South East Stars v Sunrisers at Beckenham (Kent); Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy on July 2 (10h30)
In a closely-fought match, Sunrisers’ Grace Scrivens (pictured) right-arm off-breaks earned her a 4-fer (4/42) – followed by making top-score: 74. Batting left-handed, Scrivens beating her previous highest-score for the 50 over game (ICC ‘List A’), by 2 runs (72 vs Storm, in Aug ’20.) Despite her outstanding performance, Grace Scrivens found herself on the losing side. For consolation, her talent was recognised earlier this year, when Grace Scrivens was signed to play alongside Heather Knight for London Spirit Women in the upcoming ‘The Hundred.’
*On the day, three Stars batters made ‘fifties:’ skipper Bryony Smith 66 runs (from 68 balls); Kira Chathli 61(65); and *Alice Capsey 64*(69.) Alice Capsey making her first ‘fifty’ of the season with some relief after a lean spell. *Host commentators pointed out that Sunrisers hadn’t yet ‘collected a win’ as spoonists. *Previously during the first two seasons of this competition, Stars had won by 135 runs (May’21); 6 wickets (Sept’20) and 77 runs (Aug’20.) For Stars, Sophia Dunkley and Alice Davidson-Richards were called-up for England duty. For Sunrisers, Skipper Kelly Castle revealed her bandaged leg. *The full match was free-to-attend, played with sunny spells, a stiff breeze without any sign of rain. Two fixed side-screen cameras captured key moments. Commentators (barely audible at times on low volume) apologised for any confusion as originally, the match was billed for Guildford. Broadcast via social media (via livestream and ESPN-cric-info) – please see below.
*Batting first on a slow-outfield drying after overnight rain, Stars quickly lost Phoebe Franklin, caught by Jo Gardner at short mid-wicket, enticed by Naomi Dattani’s short-pitched ball. *After 10 overs power play, Stars were scoring around one-run-per-ball: 67/1; and 102/1 by the 100 ball benchmark. *Skipper Bryony Smith (66 runs from 68 balls) and Kira Chathli staged a century partnership until the twenty-second over when the skipper mistimed a square cut and gave a top-edge, caught at square by Cordelia Griffiths off spinner Mady Villiers. *At mid-way, Stars were 145/2. *Grace Scrivens struck third-ball, dismissing Kira Chathli (61 from 65) who lobbed straight into Griffiths’ hands at square. *Commentators believed that having taken ‘two quick wickets’ (and curtailed Stars scoring rate below one-run-per-ball): Sunrisers’ spinners had ‘changed the focus of the game.’
*Grace Scrivens took three more Stars wickets, firstly taking a return catch, top-edged from Aylish Cranstone’s (27 from 26) wrist as she dropped her bat. Secondly trapping Grace Gibbs ‘leg before’ and thirdly clean-bowling Freya Davies. Scotland’s spinner Abtaha Maqsood presented Kirstie White with a second-ball duck, in between. *Stars chalked-up a defendable score: 200 runs in 37.5 overs with twelve overs remaining. *Still no sign of rain that was understood by spectators to have affected other matches played around the country. *Once Grace Scrivens completed her 10 over quota with a 4-fer (4/42); Kelly Castle returned to bowl, her first loose ball promptly launched for ’six’ by Alice Capsey – the only ‘six’ of Stars’ innings. *Alice Capsey finished 64 not out (from 69 balls) as Stars closed on 281/8.
*Sunrisers reply. *Stars bowling attack began with eight overs of pace between Freya Davies and Alexa Stonehouse. Grace Scrivens was bought to the crease once Cordelia Griffiths (10) was caught from Stonehouse. *After 10 overs power play, Sunrisers were 59/1 (vs 67/1); also losing Naomi Dattani (run out, 19) before the 100 ball benchmark: 88/2 (vs 102/1.) Grace Scrivens (74 from 74) celebrated ‘fifty,’ hitting Bryony Smith’s first over of spin for ’six’ – the only ’six’ of Sunrisers’ innings. *Smith’s second over saw Mady Villiers stumped by Kira Chathli. *Smith’s sixth over had Scrivens caught by Kirsty White. *Five balls later, Sunrisers lost Jo Gardner ‘leg before’ to Grace Gibbs for a fourth ball duck. *Sunrisers run-rate began to escalate once Amara Carr (35 from 51) and skipper Kelly Castle (14 from 22) were out.
In summary, three Stars batters made ‘fifties’ (compared to one ‘fifty’ from Sunrisers.) Skipper Bryony Smith made top score for Stars and took three wickets. Gaining a bonus point, Stars go joint-top of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint table, bagging five points from their first match; with Sophie Luff’s Storm placed a nose ahead on equal points, but with superior net-run-rate.
Result: South-East Stars Women 281/8 (50 overs) beat Sunrisers Women 201/10 (41.4 overs/target 282 from 50 overs) by 80 runs
SE Stars 281/8 (50 overs, 5.62 runs-per-over): Bryony Smith 66(68) Alice Capsey 64*(60), Kira Chathli 61(65), Aylish Cranstone 27(26), Alexa Stonehouse 24(31); Sunrisers bowling: Grace Scrivens 4/42; Naomi Dattani 1/42, Abtaha Maqsood 1/48, Mady Villiers 1/54, Kelly Castle 1/63. Fow 1-17 , 2-128, 3-150, 4-186, 5-187, 6-191, 7-203, 8-258; Sunrisers 201/10 (41.4/50 overs, 4.82 runs-per-over): Grace Scrivens 74(74), Amara Carr 35(51), Naomi Dattani 19(24) Kelly Castle 14(22); Stars bowling: Bryony Smith 3/37, Eva Gray 2/16, Alice Capsey 2/26, Grace Gibbs 1/9, Alexa Stonehouse 1/27; Fow 1-17, 2-60, 3-103, 4-145, 5-145, 6-170, 7-178, 8-190, 9-201, 10-201.
*Scorecard & statistics at URL https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2022-1297659/south-east-stars-vs-sunrisers-1297927/match-statistics
*Entire match, is free-to-view courtesy of South East Stars via Youtube and Smart TV (5h08m21s starting from 06m30s) at URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTaeVP_bdVo
