Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women made it two wins from two as they beat Gloucestershire Women by 34 runs at Geddington CC.

Gloucestershire finished 199 all out after the Steelbacks were 233 all out, thanks to 88 from Michaela Kirk, 37 from Alicia Presland and 30 from Beth Ascott.

Amelia Kemp starred with the ball, finishing with figures of 4/29.

With an unchanged side from last week’s win over Leicestershire, captain Anisha Patel won the toss and elected to bat first, with Amelia Kemp and May Drinkell opening up for the Steelbacks.

It was a difficult start at Geddington, as Drinkell and Kemp were dismissed in the 3rd and 4th over respectively, leaving the batting side 19/2.

Michaela Kirk and Lenny Sims looked to steady the Steelbacks innings and brought the side close to the fifty mark before Sims was trapped LBW on 9.

At 48/3, Beth Ascott joined Kirk and the pair upped the run rate together, guiding the Steelbacks to 105/3 at the halfway point of the innings.

After striking three 4s and a six, Ascott looked to continue the positive intent after drinks but was run out on the final ball of the 26th over on 30.

The following over, Kirk hit back-to-back boundaries and brought up her half century from 66 balls and with six 4s.

In the 30th over, Marriott was bowled for 7 by Daniels and the Steelbacks were 135/5 with 20 overs left in the innings. Kirk and Phillips continued to grow as the innings went on, sharing a 49-run partnership before Ella Phillips was caught.

With 10 overs to go, the Steelbacks were 184/6, with Kirk on 86 and Presland new to the crease. Kirk’s innings finally came to an end as she was trapped LBW after a brilliant 88 and the Steelbacks were 190/7.

In the final overs of the innings, Alicia Presland hit a quick-fire 37 off 26 but she was the final one to be dismissed and Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women were 233 all out in the 49th over.

After a fast start by the Gloucestershire openers, Gemma Marriott made the breakthrough, bowling Dolman for 20 and leaving the side 52/1 at the end of the powerplay.

The Steelbacks followed up the first wicket with two more wickets as Phillips bowled Hill and Presland dismissed Reddy as she edged behind to wicketkeeper Poppy Smart. At 63/3, the momentum had shifted towards the Steelbacks and Anisha Patel picked up a wicket in the 19th over, trapping Daniels in front for 7.

After a hard-fought 65-run partnership between Story and Ahearne, Lenny Sims made a big breakthrough in the 36th over, picking up two wickets in three balls to leave Gloucestershire 146/6. A seventh wicket was taken three overs late as Amelia Kemp dismissed Phillips for 3.

Kemp took the final three wickets in the 47th over to secure a well-deserved 34-run victory.

To see the full scorecard, click here