First came a burst of wickets, then a blistering showing with the bat, before the rains dropped the curtain on the match and the season as Alexia Walker’s Sharks rounded off this new venture – a season brimming with positives - with a sparkling showing in the Midlands.
Derbyshire’s patience and perseverance out in the middle of this grey, blustery day had them seemingly striking towards a reputable total, even despite falling to 11-2 early on. But through the haze Lara Shaw would record a fine half-century to provide the defibrillation, before the wickets fell and the Sharks’ chase would stand at 187.
The loss of two early wickets proved to be no distraction for Daisy Mullan and Nancy Harman who, with the squeeze on, slipped from the net and batted at their brilliant best. A partnership that would ultimately win this contest as the runs crept inexorably closer to the target before the heavens opened and prevented any further play. Some time later, hands were shaken and Sussex are winners. A fitting end to the campaign.
With this being the final chapter of 2025 and both sides missing out on the chance of qualification, the shackles were off somewhat here. There may not have been much riding on this but that didn’t prevent a performance of heart and merit. Mollie Adams and Lottie Curling returned to the side and wickets fell early on this Derbyshire morning. With her very first ball Talitha Stanley located the stumps of Jessica Couser. From there, a platform, a precedence, and a passage to perfection.
There were times throughout the 44 and a bit overs where Derbyshire looked a side capable with the bat. They did not look a side winless throughout the competition, even without firing on all cylinders. Megan Pittman starred in a wobbly middle order after Megan Shaw had laid the foundations at the top. The third highest score was extras (and at 37 it’s something to work on ahead of next season). Minus the aforementioned two, Derbyshire’s batting lacked any sort of stability or rhythm.
There were three ducks, and four other batters would fail in their quest to achieve double figures. But the bowling was superb, and Chiara Green captained this game superbly. The bowling attack - which consisted of six Sharks – all took wickets barring Anna Lewis, who still posed a threat throughout. Curling and Indigo Gentry were the standouts here, but the spin options of Ava Lee and Green provided the catalyst for a calamitous middle order that saw Derbyshire wilt from 128-4 to 138-8 in a matter of overs. And with it, and reachable target was set: 187 to win.
Izzy Collis has been one of the most consistent batters in this Sharks lineup this season. Here, she edged behind to a wide, tempting Rhiannon Knowling-Davies delivery that on another day would have careered to the boundary. It found the edge, and Sussex were 1-1. Mollie Adams in, looking assured for six balls before Francesca Clarke angled the ball in towards her stumps. It was full, swirling and quick. Adams’ bat narrowly evading the ball, and Derbyshire had developed some swift pressure.
At 22 years of age Mullan is a very strong striker at the crease. Aggressive with the bat, looking to score runs quickly, flipping the switch. She arrived at the crease with her side in need of something good. That was present pretty much in the innings' entirety, but so, too, was the power; the precision. Her timing of the ball was magnificent, finding the gaps and tiring the bowlers.
The pick of the shots? That arrived with Mullan’s first boundary of the afternoon: a textbook cover drive and a hold of the pose just for good measure. With Harman at the opposite end, the pair piled on the runs. With one eye on the darkening clouds the run rate jumped up to five, and stayed around there for the duration. The Sharks reached the 100-mark in the 21st over, and hastily the finish line came into view.
The rains would deluge the course 37 runs short of the target, though the Sharks would prevail in the wet weather on the Duckworth-Lewis method. Daisy Mullan finished 82 not out, Harman also unperturbed on 53. One of the largest partnerships of the year saved for last. 129 runs they put on together – a fabulous feat that looked every bit assured.
Victory, then, for this group who, back in Spring had hardly played cricket with one another. Fast forward in time and they look a side matured and measured. Sure, there are things to improve on, hurdles to be jumped, but as the they travel back down south to Sussex this evening, they can feel pride for what has been a season of unbridled success, and the start of something truly wonderful.