Amy Jones hit a remarkable 163 not out to secure victory for Central Sparks against Storm at Edgbaston
ResultsQ
Central Sparks 295-7; Western Storm 254-9 – Sparks won by 41 runs
Thunder 247-9; Sunrisers 211 – Thunder won by 36 runs
Northern Diamonds 151; Lightning 145 – Diamonds won by 6 runs
South East Stars 137; Southern Vipers 138-3 – Vipers won by 7 wickets
Jones always manages to look serene, whether batting or keeping. But her heart may have pittity-pat when she was dropped twice in an over a long way short of her century. A third chance went down, as is always likely in the biggest innings, but the rest was a display of masterful shots all round the wicket, not least straight behind it, as she played her scoops and laps. She played a lone role, the next highest innings by Steph Butler reaching only 27.
For half of Storm’s innings it looked as though they would finish the job, Lauren Parfitt leading the way with 91. She put on 102 for the first wicket with Heather Knight (59), and they reached 183-1 before the tide turned. This was an important win for Sparks in front of a real-live crowd at Edgbaston.
Thunder’s win in Chester was some recompense after their narrow loss on Saturday. Sunrisers still trail behind the rest after allowing the hosts to get close to 250, thanks to Georgie Boyce’s 91 at the top of the innings. Sonali Patel did take a hat-trick, but unfortunately for her team it came near the end of the innings, not the start. Fran Wilson will be relieved to be able to show a 50 to the England selectors, but no-one else could stay long enough to threaten the home total. Sophie Ecclestone, back in her native county, finished things off with an lbw decision.
A score of 137 on Beckenham’s track is never likely to prove enough, least of all against the champions, Vipers. The combined forces of Surrey and Kent really should be producing more convincing performances than this.
Vipers have players in form with ball and bat. The uncapped Charlotte Taylor was once more the prime mover in the opposition’s downfall, snaring three early wickets to finish with 4-21. Add these to her top haul last summer, and Vipers’ unbroken run of success is explained.
Danni Wyatt played the leading role in the reply, finishing with 64*; Georgia Elwiss did her England chances no harm by adding 45 with her. But who knows, Wyatt may be much more pleased with her bowling performance. She took 3-19.
The game at Kibworth in Leicestershire was one that Lightning really should have won. They had Diamonds reeling at 50-6, Winfield-Hill, skipper Armitage, Sciver, Kalis and Brunt all back in the hutch. But, oh but, Jenny Gunn is playing for Diamonds this year, not Lightning. She scored a vital 40, accompanied by Alex Macdonald (39), to help post a defendable total. Kathryn Bryce returned the excellent figures 8-2-16-4.
Then Diamonds four top bowlers, Brunt, Beth Langston, Sciver and Katie Levick, all produced the goods to reveal the weakness of Lightning’s batting line-up.
A Parting Carp
Does Lisa Keightley find the 129 wides bowled over the four matches acceptable? These eight hubs represent the best players drawn from all England and Wales’ counties, plus a handful of Scots. Sunrisers’ 31 and Storm’s 29 do seem excessive.
Individual Stats
Batting
163* Amy Jones
91 Georgie Boyce
91 Lauren Parfitt
64* Danielle Wyatt
Bowling
4-16 Kathryn Bryce
4-21 Charlotte Taylor
4-23 Katherine Brunt
4-34 Ria Fackrell
4-40 Sonali Patel
