Western Storm vs South East Stars on 1 May 2023 – match 12 RHF – at Bristol (SEAT Unique stadium)
Prior to the match, commentators said that each side had won one match and lost one. Stars chalked-up a second win. Batter Paige Scholfield scored 134*not out, single-handedly scoring more than Storm’s total score (83/10.) Scholfield’s second ‘ton,’ keeps her top of the batting-leader board [276 runs (from 262 balls) from three innings.] England ‘super-star’ bowler Alice Capsey (pictured) took a six wicket haul ‘6-fer’ (6/28.) Often said that Capsey was tutored by former Hampshire spinner Raj Maru (at Lancing College, near Brighton.) Commentators were Ed ‘cricket’ Seabourne with Melissa Story BBC radio Solent and Hannah Thompson-Radford (doctoral researcher at L’boro and HerGameToo advisor.) Also broadcast via Radio Solent with video highlights from Glamorgan Cricket via ECB Online (NV Play) – please see below. Match played in ‘gloomy’ overcast (weather) conditions ‘with hard outfield.’
Stars’ innings Skipper Bryony Smith. Jemima Spence replacing Freya Davies. *Three wickets fell during Power-play. *Firstly, Kira Chathli went for 6th ball duck, caught by Lauren Filer aerial to ‘mid-off,’ from skipper Dani Gibson. *Next over, Alice Capsey lost her her bails leg-side, to Lauren Filer’s in-swinger for a 4th ball duck. *Thirdly, Alice Davidson-Richards (6) was caught by Fran Wilson – ‘a good catch’ taken at ‘backward point’ from Dani Gibson. *After 10 overs Power-play Stars had recovered from 1/2 to 34/3. *Bryony Smith 50 (44) was caught from a ‘big hit’ to Orla Prendergast, taken at ‘long-on;’ from Chloe Skelton (1/42.) *Bryony Smith (8 ‘fours’) & Jemima Spence partnership added 57 runs. *At mid-way (25 overs) Stars were 107/4. *Jemima Spence 29(80) was bowled by Lauren Filer, ‘at the face of the stumps,’ starting the 33rd over. *20 runs later, Phoebe Franklin (9) went ‘leg before’ to Dani Gibson. *Tash Farrant 45(32) played a ‘crucial role’ until caught by Sophia Smale from Lauren Filer. *Stars’ 7th wicket partnership between Paige Scholfield and Tash Farrant added 128 runs. *Paige Scholfield’s ‘ton’ was scored from Alex Griffiths for ‘six’ – one of 3 ’sixes’ in her undefeated innings that closed on 134*not out (109.) *Storm skipper Dani Gibson (3/42) took best bowling figures. Swing-bowler Lauren Filer took (3/60.)
Storm’s Innings *Stand-in skipper Danielle Gibson. Republic Of Ireland’s Orla Prendagast until Sophie Luff, recovers from a pre-season hand injury ‘in a few weeks time.’ *Openers Alex Griffiths 21(62) & Emma Corney 17(38) reached double-figures *But as Ed Seaborne added later: ‘That ‘wasn’t a flying start.’ *After 10 overs Power-play Storm had a three-wicket advantage 30/0 (vs 34/3.) *Emma Corney ‘top-edged’ to Phoebe Franklin at ‘mid-wicket’ from Alexa Stonehouse. *Alice Capsey took six wickets (6/28.) *Apart from openers, two other Storm batters made double-figures *Orla Prendagast 16(32) ‘who’d scored a ‘ton’ on debut in the previous match,’ was caught by Bryony Smith from Alice Capsey. *Thereafter, Storm’s required-run-rate exceeded 8-runs-per-over. *Fran Wilson who’d scored ‘big runs’ on Saturday, went aerial for a third-ball duck. Fran Wilson was caught at ‘fine leg’ by Danielle Gregory, from Alice Capsey. *Opener Alex Griffiths 21(62) was caught-and-bowled by Alice Capsey. *After 25 overs, Storm were 80/4 (vs 107/4) needing 9-runs-per-over. *Commentators discussed the difficult situation facing Storm’s ‘young players’ while drinks were taken.
*Thereafter, a procession of six batters’ wickets fell for 8 runs *Skipper Gibson (9) was caught-and-bowled ‘really well’ by Stars’ skipper Smith. *Commentators expected Stars to win, barring ‘nothing extraordinary.’ *Spin continued from wicket-takers Bryony Smith and Alice Capsey, holding Danielle Gregory in reserve. *Next over, Niamh Holland (0) went ‘leg before’ to Alice Capsey for a 6th ball duck. *Keeper Natasha Wraith (11) edged Bryony Smith to Stars keeper Kira Chathli. *Sophia Smale (2) was ‘very’ out, with both bails dislodged by Alice Capsey (4/28.) *Lauren Filer (3) was caught by Tash Farrant at deep mid-wicket from Alice Capsey (5/28.) *Finally, Claire Nicholas was clean-bowled minus bails for a 3rd ball duck by Alice Capsey to chalk- up Capsey’s 6-fer (6/28) marking the end of the match. Commentators added that Storm were ‘disappointing’ to watch, for England skipper Heather Knight.
Match summary Stars scored freely at around one-run-per-ball, the lion’s share coming from Paige Scholfield (134*) Three top-order batters went for single figures, with both Stars openers going for ‘ducks.’ Two Storm bowlers took 3-fers (Dani Gibson and Lauren Filer.) By comparison, six Storm’s batters were deceived by Alice Capsey’s (pictured) spin. Commentators said that Stars had ‘taken pace off-the-ball.’ Only 4 Storm batters made double-figures as the required-run-rate became a tall order. With three wickets apiece, Stars spinners (skipper Smith and Alice Capsey) stayed-on. Alice Capsey took another 3 wickets, ending the match with a career-best six-wicket haul (6/28)
Match result: South East Stars Women 296/7 beat Western Storm Women 89/10, by 207 runs
Stars batting: 296/7 (@5.92 runs-per-over from 50/50 overs)
Paige Scholfield 134*(109), Bryony Smith 50(44), Tash Farrant 45(32); Storm bowling: Danielle ‘Dani’ Gibson 3/42, Lauren Filer 3/60, Chloe Skelton 1/42;
Fow 1-1, 2-1, 3-17, 4-74, 5-140, 6-160, 7-288.
Storm batting: 89/10 (@ 2.88 r-p-o from 30.5/50 overs)
Alex Griffiths 21(62), Emma Corney 17(38), Orla Prendergast 16(32), Natasha Wraith 11(16); Stars bowling: Alice Capsey 6/28, Bryony Smith 3/13, Alexa Stonehouse 1/9;
Fow 1-39, 2-59, 3-60, 4-62, 5-81, 6-82, 7-84, 8-88, 9-89,10-89.
Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV Play on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m148c4f4a-9c6c-41cd-9373-f67aef21ce88_~scorecard
Full video starts from 54m20s/06h33m05s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i5DJh6MDg0
Stars awarded 5 points. Latest England and Wales Cricket Board tables at URL: https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/rachael-heyhoe-flint/tables
