At Chelmsford (The Cloud County Ground) Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy on July 16
After posting 254, Sunrisers seemed assured of victory. More-so after Storm’s reply slumped to 39/3 – at which point commentators noted that Storm ‘were a long way out of it.’ Katie George (pictured) turned the match around with a scintillating innings, scoring 74 runs from 42 balls. Partnered by her skipper Sophie Luff (100*) their 125-run partnership slashed Storm’s required-run-rate by half, and well-placed for a ‘sensational’ win. Luff (100*) held her nerve striking the winning ‘four’ to snatch a memorable victory with one over to spare. Match was live-streamed by Sunrisers TV and NV Play via ‘youtube,’ with professional cricket commentators Guy Swindells and Kevin Hand; initially with stand-in commentator Alice Macleod (Sunrisers) for Hand. Also via ESPN-cric-info social media. Weather was a gloriously hot sunny day with blue sky.
Sunrisers innings
*Sunrisers early scoring-rate accelerated as openers Cordelia Griffith (74 from 106) and Grace Scrivens (69 runs from 95 balls) partnership banked 148 runs for Sunrisers’ first wicket. *Their power play score was 45/0, chalking up ‘fifty’ during the eleventh over. *After 100 balls (16.4 overs) Sunrisers were 77/0; reaching 107/0 by mid-way (25 overs.) *Fi Morris took an ‘outstanding catch’ to dismiss Cordelia Griffith, who was tempted by Lauren Filer’s half-volley. *Eight balls later, Fi Morris struck again, this time as bowler, when promising All-Rounder Naomi Dattani (1) was caught by Niamh Holland. *Commentators mentioned sympathetically, that Naomi Dattani was sat waiting (to bat) for ‘two hours’ and would feel ‘frustrated’ to get out ‘in such a fashion.’
*Batting at No.3, Mady Villiers 33(25) scored faster than one-run-per-ball, initially partnered by Grace Scrivens 69(95); then Amara Carr. Grace Scrivens fell for a ‘hard swing’ when the ball ‘flew over the keeper’s head’ and was caught by Sophia Smale at ‘short fine leg.’ Commentators described a ’stunning catch’ from the bowling of Niamh Holland. After forty overs, Mady Villiers ‘swung hard’ to the on-side and was bowled by Niamh Holland (2/32). Next over saw Amara Carr 9(16) clean-bowled ‘through middle-and-off,’ by Sophia Smale (2/40.) Jo Gardner played a cameo 29*(31) that included the only ‘six’ of Sunrisers’ innings. Skipper Kelly Castle 17(21) was caught by Sophie Luff, from the last ball of Sophia Smale’s death over, concluding Sunrisers’ innings (254/6)
Storm’s Innings
*Storm, were without Georgia Hennessy and Heather Knight (England duty) *Sunrisers power play bowlers alternated between Mady Villiers and Kate Coppack. *Losing two wickets during their power play, Storm floundered on 39/3. *Firstly, opener Natasha Wraith (1) went aerial, caught by Naomi Dattani stepping backwards five paces behind the fielding circle, from Coppack (1/35.) *Secondly, Alex Griffiths (7) was caught overhead by Scotland’s Abtaha Maqsood, from Mady Villiers’ bowling.
Soon after the power play, Fran Wilson (6) top-edged Abtaha Maqsood’s spin, ‘chopping’ a catch to Mia Rogers who dived forward. *During the twenty-fifth over, Fi Morris was ‘run out’ during what commentators described as a ‘hammer blow.’ *Witnessing ‘horrible mix-up,’ a distraught Sophie Luff was fortunate not to be ‘run out’ herself, having seen Morris’ departure from mid-way down the wicket. *After 100 balls (16.4 overs) Storm were 57/3 (vs 77/0); reaching 89/4 (vs 107/0) by mid-way (25 overs.)
*Sophie Luff went on to score an ‘unbelievable’ ton, and Katie George was ‘nothing short of sensational’ as Storm staged their recovery. *Crucially, Katie George’s 74 runs came with high strike-rate, from just 42 balls. *Both George and Luff scored ’sixes’ during the same over from Abtaha Maqsood (1/52.) Next over, George ‘hoiked out,’ bowled by Mady Villiers (2/33.) *Having posted their 125-run partnership, Luff and George slashed Storm’s required-run-rate by half, lifting Storm toward an unlikely winning position. *Needing 12 runs from 12 balls Luff and Smale struck 14 runs from 6 balls. Sophia Smale hit two ‘fours.’ Sophie Luff (100*) made top-score with a winning ‘four;’ also snatching her undefeated ‘ton’ from 142 balls. Storm won by 3 wickets.
Summary
Sunrisers ‘solid performance’ built upon a first-wicket partnership (148) between Cordelia Griffith (74) and Grace Scrivens (58.) After posting 254, Sunrisers seemed assured of victory. More-so after Storm slumped to 39/3 – at which point commentators noted that (Storm) seemed ‘a long way out of it.’ According to commentators, Storm’s recovery was ‘nothing short of sensational,’ suddenly ‘emerging from nowhere’ following Sophie Luff and Katie George’s 125 run partnership, arriving within sight of an achievable victory. Skipper Luff (100*) made top-score with a winning ‘four;’ also snatching her undefeated ‘ton.’ After two wins from three rounds, Storm occupy fourth place with nine points, five points ahead of Sparks and one point; behind Stars. Sunrisers, remain as spoonists, this time missing out on their first contest win.
Result: Western Storm Women 257/7 (49/50 overs, target 255) beat Sunrisers Women 254/6 (50 overs) by 3 wickets with six balls remaining
Sunrisers batting: 254/6 (50 overs, 5.08 runs-per-over): Cordelia Griffith 74(106) Grace Scrivens 69(95), Mady Villiers 33(25), Jo Gardner 29*(31) Kelly Castle 17(21); Storm bowling: Niamh Holland 2/32, Sophia Smale 2/40, Lauren Filer 1/31, Fi Morris 1/37; Fow 1-148, 2-150, 3-184, 4-204, 5-206, 6-254.
Storm batting: 257/7 (49/50 overs, 5.24 runs-per-over) Sophie Luff 100*(142), Katie George 74(43), Fi Morris 26(41), Danielle ‘Dani’ Gibson 10(16); Sunrisers bowling: Mady Villiers 2/33, Grace Scrivens 1/25, Kate Coppack 1/35, Abtaha Maqsood 1/52, Kelly Castle 1/56; Fow 1-8, 2-20, 3-39, 4-87, 5-103, 6-228, 7-243. Scorecard and statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2022-1297659/sunrisers-vs-western-storm-1297937/full-scorecard
Match highlights free-to-view from Sunrisers (NV play) via youtube and live stream video 5h14m41s from 10:00 at URL:https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m3f00f27a-4117-4d91-b21f-c4bf695177f6
