Central Sparks vs Northern Diamonds on May 23 (14h30) at Birmingham (Edgbaston)
Commentators said the match was a ‘great advertisement’ for women’s cricket at Edgbaston, with one bowler from each side taking three wickets; no batter scoring fifty and one batter-per-side hitting ‘sixes.’ Diamonds staged a good recovery after a slow start, posting a half-decent score on a ‘used’ pitch, Opener Leah Dobson [41 runs (from 25 balls)] made top-score. Commentators became animated during the closing stage when Sparks’ Abbey Freeborn (pictured) launched Lizzy Scott for 4 ‘fours’ to ’turn the match ‘on-its-head.’ Bowling the ‘death’ over Chloe Tryon held her nerve as the match came down-to-the-wire: the result decided by the narrowest of margins. Video highlights from ECB online (NV Play) with Clare B Jenkins (Women’s cricket commentator), Allyson Byrne (Women’s Cricket Chat, West Midlands, Lancs & Cheshire Women) and Mike Perkins (Sports Journalist) Cloudy afternoon with sunny spells.
Diamonds innings Skipper Hollie Armitage. Amy Jones keeping wicket for Sparks. *Diamonds International players Chloe Tryon (Rep. South Africa) Sterre Kalis (NL) and Scotland’s Katherine Fraser. *Lauren Winfield-Hill went for a 4th ball duck, caught ‘at cover’ by Erin Burns from Emily Arlott’s 1st ball – said to be a ‘massive’ wicket. *After 6 overs Power-play, Diamonds were 46/1 *Leah Dobson 41(25) who made top-score, was the only Diamonds player to hit a ’six’ until bowled through her legs by Georgia Davis; bales ‘flying through the air.’ *Having staged a 2nd wicket recovery, skipper Armitage lost 4 partners in quick succession for 19 runs. Only 4 Diamonds batters made double-figures. *Diamonds were 85/2 by mid-way. *Next ball, Sterre Kalis suffered ‘momentary lapse’ (of concentration); when stumped by Amy Jones, from Georgia Davis; given ‘ample time’ to retreat. *Bess Heath (4) was dropped on 3 by Erin Burns but ‘run out’ by Katie George’s shy (dislodging a bale) from ‘mid-wicket,’ from Emily Arlott. *Next over, skipper Armitage 27(29) steepled skyward to Eve Jones at ‘mid-off’ from Erin Burns.’ *Thereafter, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, as six batters went for single-figures. *Chloe Tryon (2) was caught, juggled at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Katie George, from Georgia Davis’ spin. *Abi Glen (3) went ‘for the big strike’ but was skittled between ‘middle-and-off-stump,’ by Katie George (1/24.) *After 100 balls (16.4overs) Diamonds were 110/7 with 20 balls remaining. *With 3 overs remaining, Lizzy Scott (3) was caught by Eve Jones – while sprinting, from Grace Potts (1/28.) *Katherine Fraser 26(25) held firm until caught-and-bowled by Erin Burns (2/28), who’d bowled ‘round-the-wicket.’ *Finally, Grace Hall (1) made a ‘cut-shot,’ caught low-down by (rolling) Davina Perrin, from Emily Arlott’s bowling (2/14.) *Sparks bowler Georgia Davis (3/13) took 3 key wickets (Leah Dobson, Sterre Kalis & Chloe Tryon); with Emily Arlott and Erin Burns bagging 2 wickets each.
