Central Sparks vs North West Thunder on May 29 (14h30) at Worcester (New Road)
Thunder’s second win was set-up by Emma Lamb scoring ‘fifty’ and Deandre Dottin scoring a match-winning 24 runs from 11 balls. When Deandre Dottin launched two crowd-pleasing ’sixes,’ commentators (sat watching from inside a ‘tent’) became animated when Dottin’s second ‘six’ disappeared behind a neighbouring marquee. Sparks’ reply saw 5 wickets fall in quick succession, putting the match result beyond doubt. Commentators were Clare B Jenkins (Central Sparks); Sarah Ginn (West Midlands Women’s League); & Melinda ‘Mel’ Farrell (Australian cricket journalist.) Weather: sunny spells.
Thunder innings *Skipper Ellie Threlkeld (pictured, right) [Sparks keeper Abbey Freeborn] England batter Emma Lamb. *International players Tara Norris (US) and Deandre Dottin (exWIndies) England’s Sophie Ecclestone & Kate Cross rested.*Liberty ‘Libby’ Heap went for a golden duck, caught by Bethan Ellis’s ‘low-dive’ at cover, from Katie George’s first match ball. *After six overs PowerPlay, Thunder were 55/1. *Next over, Emma Lamb hit Hannah Baker for ’six.’ *Thunder made 87/1 by mid-way (10 overs.) Fi Morris and Emma Lamb put on 91 runs. *Fi Morris 36(31) was caught by Davina Perrin from ‘occasional bowler’ Bethan Ellis – taking her first wicket. *Next over Deandre Dottin hit Erin Burns for ’six.’ *Top-scorer Emma Lamb 64(49) top-edged a ‘steepler,’ caught by keeper Abbey Freeborn:- Bethan Ellis taking her second wicket (2/22.) *After launching Hannah Baker for ‘six’ into the marquee, Deandre Dottin 24(11) was caught inside the boundary by Katie George, from Erin Burns (2/25.) *After 100 balls (16.4ov) Sparks were 137/4 *Seren Smale 15(15) missed a sweep shot, stumped by Abbey Freeborn from Hannah Baker’s penultimate innings ball.
Sparks innings *Skipper Eve Jones [Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Thunder] *Sparks with International player Erin Burns (Australia.) *Without England’s Amy Jones & Issy Wong (rested.) *Eve Jones went for a golden duck, snicked from a ‘thin edge’ to keeper Ellie Threlkeld, from Mahika Gaur’s (1/21) first ball. *Next over, Bethan Ellis 2(5) was ‘run out’ by Fi Morris throw to Ellie Threlkeld at the striker’s end. *Davina Perrin and Erin Burns built Sparks’ main batting partnership, including 8 ‘fours.’ *After six overs PowerPlay, Sparks were 42/2 (vs 55/1.) *Davina Perrin 28(32) went ‘leg before’ to Naomi Dattani. *Next over Erin Burns hit Stephanie ‘Steph’ Butler for ’six.’ *By mid-way (10 overs) Sparks were 69/3 (vs 87/1.) *Thunder’s Fi Morris took two wickets during the 13th over that ‘put the brakes on the game.’ *Erin Burns 41(23) top-edged a ‘steepler,’ caught-and-bowled by Morris. *Also, Abbey Freeborn went ‘leg before’ for a second ball duck. *After 100 balls (16.4ov) Sparks were 99/5 (vs 137/4) *Commentators predicted Thunder’s win, with Sparks short of 57 runs with 20 balls remaining. *Tara Norris’ 18th over ‘hat-trick’ put the matter beyond doubt. *Firstly, Chloe Brewer 9(16) was caught by Naomi Dattani. *Secondly, Ami Campbell 20(26) was ‘run out’ by Emma Lamb. *Thirdly, Katie George 1(2) was caught by Seren Smale. *Thereafter, Sparks’ tail-enders had too much to do.
Match summary Thunder’s batters chalked-up a defendable score above 150, boosted by England’s Emma Lamb who scored ‘fifty.’ Also by Deandre Dottin, who struck a match-winning 24 runs from 11 balls. Sparks debutante Bethan Ellis took 2 Thunder wickets. When Sparks replied, Erin Burns fell just short of ‘fifty’ and was the only Sparks batter to score ’six.’ During the second-half Sparks lost 5 wickets in quick succession, including Tara Norris’ ‘hat-trick.’
Match result: North West Thunder Women 155/6, beat Central Sparks Women 119/9 by 36 runs
Thunder batting: 155/6 from 20/20 overs (7.75 runs-per-over) Emma Lamb 64(49), Fi Morris 36(31), Deandre Dottin 24(11), Seren Smale 15(15); Sparks bowling: Bethan Ellis 2/22, Erin Burns 2/25, Katie George 1/18, Hannah Baker 1/39; Fow 1-4, 2-95, 3-118, 4-136, 5-137, 6-153.
Sparks batting: 119/9 (20/20 overs @ 5.95 runs-per-over) Erin Burns 41(23), Davina Perrin 28(32), Ami Campbell 20(26); Thunder bowling: Fi Morris 2/16, Tara Norris 2/30, Naomi Dattani 1/19, Mahika Gaur 1/21. Fow 1-0, 2-3, 3-55 4-84, 5-84, 6-106, 7-107, 8-107, 9-116.
Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV Play on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#cdc38bf13-4f50-4dde-b543-741109226324_m9fb63afd-35e6-443e-923b-7ae39db6156a_~scorecard & https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/womens/central-sparks-vs-thunder-29-may/
Full match video 56m30s/3h53m06s courtesy of LancsTV on YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIDLAEzotHM&t=4s
Thunder awarded 5 points (total 9 pts from 2 wins and 2 losses.) Latest England and Wales Cricket Board tables at URL: https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/womens-t20/table7
