Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women confirmed their spot in the semi-final of the One Day Cup with a memorable and statement six-wicket victory over a strong Yorkshire side.

On a gloriously warm day at Wantage Road, Yorkshire captain, Maddie Ward, won the toss and elected to bat on another good batting surface.

It was to be the seamers, however, who had the best of proceedings early on as Bethan Robinson stole the show with the ball, taking the first four wickets, in a spell of high pace and skill.

Off stump was emphatically removed early in the piece as Oliver fell in the opening over. Yorkshire women were reeling at 58-4, courtesy of some excellent Robinson bowling, however, Thomas’ hard-fought 57 shifted momentum back into the visitors’ favour.

Her stand of 61 alongside Campbell was followed up by an equally crucial partnership of 58 with Langston as the visitors clawed their way back into the game, reaching 177-6 after Thomas’ departure.

In an innings that ebbed and flowed, however, Ella Phillips reinforced Robinson’s earlier graft with the ball as she delivered a remarkable spell of 1-13, off ten overs, including the crucial wicket of Thomas.

Yorkshire were once again up against it after their middle order was eventually disturbed. thanks to some superb catching and fielding from David Ripley’s side. Robinson added to her earlier bowling efforts with a outstanding one-handed catch at mid-off, getting rid of Campbell, before Gemma Marriott pouched a difficult chance in the deep to give the Steelbacks a genuine chance of chasing a very gettable total.

However, it was not to be as straight forward as they hoped, as the Yorkshire tail wagged vigorously as they an unforeseen final wicket stand of 48 between Woolston and Cooper edged them above 250, frustrating the hosts at the death, after their admirable effort in the Bank Holiday heat was slightly tarnished in the final ten overs.

On a pitch that seemed clearly fruitful for runs, though, Amelia Kemp began like a train as the boundaries flowed in the beginning of the Steelbacks’ chase of exactly 260.

As was the case all afternoon, however, Yorkshire and Thomas hit back, as she added to her half-century with the blade with the wicket of Kemp, thanks to a quite remarkable catch at first slip by Campbell.

After fellow opener, Howarth, was dismissed for a scratchy 6, Michaela Kirk and Beth Ascott joined each other in the middle with a considerable 225 runs still to score.

What followed was one of the great run chases in the Women’s One-Day Cup as both batters played with immense fluency and skill, sharing a stand of 109. Kirk crunched a magnificent fourteen fours in an eye-catching 77 that had all involved in the Northamptonshire camp on their feet.

Strokes all around the wicket ensued as the Yorkshire bowlers were put to the sword. Kirk’s attacking play through the off side caught the eye especially as Ascott played second fiddle in the chase.

When Kirk was eventually bowled by Blackwell, Ripley’s outfit needed 116 and had broken the back of the chase.

Gemma Marriott joined Ascott in the middle and the latter took control, breezing her way through the gears and picked off the Yorkshire spinners after drinks, cruising to a half-century as the pair also exceeded the hundred partnership milestone.

Going arial regularly, it was raining boundaries at Wantage Road as the jubilant home side got within fifteen until Marriott was caught in the off side just one ball after raising the bat for a well-played fifty.

Chloe Hill was next to the crease with her job straight forward: stay with Ascott.

The equation sat at fifteen runs to win, with Ascott sat on 83 not out. There was to be no further drama, though, as Hill calmed the nerves with a timely boundary and a couple singles followed before the Steelbacks could celebrate an outstanding victory.

As the group stage comes to a close and with qualification for the semi-final in the bag, the Steelbacks face a clear task in order to secure the tie at Wantage Road. A straight shoot-out against Glamorgan lies ahead, with victory for either side enough to ensure they gain the home advantage.