North West Thunder vs Sunrisers on 27 May 2023 (14h30) at Manchester (Emirates Old Trafford)
Thunder’s first win of the season was ’emphatic.’ Liberty ‘Libby’ Heap’s career-best 46 runs (from 49 balls) partnered by former West Indies international legend Deandre Dottin, made light work of the host’s reply. Deandre Dottin launched two crowd-pleasing ’sixes’ and was the only player to do so. Three balls after Libby Heap’s departure, Deandre Dottin struck her second ’six,’ followed by a match-winning ‘four’ before Thunder’s home crowd. Commentator was Kevin Howells (BBC local & national radio) with Shachi Pai (Thunder) and Polly Starkie (Noughtie Child women’s cricket podcasts): both interviewed earlier by Scott Read (BBC radio Lancs.) Video highlights from ECB online (NV Play) edited from Lancs TV ‘YouTube’ coverage. Weather was sunny with clear blue sky.
Sunrisers innings *Skipper Kelly Castle. England’s u-19 skipper Grace Scrivens. International player Dane vanNiekerk (ex Republic of South Africa); Scotland’s Abtaha Maqsood. *First over, big blow for Sunrisers when Dane v.Niekerk 0(2) went for a second-ball duck, her off-stump flattened by Kate Cross who completed a 1st over wicket maiden. *During the 5th over Mady Villiers 16(14) was caught by Libby Heap’s athletic roll, from Tara Norris (1/14.) *After six overs PowerPlay, Sunrisers were 35/2; & 57/2 by mid-way (after 10 overs.) *4 wickets fell at regular intervals between Sunrisers’ 12th and 15th overs. *Firstly, top scorer Cordelia Griffith 36(35) steepled a catch to Tara Norris, short of ‘long-on,’ bowled by Kate Cross. *Secondly Grace Scrivens 14(22) was easily caught by Deandre Dottin at ‘mid-off,’ from Emma Lamb. *Thirdly Amara Carr 5(7) steepled a second catch to Tara Norris, short of ‘long-on,’ bowled by Sophie Ecclestone (carbon-copy to Cordelia Griffith’s dismissal.) *Fourthly Jo Gardner 8(8) missed a ‘square-cut’ and was clean-bowled by Emma Lamb. *After 100 balls with 20 remaining, Sunrisers were 95/7. *Finally, Flo Miller 20(18) who’d shown spirited ‘tail-ender’ resistance, played-on from an inside-edge from Naomi Dattani.
Thunder innings *Skipper Ellie Threlkeld England players Emma Lamb, Sophie Ecclestone & Kate Cross. *International players Tara Norris (US) and Deandre Dottin (exWIndies.) *Opener Emma Lamb 31(26) went plumb ‘leg before’ to Kelly Castle. *After six overs PowerPlay, Thunder were 43/0 (vs 35/2); & 70/1 (vs 57/2) after 10 overs. Fi Morris spooned to Abtaha Maqsood at ‘square-leg’ from Mady Villiers. *Top scorer Libby Heap 46(49) was clean-bowled by Eva Gray, sending bales flying with her leg-stump knocked back. *Deandre Dottin 26*not out (15 balls): that included 2 ‘fours’ and 2 ’sixes.’
Match summary Earlier, Sunrisers Cordelia Griffith 36(35) had made second-best score of the day. England spinners Emma Lamb and Sophie Ecclestone also took wickets, alongside Kate Cross with best bowling figures of the day (2/20.) Thunder replied with career-best 46 runs (from 49 balls) from Libby Heap partnered by Emma Lamb; and also former West Indies international Deandre Dottin. Thunder were 10 runs short of victory when Libby Heap was dismissed one shot short of making her maiden ‘fifty.’ Deandre Dottin stepped-up, hitting her second crowd-pleasing ’six’ (the only player to clear the ropes) – followed by a match-winning ‘four,’ to secure Thunder’s first win from three matches.
Match result: North West Thunder Women 119/3 (target 117), beat Sunrisers Women 116/8 by 7 wickets (with 21 balls remaining)
Sunrisers batting: 116/8 (20/20 overs @ 5.8 runs-per-over): Cordelia Griffith 36(35), Grace Scrivens 14(22), Flo Miller 20(18), Mady Villiers 16(14); Thunder bowling: Kate Cross 2/20, Emma Lamb 2/24, Sophie Ecclestone 1/14, Tara Norris 1/14, Naomi Dattani 1/11; Fow 1-0, 2-28, 3-64 4-73, 5-77, 6-81, 7-92, 8-115.
Thunder batting: 119/3 from 16.3/20 overs (7.2 runs-per-over): Liberty ‘Libby’ Heap 46(49), Emma Lamb 31(26), Deandre Dottin 26*(15); Sunrisers bowling: Mady Villiers 1/12, Eva Gray 1/19, Kelly Castle 1/25; Fow 1-64, 2-74, 3-107.
Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV Play on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#cdc38bf13-4f50-4dde-b543-741109226324_mb43e77cd-1412-4ea1-bcbf-d185154c1c88_~scorecard
Full match video 33m45s/3h20m00s courtesy of LancsTV on YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psoEAF6i6M4
Sunrisers match report by ECB reporter’s network at URL: https://www.sunriserscricket.com/post/match-report-thunder-v-sunrisers-1
Thunder awarded 4 points. Latest England and Wales Cricket Board tables at URL: https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/womens-t20/table
