Captain Anisha Patel finished with figures of 4/10 and Michaela Kirk struck an unbeaten 65 as Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women returned to One Day Cup action with a convincing eight-wicket win over Derbyshire Falcons Women.
Having won the toss and choosing to bowl, the Steelbacks were clinical, reducing Derbyshire from 85/1 to 135 all out.
Derbyshire initially raced out of the traps with openers Couser and Shaw putting on an opening stand of 69 from just 72 deliveries.
Couser fell in the 12th over after a well-made 40 as she was caught by Patel off the bowling of Amelia Kemp.
In the 16th over Shaw was dismissed by Ella Phillips as the spinner struck with her first ball. The momentum shifted rapidly in favour of the Steelbacks as another wicket fell in the over. Andrews was run out after some hesitation between the batters and she was back on her way to the pavilion for a duck.
Spin seemed to do the trick for the Steelbacks as Derbyshire found it difficult to score and ease the ever building pressure.
Between the 24th and 34th overs, the Steelbacks restricted the hosts went from 103/3 to 135 all out.
Patel had remarkable figures of 4/10 from five overs wile Gemma Marriott finished with figures of 3/2.
In reply, Amelia Kemp and debutant Chloe Hill opened up but it was a tricky start as the latter was caught behind in the third over.
Michaela Kirk, returning to the side on loan from The Blaze, was in at three and continued her run scoring in a Steelbacks shirt.
Kirk’s unbeaten 65 was built in a partnership worth 89 runs with Beth Ascott (38) as the pair cruised to the 136 target halfway into the 29th over.
The Steelbacks Women are next in action on