At Southport (Trafalgar Road, Birkdale) Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy on July 16
New recruit Lauren Smith (Australian All-Rounder from NSW) was outstanding for Stars, hitting 73 and taking 2/20 to clinch a shock first win under Aylish Cranstone’s captaincy (pictured). For Thunder, former England spinner Alex Hartley skittled Stars top-order, taking her second ‘A-List’ 6-fer (6/24). Also, WIndies star Deandre Dottin’s took tail enders’ wickets bagging 3/49. Stars Lauren Smith and tail ender Dani Gregory mounted a spirited comeback, adding 76 runs in just over fifteen overs. Half of Thunder’s reply came from Georgie Boyce (68.) Once again, Smith and Gregory contributed spirited performances: this time as bowlers taking two wickets each. Match was live-streamed by Thunder on ‘youtube,’ hosted by commentator Mike Perkins with Lancs and Cheshire skipper Allyson Byrne. Also via ESPN-cric-info social media. Weather was a glorious sunny day with blue sky.
Stars Innings
*Stars big names were called-up for England duties (including Bryony Smith Sophia Dunkley, Alice Davidson-Richards and Alice Capsey) *Stars made 55/0 during their power play: openers facing three overs from Laura Jackson paired with Natalie Brown; followed by two overs from Phoebe Graham and Deandre Dottin. *Alex Hartley’s first over took two wickets, four balls apart. *Kirstie White (12) was ‘leg before;’ (Hartley having earlier dropped her in the field from Graham). *Four balls later Kira Chathli was caught by Hannah Jones for a fourth-ball duck. After 100 balls (16.4 overs) Stars were 81/2. *Disaster struck Stars when two more wickets fell six balls apart. *Firstly, Chloe Brewer (49) was bowled by Hannah Jones (‘a full length delivery’), missing out on her ‘fifty;’ and acting skipper Cranstone (4) was ‘leg before,’ gifting Hartley her third wicket without adding to the score.
*Alex Hartley’s 5-fer came mid-way through the innings when Phoebe Franklin (2) was caught by Deandre Dottin. *Also Rhianna Southby (8) was well-caught by Daisy Mullan from a ‘full-length dive’ at ‘deep mid-wicket.’ *At mid-way (25 overs) Stars were 100/6 and peppered by ‘dot’ balls. Just three runs came from overs 26-28.*Scoring pressure mounted causing three more wickets to fall over the next three overs. *Firstly, Deandre Dottin bowled Alexa Stonehouse (4.) *Secondly Eva Gray (5) was stumped by skipper Threlkeld as keeper, handing Hartley her sixth wicket. *Thirdly debutante Bethan Miles was clean-bowled by Dottin for a fourth ball duck. *Thereafter, Australian Lauren Smith mounted a tenth wicket stand with Dani Gregory worth 76 runs in fifteen overs, until Gregory thin-edged to keeper Ellie Threlkeld. *Stars set Storm a target of 199. *Alex Hartley finished with 6/24, one run short of her previous best ’List A’ 6-Fer.
Thunder’s Innings
Thunder were without Emma Lamb, Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross. *Georgie Boyce made top score (68 runs from 105 balls); *No one else made it past 20. *Like Stars, 7 Thunder batters fell short of double-figures. *Thunder made 48/1 (vs 55/0) during their power play: openers facing five overs from Alexa Stonehouse paired with Phoebe Franklin; followed by one over of spin from Dani Gregory. *Breakthrough came four balls after Deandre Dottin (8) hit Phoebe Franklin for ’six’ and was caught by Kirstie White, four balls later. *After 100 balls (16.4 overs) Thunder were 73/1 (vs 81/2.) *Bowling the seventeenth over, Lauren Smith’s fifth slow left-arm delivery clean bowled Rebecca Duckworth (15.) From the other end, three more wickets fell during Bethan Miles first three overs. *Firstly, Ellie Threlkeld (7) was bowled through the gate. *Secondly Natalie Brown (2) was ‘run out’ at the bowlers’ end. *Thirdly, just after mid-way, Shachi Pai (0) was ‘leg before’ for a sixth ball duck.
*At mid-way (25 overs) Georgie Boyce had chalked-up ‘fifty.’ Thunder were 92/4 (vs 100/6) needing to 107 from their remaining 25 overs.*As mentioned above, Georgie Boyce made top score before clean-bowled during Bethan Miles’ sixth over. *Thunder’s last four wickets went cheaply for 21 runs. *Firstly, Daisy Mullan (10) was caught-and-bowled by Phoebe Franklin. *Secondly Laura Jackson (6) was caught behind from Dani Gregory. *Thirdly, Phoebe Graham (11) was caught by Phoebe Franklin from Dani Gregory. *Fourthly Alex Hartley (1) was caught by Chloe Brewer from Lauren Smith.
Summary
Bulk of Stars’ runs were scored by Australian Lauren Smith (73*) and by opener Chloe Brewer (49). Thunder’s top bowlers were Alex Hartley who bowled a ‘6-fer’ (6/24); and Deandre Dottin who bagged 3/49. Stars’ Lauren Smith and tail-ender Dani Gregory staged a spirited comeback, adding 76 runs in just over fifteen overs, helping to post 198. For Thunder’s, only Georgie Boyce made ‘fifty.’ Alarmingly, seven players from either side failed to reach double-figures on a spinner’s wicket. Thunder ran out of wickets 10 overs too soon, carrying a fifty-two run deficit. Debutante Bethan Miles was Stars’ best bowler taking 3/16. Stars’ Lauren Smith (2/20) and Dani Gregory (2/36) stepped-up again, taking two wickets each. Stars’ 52-run victory gives them two wins from three matches, with ten points – currently in third place. Thunder find they are ‘spoonists’ for the first time, not only with three straight losses, but also with inferior net-run-rate behind Sunrisers on ‘nil’ points.
Result: South East Stars Women 198/10 (47.5/50 overs) beat Thunder Women 146/10 (50 overs, target 199) by 52 runs
SE Stars batting: 198/10 (47.5/50 overs, 4.13 runs-per-over): Lauren Smith 73*(93), Chloe Brewer 49(51), Danielle Gregory 12(35), Kirstie White 12(38); Thunder bowling: Alex Hartley 6/24, Deandre Dottin 3/49, Hannah Jones 1/23. Fow 1-67, 2-67, 3-83, 4-83, 5-91, 6-94, 7-108, 8-121, 9-122, 10-198.
Thunder batting: 146/10 (50 overs, 3.63 runs-per-over, target 199): Georgie Boyce 68(105), Rebecca Duckworth 15(31), Phoebe Graham 11(15), Daisy Mullan 10(22); Stars bowling: Bethan Miles 3/15, Lauren Smith 2/20, Phoebe Franklin 2/25, Danielle ‘Dani’ Gregory 2/36. Fow 1-18, 2-73, 3-88, 4-91, 5-93, 6-117, 7-125, 8-137, 9-145, 10-146.
Scorecard and statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2022-1297659/thunder-vs-south-east-stars-1297936/full-scorecard
Entire match, is free-to-view courtesy of Thunder (NV Play) live stream, via Smart TV and Youtube 5h14m41s from 10:00 at URL youtube https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m8b816afe-1bc6-4860-bb2c-c0e3e8a5d540