Sparks innings *Skipper Eve Jones with Bess Heath keeping wicket for Diamonds. *Sparks with England’s Amy Jones & Issy Wong. *International player Erin Burns (Australia.) *Commentators lauded Katherine Fraser for 2 tight overs, bowled ‘without wearing hat-or-glasses.’ *One ‘single’ came from Lizzy Scott’s over, in between. *Davina Perrin (1) went ‘over-the-top,’ and was caught by Lizzy Scott, from Katherine Fraser’s 10th ball. *After 6 overs Power-play, Sparks made a slower start: 31/1 (vs46/1) *Joneses’ second-wicket partnership added 68 runs until Amy Jones 16(20) ‘played-on’ from bowler Chloe Tryon. *By mid-way Sparks were trailing 53/2 (vs85/2.) *Next over, Eve Jones 30(34) was caught inside the mid-wicket boundary by Leah Dobson, from Katie Levick’s spin. *For 2 overs, Amy Campbell and Erin Burns scampered ‘ones’ and ‘twos’ until Erin Burns 12(15) was caught ‘in the deep’ by Abi Glen, from Chloe Tryon: said to be an ‘important wicket.’ *Frequent bowling changes by Diamonds made a breakthrough when Ami Campbell 8(8) was caught at ‘short extra cover’ by Hollie Armitage, from Grace Hall. *After 100 balls (16.4ov) Sparks were 95/5 (vs110/7) with 20 balls remaining. During the 18th over, Abbey Freeborn 22(13) turned the match ‘on-its-head’ by launching 4 ‘fours,’ before chipping to Sterre Kalis who caught her at ‘point;’ all from Lizzie Scott. *Katie George (5) was caught by Katherine Fraser from Chloe Tryon. *Facing 2 balls, Issy Wong (6*not out) did well to reduce Sparks’ deficit to just 3 runs, hitting ’six’ from the final match ball.
Match summary Commentators said the match was a ‘great advertisement’ for women’s cricket at Edgbaston, with one bowler from each side taking three wickets; no batter scoring fifty and one batter-per-side hitting ‘sixes.’ Making top-score, Leah Dobson staged a good recovery after a slow start. Skipper Armitage played innings anchor, losing 4 partners in quick succession for 19 runs *Diamonds’ wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, as 6 batters departed for single-figures. Sparks bowler Georgia Davis took 3 key wickets (Leah Dobson, Sterre Kalis & Chloe Tryon); with Emily Arlott and Erin Burns bagging two wickets each. Sparks innings got off to an even slower start and lagged behind until the 100-ball benchmark. Diamonds bowler Chloe Tryon bagged three key wickets (Amy Jones, Erin Burns & Katie George.) During the 18th over, commentators enthused that Sparks’ Abbey Freeborn turned the game ‘on-its-head’ by launching 4 ‘fours,’ taking the match ‘down-to-the-wire’ for the final over. Stand-out bowler Chloe Tryon held her nerve when bowling the final over, to ensure Diamonds’ last-ball win.
Match result: Northern Diamonds Women 135/10 beat Central Sparks Women 132/7, by 3 runs
Diamonds batting: 135/10 (19.3/20 overs, 6.92 runs-per-over) Leah Dobson 41(25), Hollie Armitage 27(29); Katherine Fraser 26(25), Sterre Kalis 10(9); Sparks bowling: Georgia Davis 3/13, Emily Arlott 2/14, Erin Burns 2/28, Katie George 1/24, Grace Potts 1/28. Fow 1-5, 2-73, 3-85, 4-91, 5-92, 6-113, 7-120, 8-126, 9-134, 10-135.
Sparks batting: 132/7 (20/20 overs, 6.6 r-p-o) Eve Jones 30(34), Emily Arlott 28*(21), Abbey Freeborn 22(13), Amy Jones 16(20), Erin Burns 12(15); Diamonds bowling: Chloe Tryon 3/30, Katherine Fraser 1/17, Grace Hall 1/18, Katie Levick 1/21, Lizzy Scott 1/31. Fow 1-10, 2-40, 3-57, 4-64, 5-76, 6-114, 7-126.
Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV Play on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#cdc38bf13-4f50-4dde-b543-741109226324_m6b7732bf-2765-4b99-9fa0-8bf1243edfc5_~scorecard
Full video, starting from 25m33s/03h30m25s courtesy of Central Sparks on YouTube at URL at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-0ZVYfK9w0
Diamonds awarded 4 points. Latest England and Wales Cricket Board tables at URL: https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/womens-t20/table
