Middlesex women beat Yorkshire by 10 wickets in the Women's Tier Two T20 Blast final yesterday, winning in a shock result over next year's addition to the professional counties.
The inaugural Women's Tier Two T20 Blast finals day took place yesterday (July 26) in Northampton, with Middlesex, Glamorgan, Yorkshire and Leicestershire all qualifying for the marquee event.
The women's professional game in England and Wales is in its first year of a new structure, with counties split into professional and semi-professional tiers. Eight professional counties make-up the Tier One T20 Blast, while 10 semi-professional counties make up the Tier Two Blast. Of those semi-professional counties, Yorkshire are set to turn professional and be promoted to the Tier One system next year, while Glamorgan will do the same in 2027. There is currently no performance-based promotion and relegation between the tiers, or plans for any other counties in Tier Two to turn professional.
Yorkshire dominated the North Group of the Tier Two competition, winning all eight of their fixtures and finishing 20 points ahead of second placed Leicestershire. The South Group was closed, with Middlesex and Glamorgan finishing in first and second place respectively.
In the first semi-final of Finals Day, Middlesex dominated against Leicestershire to qualify for the final without losing a wicket. In a rain-affected chase, they reached 109-0 to meet the DLS-reduced target, with Finty Trussler reaching a half-century and Issy Routledge unbeaten on 47. When Yorkshire beat Glamorgan by seven wickets in the second game, the lineup for the final was confirmed.
Despite Yorkshire going into the day as heavy favourites, they struggled batting first in the final. Openers Lauren Winfield-Hill and Georgie Boyce were both out for single digit scores, and No.3 Sterre Kalis was out for a two-ball duck. In the end, a 39 from captain Maddie Ward saw them struggle to 101-9 off their 20 overs. In response, Routledge and Trussler again set about knocking off the target with ease. They cruised to a 10-wicket win in 13.1 overs, meaning they won the title without losing a wicket on Finals Day.
Following on from the Tier Two Finals Day in Northampton, Finals Day for the Tier One competition will take place at The Oval today (July 27).
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