FOXES WIN ONE-DAY CUP LEAGUE 2 OPENER

Foxes Women beat Sussex Sharks by five wickets despite rain disrupting the opening fixture of their Metro Bank One-Day Cup League 2 campaign.

- By Billy Tinnion.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first at Uptonsteel Grace Road but struggled early on, losing three wickets in the first powerplay.

Bella Johnson hit 68 as they started to rebuild the innings before the weather curtailed their innings at 152 for 6 after 37.4 overs.

In reply, Stephen Franklin’s side also lost a couple of early wickets before Caitlin Chissell and wicket-keeper Lucy Western dragged the Foxes back into contention.

Sussex looked to be back in the contest by dismissing Chissell and Nayman Sheikh shortly afterwards, but Ellie Phillips stayed with Western to guide the Foxes home to victory.

Clouds hung over Uptonsteel Grace Road when the captains emerged for the toss, which was won by Sussex captain Chiara Green, who elected to bat first.

Emma Thatcher made a fast start with the ball for the Foxes, picking up two wickets in her second over.

She trapped Izzy Collis leg-before for one and then had Nancy Harman caught behind by Western for a three-ball duck.