Thunder vs Western Storm at Manchester (Emirates Old Trafford) on 18 September 2022 (10h30)
Match advantage swung as the home team posted a half-decent score, but the visitors made light work of chasing down their target. Even the legendary Old Trafford rain didn’t save the home team. With neither team able to venture beyond the group stage, the match staged an exciting end to both teams’ season. Lead commentator Mike Perkins mentioned that Sophie Luff (pictured) was the tournament’s highest-scorer at the group stage (said to total 268 runs.) 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. Guest commentators representing ‘Her Game Too’ were female cricketing ambassadors Polly Starkie and Paige Caunce. Match video with highlights edited by ‘NV-play’ (please see below.) Also via ESPN-cric-info social media. Weather at Old Trafford was described as overcast, with grey clouds and generally ‘wet.’
Thunder’s Innings (50 overs)
Skipper Ellie Threlkeld. *Depleted, less Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone and Emma Lamb (all three on England duty) *Including Liberty ‘Libby’ Heap, Danielle Collins and Sophia Turner. *Seren Smale was promoted to open with Deandre Dottin who’d ‘recently retired’ from the touring WIndies side. *Unusually, Storm’s All-Rounder Danielle Gibson didn’t bowl. *Match started late for rain. After ten overs power play Thunder were 46/0. *Opener Deandre Dottin 46(60), hit six ‘fours’ in an 87-run partnership with Seren Smale 57(93) *Describing Dottin and Smale’s opening partnership during the 20th over, Mike Perkins anticipated a ’stronger partnership’ surpassing any record held by Emma Lamb and Georgie Boyce *Next ball, Deandre Dottin was caught at ‘short-extra-cover’ by Fran Wilson, from Chloe Skelton, prompting an immediate apology by Perkins for making ‘the biggest possible commentator’s gaff.’ *At mid-way, Thunder were 98/1 *Second-wicket partnership between Seren Smale who made a career-best half-century and Danielle Collins added 42 runs until the 34th over when Seren Smale 57(93) was caught-and-bowled by Chloe Skelton (2/33.) *Danielle Collins’ and Laura Marshall’s wickets fell within nine balls of each other, with a tight single-run over bowled by debutante Emily Geach situated in between. *Danielle Collins 32(65) was caught from a vertical top-edge, by keeper Natasha Wraith, from Lauren Filer. *Laura Marshall 8(14) was short-lived, her stumps skittled also by Lauren Filer. *With five overs remaining, Daisy Mullan 8(20) ballooned a catch to ‘mid-on’, taken by Danielle Gibson to bag Lauren Filer her 3-fer (3/46.) *Skipper Ellie Threlkeld 30*(31) and Liberty Heap’s 36*(18) sixth-wicket partnership added 58 runs.*Heap’s 18 ball cameo included three ‘fours’ and ‘two sixes,’ with runs on-the-board prompting commentators to expect a comfortable ’Thunder’ win.
Storm’s Innings
*Two overs were docked with a lower target set according to Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. Skipper Sophie Luff. *Debutante bowler Emily Geach. *Without Claire Nicholls. *Niamh Holland fully fit. *Katie George seen elsewhere, with SKY Sports.*Alex Griffiths and Emma Corney’s opening partnership made 53 runs before Corney 23(28) was skittled during the 9th over by Phoebe Graham. *After ten overs, Storm were 56/1 (vs46/0.) *During the 15th over, Alex Griffiths 33(49) snicked to keeper Ellie Threlkeld from Sophia Turner. *Fran Wilson 28(30) hit Storm’s only ’six’ from Sophia Turner. *Fran Wilson was caught behind by Ellie Threlkeld from Liberty Heap (1/22.) *Commentator’s curse struck when skipper Sophie Luff 12 (30) was said to be the tournament’s highest scorer (as mentioned above) was caught by Keeper Ellie Threlkeld from Sophia Turner. *Before mid-way, Natasha Wraith was dropped at ‘mid-wicket by Laura Jackson (24 overs.) *At mid-way, Storm were 123/4 (vs 98/1.) *Commentators singled-out Danielle Gibson as the so-called danger player’ as she struck Deandre Dottin (27th over) for three consecutive ‘fours,’ followed by 8 wides and a single to retain strike. *Fifth-wicket stand between Gibson and Wraith bagged 81 runs until Natasha Wraith 32(30) was caught at ‘long-on’ by Daisy Mullan from Laura Jackson. *Niamh Holland 6 was short-lived, her stumps skittled by Laura Jackson. *Gibson’s second back-to-back ‘fifty’ came from 37 balls during Storm’s 38th over. *Next over, Danielle Gibson 56 (40) top-edged to ‘short-fine-leg,’ caught by Phoebe Graham from Laura Jackson. *Lauren Filer 1(3) was short-lived, caught at ‘short-extra-cover’ by Laura Marshall, from Phoebe Graham. *Without pressure to score runs quickly, Sophia Smale and Chloe Skelton played cautiously, scampering ‘ones’ and ‘twos,’ to bag the final 10 runs for Storm’s dramatic win.
Summary
Rain-delayed start. Playing with Deandre Dottin but without Emma Lamb, Dottin and Seren Smale added 87 runs for Thunder’s first wicket. Smale hit a career-best ‘fifty,’ with a second partnership with Danielle Collins adding another 42 runs. Skipper Ellie Threlkeld added 58 runs with Liberty Heap who finished 36*not out. Only two Storm bowlers took wickets (Lauren Filer and Chloe Skelton.) *Storm’s Alex Griffiths and Emma Corney’s opening partnership made 53 runs. *Batters continued to score runs at a faster rate, overtaking Thunder’s half-way score but losing more wickets. England hopeful Danielle Gibson was the stand-out batter, scoring ‘fifty’ from 37 balls, to swing match advantage firmly in Storm’s favour, with a fifth-wicket partnership adding 81 with Natasha Wraith. Commentators conceded that Storm put in ’a great performance.’ Both teams positions remain unchanged at the end of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint trophy group stage. Fourth-placed Storm gain 4 points (15pts); and Thunder (6pts) finish in seventh place, avoiding the wooden spoon.
Result: Western Storm Women 239/8 from 44.3 overs (target 239 from 48 overs) beat Thunder Women 242/5 (50 overs) by 2 wickets (DLS method) with 21 balls remaining
Thunder batting: 242/5 (50 overs, 4.84 runs-per-over); Seren Smale 57(93), Deandre Dottin 46(60), Liberty Heap’s 36*(18), Danielle Collins 32(65), Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Threlkeld 30*(31); Storm bowling: Lauren Filer 3/46, Chloe Skelton 2/33; Fow 1-87, 2-129, 3-157, 4-158, 5-184; Storm batting: 239/8 (@5.37 runs-per-over from 44.3/48 overs, target 239); Danielle Gibson 56(40), Alex Griffiths 33(49), Natasha Wraith 32(30), Fran Wilson 28(30), Emma Corney 23(28), Sophie Luff 12(39); Thunder bowling: Laura Jackson 3/50, Phoebe Graham 2/35,Sophia Turner 2/44, Liberty ‘Libby’ Heap 1/22; Fow 1-53, 2-74, 3-113, 4-115, 5-196, 6-210; 7-225, 8-229.
Scorecard at URL https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2022-1297659/thunder-vs-western-storm-1297951/full-scorecard & https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/34690
Match highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV-Play on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m79c70646-f714-4770-b14a-9f7848485aeb
Match free-to-air (starting from 38m12s/07h30m40s) courtesy of LancsTV on YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrnNQBDT0sE
