Source: Julian Thompson

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy – Lightning vs SE Stars

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Lightning vs SE Stars at Leicester (Grace Road) on 17 September 2022 (10h30) 

Having qualified for the Play-off (vs Vipers), for the privilege to play the final at Lord’s (vs Diamonds), Stars’ players as individuals were keen to impress during the match. Bryony Smith (pictured) hit a skipper’s ton, that included the only ’six’ of the match. Lightning had reached the end-of-the-line, playing their final group-stage match. Beforehand, 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 Leicester was described as a sunny September’s day.

Stars’ Innings

Skipper Bryony Smith. *Without Alice Davidson-Richards, Alice Capsey (England duties) or Aylish Cranstone and Tash Farrant. Debutante Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones .*Stars quickly lost Chloe Brewer 2(9) who was clean-bowled by Grace Ballinger, paired with Sophie Munro. Stars’ power play score was 42/1 (after ten overs.) *Next over, fellow opener Kira Chathli 15(24) went ‘leg before,’ also to Grace Ballinger. *Once skipper Bryony Smith hit four Ballinger for four consecutive ‘fours,’ Kirstie Gordon paired with Teresa Graves was brought into the bowling attack. *Another bowling change broke Stars 89-run third-wicket partnership when Jemima Spence 17(36) snicked an edge to keeper Ella Claridge from Lucy Higham. *Next over, Phoebe Franklin was short-lived when Franklin 8(6) was castled during Kirstie Gordon’s sixth over. *By mid-way, Stars were 122/4. *Partnered by Rhianna Southby 13(16) who played sensibly by scampering singles, skipper Smith to hit six more fours,’ during a fifth-wicket partnership that added 51 runs and chalked-up Bryony Smith’s century from 86 balls. *Two overs later, Rhianna Southby 13(16) was caught-and-bowled by Lucy Higham (2/38.) *Change of bowling saw debutante Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones go ‘leg before’ to Marie Kelly’s (1/25), first ball, for a third-ball duck. *Ryana Macdonald-Gay  partnered her skipper until Bryony Smith 114(102)  was caught by Marie Kelly from Kirstie Gordon (2/38.) *Crucially, Macdonald-Gay 54*(59) partnered by Alexa Stonehouse 31(37) bagged 71 runs in 13 overs for Stars’ 8th wicket. *Ryana Macdonald-Gay whose fifty came in 46 balls, also took Stars’ score past the 250-mark in 46.4 overs. *Alexa Stonehouse was caught by Kirstie Gordon from Grace Ballinger (3/62.) *Finally, Eva Gray 6 was clean-bowled during Sophie Munro’s (1/55) otherwise ‘wayward’ death over: that also topped-up Stars’ total with four ‘wides.’

Lightning’s Innings

Stand-in skipper Kirstie Gordon. *Without Tammy Beaumont (England duty) Kathryn Bryce or Sarah Bryce (Scottish Internationals.) *Lightning lost three wickets during their power play. *Firstly, Marie Kelly 1 went third ball, clean-bowled by Phoebe Franklin. *Secondly Beth Harmer 4 was ‘run-out’ by Franklin from the bowler’s-end. *Thirdly, Michaela Kirk 1 (South African International) went ‘leg-before’ to Phoebe Franklin (2/30.) *After ten overs power play, Lightning were 39/3 (vs 42/1). *When Lucy Higham 5 went ‘leg-before’ to Eva Gray, Lightning looked ‘in real trouble’ on 54/4. *Georgie Boyce played a vital innings to boost Lightning’s score with Ella Claridge, their fifth wicket partnership adding 74 runs. *Sophie Munro 14(19) offered spirited resistance until skittled by Ryana Macdonald-Gay (2/29.) *Lightning’s last three wickets fell for one run. *Firstly, Teresa Graves 5 was caught by Rhianna Southby from Eva Gray. *Secondly, Josie Groves snicked to keeper Kira Chathli for a second-ball duck, also from Eva Gray (3/29.) *Finally, Grace Ballinger was caught by skipper Smith from Danielle Gregory without adding to Lightning’s final score. *Only three of Lightning’s batters reached double-figures and their bowlers gifted six more ‘wides.’

Summary

One-sided pattern of play went completely against pundits’ predictions. Lighting’s lack-lustre bowling attack minus Kathryn Bryce, allowed Stars skipper Bryony Smith to build three key partnerships and hit her century in 86 balls. That took the game away. Bowlers-turned-batters Ryana Macdonald-Gay and Alexa Stonehouse added 71 runs, taking Stars’ total past the 250-mark. Lightning never looked to be in the game, firstly losing two more wickets during their power-play, secondly losing 5 wickets for 36 runs after their top-scorer Georgie Boyce was out. Thirdly, Lightning’s last three wickets were skittled for  one run. Lightning finish 6th (11 points.) Stars finish 2nd (26 points), leap-frogging Vipers (24 points): whom they play at Beckenham (Kent) in Wednesday’s semi-final Play-off.

Result: SE Stars Women 281/9 beat Lightning Women 169 by 112 runs (and with 68 balls remaining)

Stars batting: 281/9 (@ 5.62 runs-per-over from 50 overs); Bryony Smith 114(102), Ryana Macdonald-Gay 54*(59), Alexa Stonehouse 31(37), Jemima Spence 17(36), Kira Chathli 15(24), Rhianna Southby 13(16); Lightning bowling: Grace Ballinger 3/62, Kirstie Gordon 2/38, Lucy Higham 2/38, Marie Kelly 1/25, Sophie Munro 1/55. Fow 1-7, 2-24, 3-113, 4-122, 5-173, 6-176, 7-196, 8-267, 9-279

Lightning batting: 169/10 (@4.37 runs-per-over from 38.4/50 overs); Georgie Boyce 70(83), Ella Claridge 35(50), Sophie Munro 14(19); Stars bowling: Eva Gray 3/29,  Ryana Macdonald-Gay 2/29, Phoebe Franklin 2/30, Danielle Gregory 1/29, Bryony Smith 1/36;  Fow 1-2, 2-22, 3-26, 4-54, 5-130, 6-143, 7-156, 8-168, 9-169, 10-169.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2022-1297659/lightning-vs-south-east-stars-1297954/live-cricket-score & https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/34698

Match highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV-Play on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m14e6f8ab-cf2f-4cc8-9562-1c7e1659c60c

Match free-to-air (starting from 00m00s/05h28m01s) courtesy of Lightning on YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONLGeUoeeVg