Western Storm vs South East Stars on 28 May 2023 (11h30) at Taunton (The Cooper Associates County Ground)
Republic of Ireland international Orla Prendergast (pictured) took all three wickets that reduced Stars to 14/3 after just 4 overs’ PowerPlay. Firstly, Prendergast clean-bowled Bryony Smith; secondly caught Paige Scholfield and thirdly, bowled a wicket-maiden (during which Aylish Cranstone was caught.) Orla Prendergast also made second-best score with her bat, during a ‘thriller’ match that went down-to-the-wire. After the match, Orla Prendergast told reporters the first-half went ‘very well’ and she was ‘very happy’ with the ‘rhythmic’ way she bowled. After the match, commentators said that Storm were ‘not quite able to win.’ Commentators were Ed ‘cricket’ Seabourne (Sports Journalist); Claire B Jenkins (Somerset Cricket); and Hannah Thompson-Radford (HerGameToo & L’boro Univ.) Video highlights from ECB online (NV Play) with match video from Somerset Cricket (for Western Storm) – please see below. Weather was sunny with clear blue sky.
Stars’ innings *Skipper Bryony Smith. [*Natasha Wraith keeping wicket for Storm] *England’s Sophia Dunkley & Alice Davidson-Richards. *Without Sophia Dunkley (injured) or Kira Chathli. *Paige Scholfield opening with Bryony Smith. *Skipper Smith 5(8) was clean-bowled by Orla Prendergast’s in-swing to ‘top of middle’ stump. *Paige Scholfield 4(4) top-edged to Orla Prendergast, ‘planted at mid-on’ from Lauren Filer. *Aylish Cranstone 1(6) mis-cued to Sophia Smale’s diving catch followed by a sideways roll, from Orla Prendergast’s bowling. *Commentators beefed-up Alice Davidson-Richards, ‘who’d hit a century on England Test debut.’ *After six overs PowerPlay, Stars were 22/3. *Alice Capsey’s 12(15) bat ‘turned’ coming down the wicket, caught ‘in the deep,’ by diving Fran Wilson, from Chloe Skelton’s bowling. *Stars were 46/4 by mid-way. *Phoebe Franklin 17(18) was caught by Chloe Skelton from by Alex Griffiths’ 1st ball. *After 100 balls (16.4ov) Stars were 94/5 with 20 balls remaining. *Commentator’s curse struck 2 balls later when the ball struck the inside of Alice Davidson-Richards’ 43(45) boot; appeared to go for ‘four byes;’ but instead signalled out: ‘leg-before.’ *Tash Farrant 32(16) played a short cameo, striking Danielle Gibson for 4 consecutive ‘fours’ exploiting gaps between fielders. *That boosted Stars total past the 100-mark, toward a defendable score.
Storms’ innings *Skipper Sophie Luff [*Bryony Smith keeping wicket for Stars.] *England’s Heather Knight, Naimh Holland (England u-19s) & ex-England’s Fran Wilson. *Ireland International Orla Prendergast retained ‘for a few more weeks.’ *Opener Natasha Wraith launched a ’steepler’ caught by Aylish Cranstone ‘with a look of relief,’ from Phoebe Franklin’s bowling. *Danielle Gibson 12(10) went ‘leg before’ from an inside-edge from her pads to Ryana Macdonald-Gay. *Fran Wilson was beaten ‘beneath her bat,’ bowled by Freya Davies (2/14) with both bales sent flying:- chalking-up a ‘wicket-maiden.’ *After 6 overs PowerPlay Storm were 37/3 (vs 22/3.) Next ball, Heather Knight scooped an edge behind to Bryony Smith, from Paige Scholfield’s 1st ball. *By mid-way, Storm were ahead by the same margin: 58/4 (vs 46/4.) *Drama struck when Storm’s Orla Prendergast 17(18) came down-the-wicket to Danielle Gregory, struck the ball prematurely at waist height, but was caught high by Phoebe Franklin. *Alex Griffiths 3(9) was short-lived, stumped by Bryony Smith, also from Danielle Gregory (2/23.) *After 100 balls (with 20 remaining) Storm were 103/7 (vs 94/5.) *Disaster struck when Naimh Holland 7(8) was ‘run out’ by Alice Davidson-Richards’ throw to Paige Scholfield. *Freya Davies restricted batters to ‘ones’ and ‘twos.’ Lauren Filer 1(2) snicked an edge to keeper Bryony Smith. *Next over, Sophia Smale 1(2) ‘dragged-on,’ clean-bowled by Phoebe Franklin’s first ball. *On 115/9, commentators noticed the ‘cut-off’ time had elapsed, causing Umpires to call-in an extra fielder to ‘save-the-one.’ *Possibly complemented Stars’ tactics to win the match, making gaps between fielders difficult to find. *Top-scorer Sophie Luff (alias ‘captain fantastic,’ according to Somerset cricket commentators) ‘ran out of partners,’ making top-score (43*not out.)
Match summary Both sides lost three early wickets during the PowerPlay. Tight bowling by Orla Prendergast was more than matched by Freya Davies. Orla Prendergast was key to taking all three wickets that reduced Stars to 14/3 after 4 overs PowerPlay. Firstly, clean-bowling skipper Bryony Smith; secondly catching Paige Scholfied from Lauren Filer; and thirdly bowling a wicket maiden when Aylish Cranstone was caught by Sophia Smale. Stars fought back, when Alice Davidson-Richards made Stars’ top score. Tash Farrant played a cameo hitting Danielle Gibson for 4 consecutive ‘fours,’ essential to Stars’ defendable score. Despite Storm’s wealth of batting experience, when Storm replied, six batters departed for single-figures. During the ‘death’ over, Freya Davies restricted Storms batters to ‘ones’ and ‘twos.’ According to commentators, Storm were ‘not quite able’ to win. Western Storm’s match report at URL https://westernstorm.co.uk/news/storm-narrowly-miss-out-in-thriller/
Match result: South East Stars Women 126/6 beat Western Storm Women 121/10 by two wickets.
Stars’ batting: 126/6 (20/20 overs @ 6.3 runs-per-over) Alice Davidson-Richards 43(45), Tash Farrant 32(16), Phoebe Franklin 17(18), Alice Capsey 12(15); Storm bowling: Orla Prendergast 2/12, Alex Griffiths 1/12, Chloe Skelton 1/15, Lauren Filer 1/19, Danielle Gibson 1/41. Fow 1-11, 2-11, 3-14, 4-41, 5-83, 6-95.
Storm’s batting: 121/10 (19.5/20 overs 6.1 r-p-o) Sophie Luff 43*not out (46), Orla Prendergast 17(18), Danielle Gibson 12/10, Natasha Wraith 12(10), Heather Knight 11(9); Stars bowling: Freya Davies 2/14, Phoebe Franklin 2/23, Danielle Gregory 2/23, Ryana Macdonald-Gay 1/8, Paige Scholfield 1/12. Fow 1-20, 2-35, 3-37, 4-37, 5-72, 6-78 7-104, 8-118, 9-110, 10-121.
Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV Play on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m7322652d-e820-4f56-b699-02bc36026261_~scorecard & BBC sport at URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKE1000511
Full video with fixed cameras without commentary starting from 21m45s/3h20m42s courtesy of Somerset Cricket at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayc1YcH7ydo
Stars awarded 4 points. Latest England and Wales Cricket Board tables at URL: https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/womens-t20/table
