Foxes Women End Vitality Blast Campaign With Victory Over Derbyshire

After Derbyshire Falcons Women lost two wickets inside the powerplay, Lonsdale and Duckworth steadied the innings, but their steady run rate meant the hosts only had 95 by the end of the sixteenth over. Tennakoon's 25 helped the Falcons up to 130 by the end of their allocation of 20 overs.

In the powerplay, Phillips and Teekasingh powered Leicestershire into a winning position by hitting 60 in the opening six overs. Two wickets in the ninth over provided Derbyshire with a glimmer of hope, but Grayson and Chissell ensured that wasn't allowed to emerge as they steered the Foxes to a five-wicket victory.

At the toss, the OurCoop County Ground was graced by the sun as Foxes Women captain Brooker elected to field first.

Leicestershire were handed an early wicket in the first over—a communication mix-up left Kenvyn stranded as she was run out by Brooker for 0. In the third over, Knowling-Davies drove Thatcher into the off side, but she found Chissell at point, falling for 3.

Lonsdale and Duckworth rebuilt the Derbyshire innings with their partnership of 73, which came to an end when the former top-edged a reverse sweep to Singh at point, departing to Herathge for 32. In the following over, Ketan removed Duckworth lbw for 35 as she missed a sweep shot.

Derbyshire left themselves with lots of work to do with only 95 runs on the board heading into the last four overs; Darlow was bowled by Phillips for 18 in the eighteenth over. An over later, Kibler was run out chasing a second by Davies for 6, the hosts clawing their way to 130/6 by the end of their 20 overs.

In reply, Teekasingh and Phillips fired Leicestershire into a great position at 60/0 at the end of the powerplay. In the eighth over, Phillips was caught and bowled for 8 thanks to a sharp catch from Darlow.

Two wickets in consecutive deliveries from Knowling-Davies in the ninth over threatened to derail the Foxes' innings—Teekasingh fell first, top-edging a flick into the leg side to Kibler at mid-wicket, falling for 23. Brooker was caught by a diving Lonsdale at point as she attempted to drive her first ball.

In the twelfth over, Davies holed a sweep out to Kenvyn at cow corner, falling to Darlow for 11. Grayson tried to finish the match in style, moving down the pitch and swinging herself off her feet, resulting in her being stumped by Atherton-Gater for 15, giving Bedi her only wicket of the afternoon. Debutant Williams hit the winning run two balls later, but it was Chissell's 28 that ensured victory by five wickets for Leicestershire.