Middlesex Women returned to winning ways in the Vitality Blast yesterday, defeating Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women by seven wickets after successfully chasing 150.
Having elected to bowl first, Middlesex restricted the visitors to 149/6 from their 20 overs. In reply, captain Saskia Horley and Finty Trussler both hit their half centuries that guided Middlesex to victory, with the target reached on the last ball of the innings.
Northamptonshire made an aggressive start after being asked to bat, as Gemma Marriott and Mable Reid shared an opening stand of 68 inside eight overs.
Middlesex responded well after the opening partnership was broken. Horley removed Amelia Kemp for 10 before Anaya Patel claimed two key wickets, including Reid, to halt Northamptonshire's momentum.
Issy Routledge also impressed with the ball, trapping both Ava Clive and Alicia Presland leg before wicket to finish with figures of 2/21 from her four overs.
Although Beth Ascott made 21 and Presland added 17, Middlesex continued to take wickets at important moments and limited the visitors to 149/6 from their allotted overs.
The chase began steadily but Middlesex lost Abbie Whybrow and Scarlett Hughes inside the opening seven overs to slip to 34/2.
Trussler and Horley then combined to take control of the contest with a superb third-wicket partnership that transformed the innings. The pair added 72 runs, rebuilding after the early setbacks and putting Middlesex in command of the chase.
Trussler led the recovery initially, playing positively through the middle overs and reaching her half-century from just 39 deliveries. The opener struck seven boundaries in a well-crafted innings of 54 from 41 balls before she was caught off the bowling of Marriott with Middlesex requiring 44 more runs.
Horley continued to drive the chase forward and accelerated as the target approached. The Middlesex captain brought up her fifty from just 37 deliveries and finished unbeaten on 62 from 41 balls, striking seven fours in a commanding innings that ensured her side for victory.
Routledge provided late support with an unbeaten 11 from seven deliveries, including two boundaries, as Middlesex edged past the target on the final ball to secure a seven-wicket win.
Routledge and Patel were the pick of the bowlers with two wickets apiece, while Horley also contributed with the ball before leading the chase with an outstanding unbeaten half-century.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women
Middlesex Women
