issy Routledge finishing unbeaten on 38 and Natasha Miles contributing a valuable 30 in her final appearance for the club, sealing a fitting farewell for the former captain.

Having won the toss and opting to bowl, Middlesex made a perfect start as Turner bowled Ellie Nightingale with the first ball of the match. From there, runs proved hard to come by for Derbyshire, who were restricted to 12/1 after seven overs before Layla Judge, in her first game of the season, took the wicket of Natasha Allen, caught by Miles for 9.

Turner struck again moments later, with Miles taking her second catch of the day to remove Ella Porter for 2. By the tenth over Derbyshire were 19/3, and their innings continued to stall as Anaya Patel entered the attack. She dismissed Megan Pittman, caught by Riva Pindoria for 18, and bowled Millie Gray for 4 shortly after.

Georgia Irving and Pippa Sproul then combined to run out Sophie McCollum for 0, before Patel trapped Derbyshire skipper, Adrianna Darlow, lbw for 6, to leave the victors reeling at 46/7.

Issy Routledge continued to restrict their scoring opportunities, going for just two runs from her three overs. Frustrations mounted, allowing Turner to take her third scalp, as Francesca Clarke was caught by Patel for another duck.

After Miles bowled her final over in Middlesex colours, Patel claimed her fourth and final wicket, bowling Gemma Rose to leave Derbyshire on 72/9 after 28 overs.

The innings ended with a flourish as Riva Pindoria’s direct hit ran out Pagan Harwick from the first ball of the 30th over, and the Falcons were all out for 76.

The target set, our openers wasted little time, as Routledge found the rope twice in the opening over before Miles added four in the second.

The pair moved briskly to 48 without loss after six overs, before Miles was bowled by Rose for 30 from 20 balls, leaving the field to a warm reception from teammates and supporters alike.

Finty Trussler then fell early in the ninth over, bringing skipper Saskia Horley to the crease with just eight runs required. She added six before Routledge struck the winning boundary to finish unbeaten on 38 from 28 balls and seal victory at 79/2 inside ten overs.

The result keeps Middlesex top of the Tier Two standings, with six wins from six, as we enter the home stretch of the competition with three group matches remaining.