Experience combined with youthful exuberance as Nottinghamshire secured a pair of friendly wins against Leicestershire at Cuckney Cricket Club on Sunday, bringing to an end their Vitality Women's T20 preparation.
Key contributions with the ball from Sophie Munro and Ella Porter restricted the visitors to 104 in the first clash, a target chased down with five wickets to spare, before a 94-run third wicket stand between Teresa Graves and debutant Eleanor Owen set up a 65 run victory in the second.
The victories came a week ahead of the Green and Golds’ first competitive matches of the season against Lancashire and a North Representative XI at Crosby Cricket Club.
Bowling first in the opening fixture, Leicestershire started solidly, accumulating 56 without the loss of wicket by the end of the ninth over.
Sophie Munro broke the deadlock with two dismissals in two deliveries in the 10th over, however, and Ella Porter repeated the feat three overs later to leave the away side 69-4.
The burst of wickets halted the momentum of the batting side, who wound up with 105 from their allotted overs, with Munro claiming Notts’ fifth wicket in the final over and Rebecca Coe finishing with 50* at the innings’ end.
In response, Nottinghamshire were on track with their run rate but lost five wickets in the opening 10 overs, with Maddie Ward and Munro offering cameos before their demise.
Captain Lucy Higham (28) steadied the ship with Megan Burton (9), however, and the pair saw the hosts through to victory.
Batting first in the second match, Notts were reduced to 38-2 after nine overs, before Graves joined Owen. The pair set about steady accumulation before two fours from the blade of Owen in the 11th over, and 17 runs from the 14th over, set the hosts on their way.
A final overs flurry helped the Green and Golds to a competitive total of 136-3, Owen finishing unbeaten on 29, whilst Graves was eventually bowled for a 37-ball 45.
Leicestershire laid a solid platform at 17-0 after four overs in reply, but off-spinner Higham swung the tie in her side’s direction with a wicket and the concession of just four runs in two overs.
Her spell sparked a flurry of wickets as Saide Hodgson cashed in with four scalps for just seven runs across four overs, leaving the East Midlands Neighbours perilously positioned at 51-6 after 15 overs.
Four wickets in the final 14 balls, including two for Higham in the final over, ensured Leicestershire were bowled out well short of the set target.
View the full scorecards from both games here...
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