Consecutive wins secure T20 promotion for Derbyshire women's team

Derbyshire women were promoted to ECB T20 Division Two after games against Devon and Oxford.

Derbyshire needed to beat both teams to secure promotion, meaning a tense day was in store.

The first game was against Devon, the toss was won again by Derbyshire skipper Charlotte Horton and the hosts were asked to bat first.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It was the right decision as some superb bowling from Amy Lacey (4-1-7-3), Lucy Yates (2-0-14-0), Alice Dyson (4-1-7-) and Emily Marriott (4-1-7-2), alongside some very committed fielding meant Devon were all out for 48.

What followed however was 19 overs of spin from Devon and the Derbyshire girls found it very tricky to score easily. They knocked the runs off losing eight wickets in the process, Marriott guiding the team home with an unbeaten 23.

The final game of the T20 season for Derbyshire included 240 runs.

Another successful toss was won and Oxford were asked to bat. They started off scoring very easily and a battle was on our hands. The ship was steadied by Yates getting the breakthrough in the fourth over.

Hide Ad

Emma Thatcher bowled with great control and was unlucky to not pick up any wickets (2-0-8-0). Lia Kellogg picked up two wickets and Rachel Hopkins one.

Hide Ad

Derbyshire needed 121 runs to win and promotion. Horton and Hopkins started the run chase against a decent attack, with the score on eight off five overs something drastic needed to happen.

The opening pair started to attack and manoeuvre the ball around. Derbyshire were 74 off 13 overs, exactly the same as Oxford at this point. The first wicket fell in the 14th over, Horton out for 47.

Hopkins was still in and starting to hit to all parts of the ground, duly supported by Marriott, Heath and finally Pittman.

Hide Ad

Derbyshire needed seven runs off six balls. A dot ball and a single brought Hopkins onto strike and she dispatched the next ball for six. Victory and a fantastic 55* for Hopkins. The two results saw Derbyshire promoted to Division Two.

Related topics: