Towcester players Emma Cummins, Jenny Williams, Katie Taylor and Emma Grannell made useful contributions.

Having won the toss and elected to field, the county opening attack of skipper Emma Cummins and Jenny Williams initially struggled with the blustery conditions, but soon settled to take control through a good spell of bowling. Both Welsh openers fell to Williams with Rossiter (11) losing her middle stump playing across the line and Rees (14) playing on, leaving Wales at 37-2.

Any hopes of an early Welsh recovery were quickly dashed as first change bowler Danielle Houlden produced an excellent display of inswing bowling to remove Thomas (1) and Griffiths (4). But Mumby (13) and Nicholas (21) provided dogged resistance in a stand of 27 that brought Wales some respite.

However the partnership was broken by Trisha Hankins' first ball, bowling Mumby off her pads at the start of a spell that brought the seamer impressive figures of 5-18 and destroyed the home tail.
A sharp run-out from Campbell added to Welsh woes as the home innings closed 117 all out in 38 overs.

With a fast outfield and one short boundary the home total was never enough. In reply, Northants suffered two early setbacks, losing openers Rushmer (1) and Katie Taylor (11) for 23. A lively stand between Zem Afzal and keeper Natalie Cowan came to an abrupt end with Cowan (8) lbw to Davies.However this brought Emma Campbell to partner Afzal with the score at 34-3.

With both playing patiently and punishing the bad ball the run rate steadily increased in what proved to be the match winning partnership of 84.

Campbell raced to 43 before giving a low catch to point with the scores tied. Afzal was left undefeated on 37 as Emma Grannell steered Northants to 118-4 with 26 overs to spare.

Northants now go forward to the Divisional play-offs in August at Taunton looking to gain promotion to Division 4 of the County Championship.

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