Central Sparks v South East Stars at Edgbaston, Birmingham on May 29 (18h00)
Turning the tables on Stars’ previous 34 run defeat by Sparks at Guildford, Stars played out their full twenty overs, steered home by Aylish Cranstone’s third undefeated ‘fifty’ (with top batting average from three ’not out’s.) After the match, Cranstone told reporters that the ‘used’ pitch surface was difficult to bat on. Facing their first defeat of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, Sparks skipper Eve Jones told reporters Sparks put in ‘some strong performances’ (including Sarah Glenn 3/17) and were ‘right in the game until halfway.’
*Match commentators at Edgbaston were Claire Jenkins (formerly of Somerset and Derbys); and Sarah Gibb (from Warwicks CCC.) Also broadcast via livestream, via Youtube (Central Sparks) and social media (ESPN-cric-info.) The match started a little late with ominous grey clouds passing overhead, said to be colder-than-average for the time-of-year. *Stars skipper Bryony Smith made ‘quick fire’ 15 runs (from 8 balls), until taking ‘a huge swipe in the air,’ caught by Hannah Baker off Grace Potts. Issy Wong tried coming both over and around the wicket to Cranstone as the left-hander. *Cranstone’s nonchalantly held-up play to peel-off her second shirt. *Alice Capsey (7) was ‘clean bowled by Wong,’ attempting to scoop the ball over Amy Jones’ head. After six overs’ power play, Stars were 53/2.
*Later commended by her skipper for ‘a strong (bowling) performance,’ Sarah Glenn (3/17) tempted Phoebe Franklin (10) over the line – yielding one of two stumpings described as ’sharp work’ by keeper Amy Jones. *After hitting Emily Arlott for ‘four,’ Aylish Cranstone had more than one lucky escape, when edging Arlott’s ‘short-length’ ball over the keeper’s head. *At mid-way (10 overs) Stars were 73/3. *At that point, commentators estimated 160 runs would be scored after 20 overs. *Sarah Glenn took two more wickets during her two remaining overs. *Firstly, Alice Davidson-Richards 11(14)(who wore a shirt initialed ‘ADR’ for the first time) was clean-bowled. Secondly Emma Jones (6) took a ‘huge swing’ and departed the same way. *Grace Potts’ fourth over added eighteen runs, including two ‘fours’ and a ’six’ from Aylish Cranstone. *After 99 balls, (16.3 overs) Kira Chathli (10) fell for a second stumping by Amy Jones, off Hannah Baker’s leg-spin (118/6). Issy Wong’s final over turned out to be expensive, as both Kalea Moore 14*(10) and Aylish Cranstone 59*(53) plundered ‘sixes’.
*Sparks’ original pursuit (148) was later downgraded to 102 with 12 overs remaining (DLS method). *Issy Wong (1) was first casualty during the power play, her second ball slicing Emma Jones (1/14) vertically for a ‘skier,’ caught by Aylish Cranstone. *Disaster struck four balls later when Amy Jones (8) was ‘run out’ by fast bowler Freya Davies, at the bowler’s end. *Play was interrupted by rain mid-way through Kalea Moore’s first over, at 33/2 – at which point Sparks needed 115 from 99 balls. *Skipper Eve Jones 25 (23) was one of three Sparks players to reach double figures; albeit with the lower target once play resumed. *During Sparks’ sixth over, their skipper was caught by Alice Davidson-Richards at ‘long-on,’ from Danielle Gregory. *After six overs, Sparks were 43/3, needing 59 runs from 36 balls, with a floodlit pitch that evidently suited spin.
*Two tight overs took three more Sparks wickets for single figures: Abi Freeborn 8 caught by MacDonald-Gay (as substitute fielder at backward point) from Alice Capsey conceding three runs. Also Gwenan Davies (2) ‘run out’ and Ami Campbell (1) bowled by Danielle Gregory conceding two runs. *Sparks fought back plundering twelve runs from the tenth over 68/7 (vs 73/3) but losing another wicket: Davina Perrin (9.) *Bowling the penultimate over, Stars skipper Bryony Smith was hit for three defiant ‘fours’ by Emily Arlott (19*). Death over specialist Alice Davidson-Richards ensured that only ‘ones’ and ‘twos’ came from her final over, leaving no gaps between any fielders and a wide margin of safety for Stars to secure victory.
In summary, as reported by ESPN-cric-info: ‘South East Stars put an end to Central Sparks’ 100% record …… under the floodlights at Edgbaston.’ Resident commentators explained that Sparks dropped more than their fair share of catches before the rain interruption and threw away wickets afterwards, losing any advantage to chase down the target reduced by adverse weather. Jones added on Sparks ’twitter’ social media that it wasn’t (her team’s) day (by failing to meet the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern ‘DLS’ target by ten runs). Stars as the title holders, have risen to one point behind Sparks, who remain top of their table at the group stage.
Result (group ‘B’): South East Stars Women 148/6 (20 overs) beat Central Sparks Women 91/7 (12/12 overs, target 102) by 10 runs (DLS method)
Stars 148/6 (20 overs, 7.4 runs-per-over): Aylish Cranstone 59*(53) Bryony Smith 15 (8) Kalea Moore 14*(10), Alice Davidson-Richards 11(14), Phoebe Franklin 10(10), Kira Chathli 10(11); Sparks bowling: Sarah Glenn 3/17, Hannah Baker 1/17 Issy Wong 1/37, Grace Potts 1/45 Fow 1-22, 2-42, 3-58, 4-81, 5-89, 6-118;
Sparks 91/7 (12/12 overs 7.58 runs-per-over): Eve Jones 25(23) Emily Arlott 19*(9) Sarah Glenn 14*(9) Stars bowling: Danielle Gregory 2/6, Alice Capsey 1/10, Emma Jones 1/14, Alice Davidson-Richards 1/20; Fow 1-16, 2-25, 3-43, 4-45, 5-47, 6-49, 7-59.
Scorecard at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/charlotte-edwards-cup-2022-1298049/central-sparks-vs-south-east-stars-group-b-1298064/full-scorecard
Footnote: Full match can be viewed via youtube on Smart TV, by searching for ‘Central Sparks vs South East Stars – Live from Edgbaston, Central Sparks’ (Streamed live on 29 May 2022; 3h 55min 52 sec)
