One of the hottest weekends yet brought a derby, a close finish, a Vipers classic, Thunder’s first win, keeping confusion and another Sunrisers loss. With most teams having played different amounts of games, the table looks slightly chaotic but for most teams, it’s still all to play for.
The Midlands Derby
Deja vu as the Blaze, once again, registered another win keeping them unbeaten in both tournaments. The East Midlands side set a huge 212/5, much thanks to a mighty innings from Nat Sciver-Brunt, scoring 96* from 50 balls.
With a challenging total to chase, the Sparks struggled. Amy Jones attempted to salvage the innings, racking up 55 from 39 deliveries but it was in vain as Central Sparks fell 56 runs short of the total.
It was another strong performance with the ball by The Blaze – Lucy Higham, Kirstie Gordon and Nadine de Klerk bowling particularly well.
Northern Grit
It was always going to be a thriller but, going down to the final ball, it was a tremendous effort from both sides. The Stars’ hope came from Alice Capsey’s 71 from 48 but Grace Halls’ figures of 3/20 kept the South East Stars to 138/7.
Losing two early wickets was not the ideal response from the Northern Diamonds but skipper Hollie Armitage led from the front striking 82 from 59 balls to stabilise the innings. Claudie Cooper, in only her second game for the Stars, took 3/12, suffocating the Diamonds.
However, with three runs required from the final ball, Northumberland’s finest, Lizzie Scott found the boundary, taking her team to victory over the Stars.
A Vipers classic
A classic Vipers victory saw Western Storm struggle to 105/8. Lauren Bell was the pick of the bowlers taking 3/19 while Charlie Dean became the Southern Vipers leading wicket taker with figures of 2/15.
The Vipers sailed to success as Maia Bouchier contributed 45 runs but Sophia Smale and Lauren Filer remained economical. However Georgia Elwiss hit the winning runs in the 15th over to wrap up the game.
Thunder’s Sigh of Relief
A huge sense of relief was present as Thunder won their first game of the season, comfortably beating Sunrisers it what was always going to be a key game for both sides. Thunder got off to a flying start – Kate Cross dismissing the destructive Dane van Niekerk with her second delivery.
Despite a knock of 36 from Cordelia Griffith, the momentum was in Thunder’s hands. With two wickets apiece for Cross and Emma Lamb – plus economical bowling from Sophie Ecclestone, Sunrisers finished on a below-par 116/8.
With a win in their sight, Thunder showed their intent with openers, Emma Lamb and Liberty Heap holding a 64 run partnership. Heap just missed out on her maiden list A half-century but anchored the innings, scoring 46 runs. In true World-Boss fashion, Deandra Dottin finished up the innings, with a quick cameo of 26 from 15 balls – including two huge sixes.
Keeping Calm
Is Alice Capsey wicket-keeping? Oh, it’s the renounded wicket-keeper Bryony Smith instead! With hindsight, it’s now known that Kira Chathli rolled her ankle during the warm up and without another keeper in the squad the decision was made to name Alice Capsey as keeper. With injury concerns, it was decided during the innings break that it would actually be Bryony Smith who would be taking the gloves. According to the records Smith hadn’t kept since 2011 when she played an U13s game for Surrey against Middlesex.
Regardless, Stars were put in to bat, meaning that the focus shifted away from the drama of the morning. The Stars lost three wickets in quick succession to open their innings but Alice Davidson-Richards came to the crease to steady the innings scoring 43 from 45 balls.
It was Tash Farrant’s cameo of 32 from 16 balls - the joint fifth highest strike score of 25+ runs in a Charlotte Edwards Cup match – according to hypocaust. Irish all-rounder, Orla Prendergast, had a strong spell with the ball for Western Storm, taking 2/12 – including a wicket maiden. The Stars set 127 to win – a very chaseable total.
It was a tentative powerplay from Western Storm but skipper, Sophie Luff attempted to inspire a win with 43* but with Freya Davies, Danielle Gregory and Phoebe Franklin taking two wickets apiece and Ryana MacDonald-Gay bowling three tight overs, Storm were bowled out, falling six runs short of a win.
Not another one
Diamonds continued their form with bat and ball putting 172 runs on the board for the Sunrisers to chase down at Headingley. Leah Dobson’s 47 built a platform for the Diamonds with Sterre Kalis scoring 29 before Bess Heath took the game to another gear, scoring a rapid 31 from 14 deliveries.
Grace Scrivens’ half century from 35 deliveries was in vain as Diamonds stalwart, Katie Levick took 5/19 to help bowl the Sunrisers out for 137. Grace Hall and Chloe Tryon took two wickets apiece and Lizzie Scott remained economical – taking the key wicket of Dane van Niekerk. Diamonds remain unbeaten in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.
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