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Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women secured their place in the Metro Bank One Day Cup League Two semi-finals with victory over Worcestershire Rapids Women. David Ripley’s side took consistent wickets after they put the Rapids into bat with Anisha Patel able to take 3/33 and restrict the visitors to 219 all out. 51 from May Drinkell and 49 from Amelia Kemp meant that the Steelbacks were able to complete the chase with 12 overs remaining, enough to earn a bonus point victory. It didn’t take long for the Steelbacks to make the breakthrough in the match as Emily Carpenter bowled Clare Boycott for one. Kemp got involved in the wickets when Maddie Windeatt chipped the ball to Drinkell, which was then followed by Gemma Marriott taking the leg stump out of the ground to get the third and the wicket of Gwen Davies. Some poor running and great work from Chloe Hill saw Sophie Beech go for three with the Rapids at 94/4 from 18 overs. It was Kemp who ended Sanya Khurana’s stay at the crease and that wicket started a flurry for the Steelbacks. Ria Fackrell managed to pick up a wicket in the next over when Megan Bishop found Kemp in the ring. More run out confusion led to Amy Griffiths being out and then Ella Claridge’s stay at the crease ended just short of her half-century when she was pinned in front by Patel. A small partnership between Emily Churms and Jess Beach got the Rapids score to 219 all out from 45.3 overs. Kemp and Hill started the chase strongly for the Steelbacks as they brought up their 100-run partnership inside the first 20 overs. With Kemp very close to her half-century, she was caught by Boycott off her own bowling for 49 runs from 69 balls. Bishop then provided more promise for the Rapids in the next over when she was able to get the wicket of Hill. Michaela Kirk played well for her 28 before she managed to find Griffiths off the bowling of Bishop, who got her second. With the Steelbacks still in a strong position, Beth Ascott was dismissed lbw by Griffiths, which meant that Ripley’s side needed 60 runs with 18 overs and six wickets remaining. A 48-run partnership from 21 balls by Drinkell and Marriott guided the Steelbacks closer to a bonus point victory. Despite Marriott being caught and bowled by Griffiths, Drinkell was able to finish the chase off with a boundary and earn her own half-century from only 41 balls. Next up sees the Steelbacks take on Essex in the T20 Women’s County Cup quarter-final at the cinch County Ground before a trip to Belper to take on Derbyshire Falcons in the final group game of the One-Day Cup on Sunday 6th September.