Source: ECB

High Drama at Hove

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Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy – Round Three

Results:

Western Storm 245-8; South East Stars 249-4 – Stars won by 6 wickets at the Kia Oval
Central Sparks 224 Southern Vipers 104 – Sparks won by 120 runs to inflict Vipers first ever loss in the RHF – at Hove
Sunrisers 53 Northern Diamonds 54-1 Diamonds won by 9 wickets – their first meeting – at Fenner’s

Vipers v Sparks

Sparks’ opening bowlers put in a strong claim to open England’s attack against India, New Zealand and, who knows, Australia. Emily Arlott took the plaudits with an astonishing spell which accounted for four batters in a single over, including a hat-trick. And this against the side that had forgotten what the word defeat means. With Issy Wong steaming in down the slope at the highest pace to claim Georgia Adams’ wicket, this was the sort of bowling you’d love to see Australia’s top order being faced with. Wong finished with 3-18

17-5 after 7 overs! ​

We had to wait till that seventh over for the action. This was Arlott’s sequence: 1st ball Maia Bouchier trapped in front; 4th ball Georgia Elwiss ditto; 5th ball great catch by Amy Jones flinging herself towards third man; 6th ball stumps disturbed, Ella McCaughan beaten for pace – one of the great overs of recent times.

And through this spell batters were suffering painful blows from high-pace bowling. Danni Wyatt was a spectator at the other end, then went on to provide the sort of defiance you expect. She and Carla Rudd doubled the score from 52-7, but despite her gritty 61 the damage had been done.

This is Sparks’ third win and opens the tournament up a treat.

Vipers XI: Adams (captain), Wyatt, Bouchier, Elwiss, McCaughan, Dean, Windsor, Norris. Rudd (wk), Taylor, Monaghan
Sparks XI: E. Jones (captain), Davies, Kelly, A. Jones (wk), Home, Butler, Glenn, Fackrell, Wong, Arlott, Russell

Stars v Storm

There was another upset at the Oval. Stars had to be patient working through Storm’s strong batting on a good pitch. Heather Knight added yet another commanding half-century (73), putting on 91 with her skipper Sophie Luff (55), but Tash Farrant worked through the lower order to keep Storm’s total within bounds.

For once, Stars’ top order produced the goods against a demanding attack. Bryony Smith looked set for a long stay, but Lauren Filer snared her into a misjudgement (21). From there the game slipped away from Storm as Alice Davidson-Richards and Sophia Dunkley realised all the hopes resting on them. A magnificent stand of 154 saw ADR pass her previous best score, only to fall eight short of a maiden ton when tempted by a wide ball from Nicole Harvey. She snicked it behind. Dunkley too looked set for a century; she too fell for 92 as the scores were equal. Funny game, cricket.

South East Stars XI: Smith, Davidson-Richards, Dunkley, Capsey, Cranstone, White, Farrant (captain), Gibbs, Southby (wk), Davies, Gregory
Western Storm XI: Morris, Knight, Luff (captain), Hennessy, Wraith (wk), Parfitt, Gibson, Shrubsole, Harvey, Robbins, Filer

Sunrisers v Diamonds

Sunrisers’ proud claim: ‘Nine counties, one team’ – therein lies their weakness?

They crumpled yet again, this time to one of the top bowling line-ups. Two of Diamonds’ most knowing performers, Katherine Brunt and Jenny Gunn, took 6-21 between them.

The experienced Trevor Griffin was brought in to help Sunrisers out as head coach; perhaps a few leading players might have been requested (with a twisted arm?) to join him.

Another indication of their problems: it took the visitors under 8 overs to secure victory. Of those 54 runs no fewer than 18 were wides. One grain of hope came with the debutant Kate Coppack, who had the pleasure of dismissing Lauren Winfield-Hill early on.

Sunrisers XI: Macleod, Scrivens, Wilson, Griffith, Dattani, Villiers, Carr (captain/wk), Gardner, Castle, Gole, Coppack
Diamonds XI: Armitage (captain), Winfield-Hill (wk), Sciver, Kalis, Brunt, Campbell, Gunn, MacDonald, Langston, Smith, Levick

The table takes on an unfamiliar guise which is excellent. The hubs’ usual high riders, Vipers and Storm, sit mid-table.

Table after 3 rounds ​               W​     L​     Pts

Central Sparks​​                             3​      0​      13

Northern Diamonds                   2​      1        9

SE Stars​​                                        2​       1        9

Southern Vipers                         2​        1        9

Thunder​​                                       1​        1        4

Western Storm​​                           1        2       4

Lightning​​                                     0​        2       0

Sunrisers​​                                      0​        3       0

Note: Thunder and Lightning play one day later. Prepare for stormy weather

Top Stats

Batting

Emma Lamb 121

Alice Davidson-Richards 92 – her PB

Sophia Dunkley 92 – dismissed with the scores equal!

Piepa Cleary 79

Heather Knight 73

Danni Wyatt 61

Eve Jones 55

Sophie Luff 55

Bowling

Arlott 8-2-29-5

Farrant 10-0-58-4

Thunder report 95,000 views of their match against Sunrisers

The England players now retreat into their bubble, leaving the next round in the hands of players who most want to make their mark