Third Blast win in a row boosts Finals Day hopes

FOXES BEAT FALCONS IN EAST MIDLANDS CLASH

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LEICESTERSHIRE Women won a final-over nail-biter against rivals Derbyshire Falcons to make it three successive Vitality Blast victories and strengthen their Finals Day charge.

Lucy Higham, on loan from The Blaze, starred with bat and ball, returning figures of 4-0-17-2 before hitting an unbeaten 36 to secure a three-wicket win at Uptonsteel County Ground.

After a lengthy delay due to persistent rain, a superb effort from the ground staff saw play get under way at 3:30pm.

Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat first, with Leicestershire naming the same side that had defeated Northamptonshire nine days previously.

Encouraged by that dominant victory over the Steelbacks, the Foxes came into the match full of confidence.

Emma Thatcher struck with the first legal delivery of the innings, inducing Jess Couser’s (0) outside edge through to wicketkeeper Ellen Watson.