Southern Vipers vs North West Thunder on 31 May 2023 (14h30) at Southampton (The Ageas Bowl)
Both teams were missing key played called-up for England ‘red ball’ duty. Vipers’ top-scorer Ella McCaughan (pictured) told reporters that she’d been ‘working hard’ and was ‘really pleased’ (to contribute with her bat.) Openers Ella McCaughan and visiting Nicole Faltum (Australian Women’s Big Bash League) put on 33 without loss. Ella McCaughan went on to made a personal-best top-score of 42 runs (from 37 balls.) Skipper Georgia Adams joined McCaughan, banking 52 runs for Vipers’ 3rd-wicket. Video highlights via ECB online (NV Play) from Hampshire Cricket TV (for Southern Vipers.) Ella McCaughan’s post-match interview and radio commentary by Kevan ‘Kev’ James (via YouTube & BBC radio Solent sports archive – please see below.) Weather was cool and cloudy.
Thunder’s Innings: *Skipper Ellie Threlkeld *[Nicole Faltum keeping wicket for Vipers] *With exWestIndies player Deandre Dottin, debutante Olivia Bell, plus Steph Butler & Mahika Gaur. *Thunder ‘depleted’ without England players: Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone & Emma Lamb. *Naomi Dattani 2(4) was caught low-down by Ella McCaughan, from Linsey Smith’s 1st ball. *Fi Morris 13(9) was ‘run out’ from Georgia Adams’ 1st ball; by Anya Shrubsole’s throw to the bowler’s end. *Next over from Mary Taylor, confusion struck scorers when a ‘leg-bye’ was scored on 34/2, when the ball missed Libby Heap, went straight through Nicole Faltum’s legs and hit her helmet (for 5 penalty points.) *After 6 overs PowerPlay, Thunder were 47/2. *Next over, Libby Heap 22(20) pitched a ‘steepler’ to off-side caught ‘in the covers’ by Georgia Elwiss, from Anya Shrubsole. *Deandre Dottin joined skipper Threlkeld, to face constant bowling changes between ‘pace’ and ’spin.’ *After 10 overs (mid-way) Thunder were 71/3. *Starting the 13th over, Ellie Threlkeld attempted a ‘reverse sweep’ was caught from a top-edge ‘steepler’ by keeper Nicole Faltum, from Georgia Adams’ 1st ball. *Next over, Seren Smale 1(4) was stranded when calling for a run, was sent back by Deandre Dottin, and ‘run out’ by Linsey Smith’s astute throw to the keeper’s end. *Top-scorer Deandre Dottin 24(28) lobbed a ‘dolly’ – a simple catch straight to Georgia Adams between ‘mid-on’ and ‘mid-wicket,’ from Linsey Smith (2/16.) *Steph Butler 2(4) was ‘run out,’ short of a second run from Nancy Harman’s throw to Georgia Elwiss who broke the stumps at the bowler’s end. *Ex-Viper Tara Norris 2(5) was caught from a reverse paddle, to Mary Taylor short of ‘long-leg’, from bowler Georgia Adams. *Mahika Gaur 1(2) launched a ’steepler’ to Ella McCaughan at backward ‘short-leg.’ *Olivia Bell took-off too slowly and was ‘run out’ by Alice Monaghan ‘in-the-covers,’ throwing to Anya Shrubsole at the bowler’s end (for a 1st ball duck.) *Danielle Collins 15*not out (17.) *Thunder lost their last 6 wickets for 30 runs, slipping from 81/4 to 111 All out.* Vipers’ best bowler was Linsey Smith 2/16.
