Sparks v Vipers at Birmingham

Vipers elected to bowl. Rain interrupted play after 24 overs, when an early lunch was taken. Two overs were docked. Further interruptions exploited the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method to set Vipers a comparable target from ten overs. Vipers made light work of their run chase, nearly half of the runs needed were scored by opener Danni Wyatt (pictured.)

Broadcast via social media (via NV play livestream) with former Somerset and Derbyshire player Claire Jenkins with Dr Samara Afzal (ex Warwickshire) Sarah Ginn ECB and Kevin James (BBC Radio Solent). Also via ESPN-cric-info. Introducing the match, commentator Claire Jenkins said it was the first time that all eight teams will play each other. Following the match, as defending champions, Vipers lie in third place of the competition table; with four points. Vipers were without Anya Shrubsole and Lauren Bell; and Sparks were without Amy Jones and Issy Wong.

Sparks innings (36 overs) *Vipers’ pace attack (Tara Norris and Freya Kemp) contained Sparks openers (skipper Eve Jones and Davina Perrin) to 13 without loss after five overs. *After facing a maiden over from Norris, skipper Eve Jones struck the only two ‘fours’ of Sparks power play (36/0.) *Georgia Elwiss and straight-arm bowler Charlotte Taylor delivered three ‘dot balls’ per over, but allowed ‘ones’ and ‘twos.’ *At the 100-ball benchmark Sparks were 65 without loss. *Breakthrough came when Davina Perrin 22 (from 48) came down-the-wicket, spooning an easy catch to skipper Georgia Adams fielding at ‘mid-off.’

*A second breakthrough came from skipper Georgia Adams paired with Paige Scholfield, seven balls apart. *Firstly Scholfield was sent aerial by Thea Brookes (13 from 19); caught by keeper Carla Rudd. *Next over, Eve Jones (39 from 70) drove ‘beautifully through the covers’ to Maia Bouchier who sent the ball past the stumps to Danni Wyatt. *Unwisely Jones kept on running as Wyatt receiving, seized upon a ‘run out’ chance on 101/3. *Play was paused for rain after 24 overs on 103/3. *Early lunch was taken and two overs were lost. *After the resumption, Abi Freeborn (7) offered a defensive stroke but was clean bowled by Paige Scholfield on 110/4 (26.5 overs) *Players left the field for a second rain delay.

*Upon return at 14h50, Umpires reduced Sparks innings to 36 overs. *Ami Campbell (16 from 20) found a top-edge from Georgia Adams, caught by keeper Carla Rudd on 132/5. *Sarah Glenn 15(14) went ’straight down the throat’ of Charlie Dean at ‘square leg.’ from Georgia Elwiss, on 144/6. *During an eventful thirty-fourth over, Sparks chalked-up 150 runs but lost their seventh wicket as Ria Fackrell 8(10) was caught at ‘deep mid-off’ by Paige Scholfield, from Charlie Dean (1/28.) *Commentators gaff mistakenly framed Georgia Adams.

Vipers innings (10 overs) *Further rain delay reduced Vipers innings to 10 overs. Skipper Georgia Adams was ‘wrapped on the pad’ going ‘leg before’ to Grace Potts for a fourth ball duck *Danni Wyatt and Maia Bouchier 20(24) added 61 runs for Vipers’ second wicket partnership until Bouchier was trapped ‘leg before’ to spinner Sarah Glenn.

*Drama struck during the tenth over. Having hit Hannah Baker’s spin for a ‘long drive’ past the bowler for ‘four,’ Freya Kemp was clean-bowled: bales flying just one run short of victory and with three balls remaining. *Facing next ball, Georgia Elwiss launched Hannah Baker’s spin for a winning ’six,’ striking the circle of wooden stumps positioned behind the boundary, That clinched Vipers’ victory from one single shot.

Summary *Facing difficult conditions from intermittent rain, Sparks batters got bogged down by Vipers’ bowlers who depressed their net-run-rate (4.52 runs-per-over) with ‘dot’ balls. Vipers batters made light work of their run chase (7.75 runs-per-over.) Almost half of the runs required were scored by Danni Wyatt.

Sparks batting: 163/7 (36 overs, 4.52 runs-per-over): Eve Jones 39(70), Davina Perrin 22(48), Ami Campbell 16(21); Sarah Glenn 15(15), Thea Brookes 13(19); Vipers bowling: Paige Scholfield 2/20, Charlotte Taylor 1/20, Georgia Adams 1/23, Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Dean 1/28, Georgia Elwiss 1/29; Fow 1-65, 2-92, 3-101, 4-110, 5-132, 6-144, 7-150; Vipers batting: 75/3 (9.40/10 overs, 7.75 runs-per-over): Dani Wyatt 36*(24) Maia Bouchier 20(24); Sparks bowling: Sarah Glenn 1/10, Grace Potts 1/10, Hannah Baker 1/21; Fow 1-0, 2-62, 3-69.

Scorecard and statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2022-1297659/central-sparks-vs-southern-vipers-1297929/full-scorecard

Edited highlights are free-to-view courtesy of Edgbaston live stream – via Youtube and Smart TV at URL https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/womens/central-sparks-vs-southern-vipers-2-july-2022/

Entire match is also free-to-view via Central Sparks TV via youtube at URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ci9jqCJDo4