Middlesex Women booked their place in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup semi-finals yesterday with a commanding 123-run victory over Leicestershire Foxes at Uptonsteel County Ground.
Captain Saskia Horley and loanee Ariana Dowse propelled Middlesex to 295/4 with a superb 185-run stand for the third wicket. Horley struck a career-best 114, while Dowse fell agonisingly short of a century with 92. In defence, Middlesex were made to wait for their breakthrough, but once Anisha Dissanayake struck in the 17th over the wickets tumbled, and Sarah Pearson stole the show with extraordinary figures of 6/23, her career-best return and the best in the Tier Two competition so far, as Leicestershire were bowled out for 172.
Having won the toss, Middlesex opted to bat, with Dowse opening alongside Finty Trussler. The pair made a steady start before Trussler was caught behind for 16, and after Gaya Gole’s dismissal for eight, Horley joined Dowse at the crease. From there, the pair took control. Horley reached her fifty from 47 balls, with Dowse following soon after, raising her own half-century from 81 deliveries as Middlesex reached 157/2 after 30 overs.
Their partnership flourished beyond 180 before Dowse fell for a composed 92, but Horley pressed on, bringing up her second List A century before eventually departing for a superb 114, caught by Sophie Bennett off the bowling of Francesca Sweet.
In the closing overs, Artemis Downer also impressed, finishing unbeaten on 40 from 36. Alongside Georgia Irving for the final two overs, the pair guided Middlesex to a strong finish on 295/4 – the side’s second-highest total of the season.
As the second innings began, Leicestershire’s openers, Becki Brooker and Prisha Thanawala, started strongly, taking the Foxes to 55 without loss in the first powerplay. Hannah Francis, making her Middlesex debut, bowled two consecutive maidens, but wickets still proved elusive.
Patience was required, but once Dissanayake broke the partnership by bowling Thanawala for 40, the momentum shifted. She struck again soon after to remove Brooker for 54, who was caught by Sarah Pearson – the first impact of what would become an outstanding afternoon for her.
Pearson took her first wicket at the end of the 24th over, bowling Lucy Weston for 5, before trapping Hayley Brown lbw for 13 in her next. By the 30-over mark, Leicestershire were 141/4, still needing 155, but Middlesex had their grip on the game. Pearson claimed her third wicket when Davies was caught by Gole for 11, and Hannah Davis then got in on the action, bowling Bennett for 1.
Pearson continued to dominate, striking twice more in quick succession as Sweet and Holly Whitfield were both caught behind by Dowse, bringing up her maiden five-wicket haul.
With Leicestershire reduced to 163/8 after 36 overs and Colquhoun absent from the batting order, the end came swiftly, fittingly through Pearson again, as she bowled April Herathge to complete her career-best figures of 6/23, the best return by any bowler in this year’s Tier Two competition.
Middlesex sealed a commanding 123-run victory, extending their unbeaten run to seven matches, securing a place in the semi-finals, and maintaining their position at the top of the table.
Leicestershire Foxes Women
Middlesex Women
