Southern Vipers vs Central Sparks on May 10 – at Brighton & Hove (Hove, The 1st Central County Ground)
Australian debutante Nicole Faltum (pictured) made a promising start for Vipers,’ scoring 21 – an identical score to fellow Australian Erin Burns (Sparks & Sydney Sixers.) Sparks skipper Eve Jones 73 made top-score, partnered by England’s Amy Jones 40. Together the legendary Joneses batting partnership added 85 runs. Separately, Erin Burns also took five Vipers’ wickets, bowling a ‘5-fer’ (5/36.) Commentators were Kevan ‘Kev’ James (BBC radio Solent) with Phil Green (Hursley Park) and Gemma Green (Hursley Ladies.) Video highlights from Southern Vipers TV via ECB Online (NV Play.) During a post-match interview with Kev James, Vipers’ skipper Georgia Adams reflected on her team’s unprecedented second defeat during the same RHF season (please see below.) Weather at Hove started sunny, with one momentary interruption for a shower of rain.
Vipers innings *Skipper Georgia Adams, Debutante Nicole Faltum. *During the 3rd PowerPlay over, England’s Maia Bouchier 4 runs (from 7 balls) ‘fished’ for a thin-edge, caught by keeper Abbey Freeborn, bowled by Emily Arlott. *After 10 overs, Vipers were 35/1; and 54/2 after 15 overs, when Nicole Faltum 21(39) launched a ‘ramp’ shot to ‘third;’ caught low-down by Georgia Davis from Issy Wong (1/31.) *Georgia Elwiss 9(15) was short-lived, caught at ‘extra-cover’ by skipper Jones, from Erin Burns coming ‘over-the-wicket.’ *By mid-way (25 overs) Vipers were 96/3. *Opener Ella McCaughan 59(90) was caught by Issy Wong at ‘backward square’ (rather than ‘fine leg’) from Erin Burns. *Charlie Dean 1(10) was caught low-down at ‘square,’ by Emily Arlott from Erin Burns. *Emily Windsor was caught-and-bowled by Erin Burns leaping high to her left with both arms outstretched. *Skipper Adams 29(38) lofted a catch down-the-ground to Grace Potts, chalking-up Erin Burns’ 5-fer. *Missing a sweep, Rhianna Southby was clean-bowled for a ‘duck’ by Georgia Davis. *Issy Wong was taken-off during the 46th over, for a ‘rule-book’ bowling infringement and ‘no ball’ was given. *Completing that over, Georgia Davis flattened Alice Monaghan’s 24(21) ‘leg-stump’ with her last (fifth) ball. *8 balls later, Lauren Bell (1) went aerial for a ‘golden duck at ‘third:’ that was caught by Ami Campbell,’ chalked-up Georgia Davis’ 3-fer (3/19) and closed Vipers innings on 180.
Sparks innings Skipper Eve Jones. *Amy Jones’ first RHF match this season, replacing Chloe Brewer. *Australian International Erin Burns. *After 10 overs Power-play, Sparks were 43/0 (vs 35/1) *Abbey Freeborn 28(57) was clean-bowled by Georgia Elwiss. *By mid-way (25 overs) Sparks had two wickets advantage: 95/1 (vs 96/3) *Legendary Joneses’ partnership added 85 runs. *Breakthrough came during the 35th over when England’s Amy Jones 40(40) who hit 5 ’fours’, was clean-bowled by Linsey Smith. *’Slight wobble’ during the closing stage when two Sparks wickets fell five balls apart: firstly when skipper Eve Jones 73(124) was caught-and-bowled by Georgia Elwiss. *Secondly, Ami Campbell was clean-bowled by Charlie Dean for a second-ball ‘duck.’ *Erin Burns who’d hit 1‘six’ and a ‘four,’ made light work of Sparks’ run chase, closing on 21* not out.
Match summary Vipers fell some way short of a defendable score, losing 5 early wickets to Australia’s Erin Burns (‘5-fer’ 5/36.) Sparks skipper Eve Jones 73 made top-score, partnered by England’s Amy Jones 40. Together the legendary Joneses batting partnership added 85 runs – England’s Amy Jones 40 scoring fastest, one-run-per-ball (on par-rate 100.) For closure, Erin Burns 21(15) saw Sparks home with a wide margin-of-safety. Vipers and Sparks are level-pegging sharing 4th place after 5 rounds, each with 2 wins, 2 losses (and points shared equally where matches were tied or abandoned with ’no result’ because of rain.)
Match result: Central Sparks Women 183/4 beat Southern Vipers Women 180/10 by 6 wickets (with 50 balls remaining)
Vipers batting 180/10 (47.2/50 overs, 3.8 runs-per-over)
Ella McCaughan 59(90), Georgia Adams 29(38), Alice Monaghan 24(21), Nicole Faltum 21(39), Linsey Smith 20(42); Sparks bowling: Erin Burns 5/36, Georgia Davis 3/19, Emily Arlott 1/24, Issy Wong 1/31;
Fow 1-7, 2-54, 3-96, 4-101, 5-117, 6-123, 7-134, 8-138, 9-176, 10-180.
Sparks batting 183/4 (41.2/50 overs, 4.42 r-p-o)
Eve Jones 73(124), Amy Jones 40(40), Abbey Freeborn 28(57), Erin Burns 21*(15); Vipers bowling: Georgia Elwiss 2/27, Charlie Dean 1/41, Linsey Smith 1/44;
Fow 1-68, 2-153, 3-169, 4-171.
Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV Play on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m70b1b3b2-6c6b-4052-8b84-ce1471108715_~scorecard
Full video starts from 23m30s/06h32m28s at URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pIGKp7Wg5I&t=5s
Post-match interview between Vipers skipper Georgia Adams and Kev James courtesy of BBC radio Solent on YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF74WS_Lr0o&t=6s
Sparks awarded 5 points. Latest England and Wales Cricket Board tables at URL: https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/rachael-heyhoe-flint/tables
