Central Sparks vs Sunrisers at Worcester on 17 September 2022 (10h30)
Described by commentators Mike Perkins as a ‘basement battle,’ both teams were playing their final match with insufficient points to venture beyond the group stage. A tough day for batters as nineteen wickets fell. Sparks’ Emily Arlott (pictured) top-scored hitting 63, also taking 1/22. Before the match, a minute’s silence was held, followed by the national anthem; and an ECB statement was read out to mourn the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II. Broadcast by NV-Play, ESPN-cric-info and podcasts via social media. Weather at Worcester was described as a ‘glorious’ September day, with ‘fine views across farmers’ fields.’
Sparks’ Innings
Skipper Eve Jones. *Sparks plus Sarah Glenn who was expecting to play next day for England; but minus Amy Jones (England skipper’s duty.) *Commentator’s curse struck during the power play when skipper Eve Jones 10(17) who ‘prized her wicket’ was ‘out cheaply’ when clean-bowled by Mady Villiers. *After 10 overs power play, Sparks reached 56/1. *Davina Perrin 45(51) and Abi Freeborn’s second-wicket partnership added 77 runs until ‘furious’ Perrin was clean-bowled, deceived by newbie Jody Grewcock’s looping second ball. *Another looping delivery from Grewcock (2/27) also bowled Ami Campbell 1 – ‘leg-stump.’ *Missing a ‘square-cut,’ Abi Freeborn 46(45) also missed out on her ‘fifty’ when clean-bowled by Grace Scrivens. *By mid-way, Sparks were 128/4; reaching 150/5 after 31.4 overs. *Playing her second innings for Stars, Milly Home 24(43) was caught by returning keeper Hughes from Grace Scrivens (2/42.) *Bowlers-turned batters Emily Arlott 63(73) and Sarah Glenn 33(38) staged a sixth-wicket cameo worth 84 runs. Firstly, Sarah Glenn was caught by skipper Naomi Dattani, from Mady Villiers. *Next over, Emily Arlott was stumped by keeper Scarlett Hughes, coming down the wicket to Jo Gardner. *Returner Clare Boycott played cautiously with Georgia Davis, until Davis 5 snicked a second catch to Scarlett Hughes, chalking-up Mady Villiers’ 3-fer (3/44.) Grace Potts was stumped by keeper Hughes from Jo Gardner’s (2/34) final ball, leaving Boycott 10*(17) not out.
Sunrisers’ Innings
Skipper Naomi Dattani. *Kelly Castle playing, previously disclosing to broadcasters that she was nursing a ‘bruised right shoulder.’ Keeper Scarlett Hughes for Gayatri Gole; and Sonali Patel’s second substitution for Scots international Abataha Maqsood. *Opener Grace Scrivens 61(75) played an outstanding innings, as one of four Sunrisers to reach double-figures. *During the power play, newbie Jodie Grewcock 5 was clean-bowled by Emily Arlott (1/22.) *After 10 overs power play, with three ‘fours,’ Sunrisers reached 30/1 (vs 56/1.) *Skipper Dattani 13(22) snicked a catch to keeper Abi Freeborn, from Grace Potts (1/28.) *One run later, Mady Villiers went for a fifth-ball duck, when clean-bowled by Liz Russell (1/12.) *Disaster struck when three wickets fell during the 17th over. *Firstly, Jess Olorenshaw 10(11) was stumped by Abi Freeborn, going down-the-wicket to Davina Perrin. *Secondly, Jo Gardner 4 was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Eve Jones. Next ball, Mia Rogers went for a golden duck; placing Perrin (3/26) on a hat-trick, next over. *Five overs later, Kelly Castle 11(11) went ‘leg before’ to Sarah Glenn, briefly interrupting the procession as Grace Scrivens stood firm, as seven partner’s wickets were said to have fallen for 58 runs. *After 25 overs, Sunrisers were 105/8 (vs 128/4.) *At the tail-end, Scarlett Hughes was ‘run-out’ by Georgia Davis’ throw from ‘mid-off.’ *Sonali Patel was clean-bowled by Sarah Glenn (2/25.) *Finally, Grace Scrivens herself, was ‘run-out’ by Georgia Davis throwing to Sarah Glenn at the bowler’s end, with premature closure; and with 21.5 overs remaining.
Summary
Sparks played-and-missed far too often, as their top four batters were clean-bowled. Abi Freeborn played anchor role with Davina Perrin, chalking-up 77 for Sparks’ second wicket. Sunrisers’ Jodie Grewcock took two key wickets of Perrin and Ami Campbell. As mentioned above, Bowlers-turned batters Emily Arlott top-scored with ‘fifty’ during a sixth-wicket cameo with Sarah Glenn 33(38) that bagged another 84 runs. Sunrisers’ best bowler was Mady Villiers, who took a 3-fer. An outstanding ‘fifty’ from Sunrisers’ top-scorer Grace Scrivens was overshadowed by a procession of six batters failing to reach double-figures. Consequently, Sunrisers’ betters fell short by a wide margin of 139 runs with nearly twenty-two overs to spare. Sparks’ top-bowler was Davina Perrin who took a 3-fer. Emily Arlott bagged one wicket to add to her earlier ‘fifty’ with the bat. Sunrisers retain their wooden spoon, despite suffering more than one unlucky defeat. Concluding, Sparks posting a score greater than 250 was encouraging for next year’s 50-overs campaign. Small consolation, considering that Sparks reached the 20-overs final held on 11 June: the day that Charlotte Edwards was said by TV pundits to have ‘won her own Cup.’
Result: Central Sparks Women 260/9 beat Sunrisers Women 121/10 by 139 runs (and with 131 balls remaining)
Sparks batting: 260/9 from 50 overs (@5.20 runs-per-over) Emily Arlott 63(73), Abi Freeborn 46(45), Davina Perrin 45(51), Sarah Glenn 33(38), Camilla (Milly) Home 24(43) Clare Boycott 10*(17), Eve Jones 10(17); Sunrisers bowling: Mady Villiers 3/44, Jodie Grewcock 2/27, Joanne Gardner 2/34, Grace Scrivens 2/42; Fow 1-17, 2-94, 3-98, 4-126, 5-151, 6-235, 7-241, 8-255, 9-260; Sunrisers batting: 121/10 from 28.5/50 overs (4.19 runs-per-over) Grace Scrivens 61(75), Naomi Dattani 13(22), Kelly Castle 11(11), Jess Olorenshaw 10(11); Sparks bowling: Davina Perrin 3/26, Sarah Glenn 2/25, Elizabeth Russell 1/12, Emily Arlott 1/22, Grace Potts 1/28; Fow 1-23, 2-42, 3-43, 4-63, 5-67, 6-67, 7-90, 8-96, 9-105, 10-121.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2022-1297659/central-sparks-vs-sunrisers-1297953/full-scorecard & https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/34695
Match highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV-Play on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#mcb04cdeb-7e8f-44ee-8d53-8af6ec12ee75
Match free-to-air (starting from 12m15s/05h42m36s) courtesy of Sunrisers/SparksTV on YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbitKL6rttA