Vipers’ Innings: *Skipper Georgia Adams [Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Thunder] *With International player Nicole Faltum (Australia); exEngland & Player/bowling-coach Anya Shrubsole; with Freya Kemp (unable to bowl), Mary Taylor & Nancy Harman (retained on 6-months contract.) *Vipers said to be ‘depleted’ without England players: Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean & Danni Wyatt. *Nicole Faltum 14(11) was caught ‘in-the-covers’ by Danielle Collins from Naomi Dattani. *4 balls later Mary Taylor attempted to get off-the-mark but went for a 4th ball duck, when sent back and ‘run out’ by Fi Morris’s throw to keeper Threlkeld at the striker’s end. *Rare double wicket-maiden to Naomi Dattani (1/12.) *Next over, after 6 overs PowerPlay, Vipers were 37/2 (vs 47/2) progressing to 63/2 (vs 71/3) after 10 overs (mid-way.) *Debutante Olivia Bell’s first over went for 3 runs. 2nd ball of Olivia Bell’s second over was launched by Georgia Adams for ’six.’ *2 balls later, Georgia Adams 36(28), was caught ‘in the deep’ by Naomi Dattani. *Next over, Freya Kemp 1(3) was bowled, with both bales sent flying by Fi Morris (1/24.) *Top-scorer Ella McCaughan 42(37) was bowled short of ‘fifty,’ by Olivia Bell. *Nancy Harman 11(19) was ‘run-out’ by Fi Morris’s return throw to the striker’s end, Ellie Threlkeld breaking the wicket before Nancy Harman could complete her horizontal dive. *Thunder’s best bowler was Olivia Bell on debut, 2/29.) *Vipers’ run-chase ended when Georgia Elwiss launched a winning ‘six.’
Match summary Both sides were depleted by England call-ups, neither sides’ batters scored ‘fifty’ and both sides suffered ‘run-outs’ (Thunder 4 ‘run-outs’ vs Viper 2.) *Batting first, Thunder faced frequent changes between pace and spin, orchestrated by Vipers’ bowling-coach (who was playing.) As noted by ECB scorers, penalty points against Vipers were gifted as Thunder ‘extras,’ when the ball went for a ‘leg-bye’ but also struck the Vipers’ keeper’s helmet. As mentioned above, Thunder lost their last 6 wickets for 30 runs, slipping from 81/4 to 111 All out. Vipers’ best bowler was Linsey Smith 2/16. Vipers replied with skipper Georgia Adams joining Ella McCaughan for a 52-run 3rd wicket partnership. Ella McCaughan made match-winning top-score. Vipers’ run-chase ended when Georgia Elwiss struck ‘six,’ Vipers winning with ease, three balls short of 100.
Match result: Southern Vipers Women 115/6 (target 112) beat North West Thunder Women 111/10 by 4 wickets with 23 balls remaining.
*Thunder’s batting: 111/10 (from 20 overs @ 5.9 runs-per-over); Deandre Dottin 24(28), Liberty ‘Libby’ Heap 22(20), Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Threlkeld 18(21), Danielle Collins 15*(17), Fi Morris 13(9); Vipers’ bowling: Linsey Smith 2/16, Georgia Adams 2/22, Anya Shrubsole 2/24; Fow:1-7, 2-23, 3-48, 4-81, 5-88, 6-94, 7-104, 8-108, 9-111, 10-111.
*Vipers batting: 115/6 (16.1/20 overs @ 7.1 runs-per-over); Ella McCaughan 42(37), Georgia Adams 36(28), Nicole Faltum 14(11), Nancy Harman 11(19); Thunder’s bowling: Olivia Bell 2/29, Naomi Dattani 1/12, Fi Morris 1/24; Fow:1-33, 2-33, 3-85, 4-86, 5-94, 6-109.
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV Play on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#cdc38bf13-4f50-4dde-b543-741109226324_m9d3e118e-ab40-4292-b462-f48ad9e09daa_~scorecard & https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/65770354
*Full match video (starting from 34m56/03h12m05s) without sound, courtesy of Hampshire Cricket (Southern Vipers) via YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og8GJpvr_qY
*Post-match interview with Ella McCaughan (Southern Vipers) courtesy of BBC radio Solent via YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0ekhgEQNuY
*Third-placed Vipers (awarded 5 points) are five points behind The Blaze, who top-the-table. Latest England and Wales Cricket Board tables at URL: https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/womens-t20/tablef
