Yorkshire v Lancashire Women, Metro Bank One-Day Cup

ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay. 

Yorkshire 0 points, Lancashire 4 points. 

By Graham Hardcastle 

Retiring duo Kate Cross and Fi Morris shared five wickets as Lancashire bowled Yorkshire out for 210 and won by seven wickets in today’s season-ending Metro Bank One-Day Cup clash at Headingley.

White Rose captain Lauren Winfield-Hill opened with an excellent 90 to take her side to 179 for four in the 36th over, only for them to lose six wickets for 31. 

Ex-England seamer Cross returned two for 54 from nine overs and the off-spin of all-rounder Morris three for 36 from 10. Morris was the pick of the Red Rose attack before watching opener Eve Jones underpin the chase with 77 off 97 balls. 

Defending champions Lancashire, for whom Tilly Kesteven also finished with 47, and Tier 1 newbies Yorkshire were both out of knockout contention prior to this fixture, with the visitors winning for the eighth time in 16 games. 

Lancashire all-rounder Fi Morris said 

“It’s quite emotional, I guess. To go out on a high like today, with a good pal in Crossy, it’s pretty special. 

“The second half of the year we’ve had, had we started the season in June, we’d have been at top of the table. I think we’ve had six wins out of eight in this competition in the second half. 

“That’s an unbelievable effort from the team, and it shows how much character we have in the dressing room. 

“Performance wise, the last few weeks is up there as the best I’ve performed for Lancashire over the last couple of years, really. I guess that’s maybe because the pressure has been taken off. All you want to do in the last few weeks of your career is enjoy it, and I feel like I’m at my best when I enjoy it. 

“My dream was to end my career still loving the game, and I still love the game. That was probably the best I’ve bowled all summer.”