Clinical Middlesex punish complacent Yorkshire to lift Vitality Women’s League 2 Blast Trophy

Middlesex (103/0 from 13.1 overs) beat Yorkshire (101/9 form 20 overs) by 10 wickets

Photo Credit: Middlesex CCC

It was a day to forget for Yorkshire and for the ECB as the finals day of the Vitality Blast, show-piece of the much-heralded new county tier system, saw a memorable win for an amateur Middlesex side who comprehensively defeated their professional counterparts from the north.

Around 120 spectators, made up almost exclusively of family and friends of players, were present at the mid-point of the day, although many had left before the end, forced to look for any food they could at local supermarkets after one small coffee truck was the only catering facility available for spectators. Another own goal for the ECB who continually fail to promote domestic women’s cricket properly.

It was Middlesex’s bowlers who won the final for them after Yorkshire won the toss and decided to bat. Katie Wolfe, Saskia Horley, Hannah Davis and Issy Routledge picked up key wickets early on, leaving Yorkshire floundering on 44/5 after 10 overs. Yorkshire’s much vaunted and lucratively rewarded top order seemed unable to respond to the accurate offerings of their opponents and returned to the dugout disconsolate one by one.

After 20 overs of toil, Yorkshire scraped past 100 from the penultimate ball and ended on an under-par 101/9.

In response, Middlesex, who had not lost a wicket in their semi-final chase against Leicestershire, carried that confidence into the final. Finty Trussler, who had scored an unbeaten 50 in the semi-final, seemed intent on repeating that feat in the final as she hit six fours and two sixes on her way to 52 not out. Issy Routledge was happy to play a supporting role as she accumulated 31 not out. Yorkshire’s bowlers contributed 17 wides, which helped speed the Londoners to their target in the 14^th over.

So a wonderful victory for Middlesex and player of the match Issy Routledge, who so capably shared over 200 runs in the day with her opening partner and took the vital wickets of Lauren Winfield-Hill and Maddy Ward. It was Ward who was consistently Yorkshire’s best contributor across both games as more senior players seemed incapable of raising their game on the big occasion.

So, much to ponder for Yorkshire as they prepare for their pre-arranged promotion to League One next year. For Middlesex, there seems little chance of these players playing professional cricket for their current county, but surely many other counties will be circling to snap up the talents of Issy Routledge and Finty Trussler next year.