Middlesex Women got their Vitality Blast campaign off to the perfect start yesterday, claiming a commanding eight-wicket victory over Sussex Sharks on a historic day at the Home of Cricket – their first competitive appearance at Lord’s.
The dream start was built on a disciplined bowling display, spearheaded by Anaya Patel, who returned outstanding figures of 4/18 from her four overs. Supported by wickets from Katie Wolfe, Sarah Pearson, and captain, Saskia Horley, Middlesex restricted Sussex to 102/7 – a target that was chased down in just 15.2 overs, thanks to a composed half-century from Riva Pindoria.
After Horley won the toss and elected to bowl, Gaya Gole opened from the Nursery End, conceding just two runs from her first over. New ball partner, Wolfe, made the early breakthrough in the next, taking the crucial wicket of Mollie Adams, who was bowled for 1 after two dot balls.
Sussex regrouped quickly through Izzy Collis and Nancy Harman, reaching 42/1 by the end of the powerplay as Middlesex briefly struggled to capitalise on their early success.
That changed with the introduction of Anaya Patel. Despite being struck for six off her first delivery, the young off-spinner bounced back immediately, bowling Harman for 26 with her fifth. She followed it with a game-changing second over – not only a maiden, but a double-wicket maiden – removing Collis, caught by Horley, and Jazz Westley, caught by Pindoria, to leave Sussex wobbling at 62/4.
Patel wasn’t done yet. She claimed her fourth scalp by removing Sussex captain, Chiara Green, caught by Pearson for 4, as the middle order collapsed and the Sharks slumped to 67/5 by the 13th over.
Indigo Gentry and Millie Taylor offered brief resistance, attempting to steady the innings. But Pearson ended their stand in the penultimate over, with Gentry caught by Hannah Davis for 12. Horley then capped off the innings in the final over, removing Talitha Stanley, caught by Georgia Irving, as Sussex closed on 102/7.
In reply, Middlesex began confidently. Loan signing and former captain, Naomi Dattani, opened alongside Riva Pindoria, with the pair climbing steadily to 27/0 after 4.4 overs. Dattani was then run out, and Finty Trussler followed shortly after, caught behind.
That brought Horley to the crease to join Pindoria, and together they calmly ticked off the runs. With five overs to spare and just five required, Horley nudged a single off the first ball of the 16th over, setting the stage for Pindoria to seal the win – which she did in style, smashing the winning boundary to bring up her first half-century of the season.
It was a dominant display from Middlesex on a landmark occasion – a convincing win to launch their Vitality Blast campaign in front of a Lord’s crowd.
Next up, Middlesex will look to make it two from two as they return to action on Sunday in another T20 double-header – this time at Merchant Taylors’ School, where they face Glamorgan. The women’s match gets underway at 12:00. Here's hoping for another strong showing.
Middlesex Women
Sussex Sharks Women
