Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women closed their campaign and kept their qualification hopes alive in the Vitality Blast as Gemma Marriott starred in a final over five-wicket victory over Derbyshire Falcons Women.
Knowing only victory could see David Ripley’s side maintain mathematical hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages, Anisha Patel was the standout with the ball as a miserly 3-19 off her four overs helped keep the Falcons contained throughout the innings.
Ella Porter contributed with the bat for the home side, with a brisk 34 from 25 balls propelling Derbyshire into the 130s after Lara Shaw’s 34 at the top of the innings guided them to a competitive total.
Captain, Gemma Marriott, would later play a key role in the run chase for the visitors but chipped in importantly with the ball, finishing with figures of 2-7 from two overs at the death.
After a stuttering start, with the Steelbacks 17-2 after Mabel Reid fell first ball, captain Marriott steadied the ship alongside Ariana Dowse as the pair batted fluently as they amassed an 82-run partnership and began to take the game away from the Falcons.
In an ever-changing game, though, both were dismissed in a matter of overs as late wickets curtailed what looked to be a comfortable finale for the Steelbacks. When Katherine Speed was run out for 1, the Steelbacks had slipped to 110-5 and still required 23 from 3 overs.
However, an excellent Bella Howarth contribution late in the day, scoring an unbeaten 19 from 15 balls, saw them home with three balls to spare as her and Lenny Sims, who played with courage in the final over, embraced in the middle as they kept their teams slim, yet achievable knockout hopes alive.
The Steelbacks have now played the full eight matches and sit 2nd, however results will need to go their way as Leicestershire Foxes and Worcestershire Rapids can still leapfrog them in their final games.