Nottinghamshire’s youthful women’s side succumbed to a loss in their first Women’s County 50 Over fixture of the season against Derbyshire, despite a stoic contribution from Emily Hughes with the bat and an impressive turn with the ball from Maddie Ward. 

Hughes mustered 34 from 94 deliveries batting at three in a first innings total of 132 all out, with scores in the teens for captain Ella Porter, Olivia Macey and Evee-Mae Hicklin. 

The visitors chased the target with 4.3 overs to spare at Worksop College, despite Ward removing the gloves to record figures of 3-15 from 10 overs, whilst Hicklin claimed two scalps of her own and Ruby Neal conceded just 18 runs from her full allocation of overs.

The group reconvene for two fixtures in May against Shropshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire, whilst the U18s face Warwickshire on 25 April in the Girls U18s County One Day Cup.