Lancashire Women suffer big collapse
WITH England internationals Kate Cross and Alex Hartley returning to the side Lancashire Women were hopeful of continuing their winning start to the season as they travelled to Harrogate to take on Yorkshire.
However it was to be the White Rose’s returning stars who swung the game their way as they stormed to a 122-run win.
Yorkshire won the toss and elected to bat first in ideal conditions but lost a wicket in the 1st over as Cross quickly made her mark.
Further wickets followed and at 61-4 the game was evenly poised when Kathryn Brunt joined Nicholls at the crease. The pair quickly added 66 before Nicholls was brilliantly run out by Sophie Ecclestone for 50.
Brunt having survived a tight run out call herself then continued to show what a dangerous batsman she can be as she raced to a brilliant 93 before holing out on the boundary.
She and fellow England star Danielle Hazell had added 98 at this point and set Yorkshire up for an imposing total of 250-6 with Hazell finishing unbeaten on 50.
The Lancashire reply got off to a bad start as Brunt then produced a fiery opening spell with both openers soon removed and Lancashire tottering on 9-2.
Amy Satterthwaite tried to steady the innings, firstly with Natalie Brown, and then more impressively with Eleanor Threlkeld.
This pair had added 78 and looked to have revived hopes of a win when Eleanor was run out for 39.
Amy battled on but the return of Katie Levick to the attack prompted a remarkable collapse as Lancashire slumped from 123-4 to 128 all out in the space of just 5 overs.
Levick picked up five wickets in a three-over spell including that of Satterthwaite for a fine 55, with three of the wickets falling in four balls as she finished with 6-28 and Lancashire slumped to a 122 run defeat.
The girls are back in action on Bank Holiday weekend when they travel south to play Kent and Sussex in a tough double header.