South East Stars vs Central Sparks on 7 June 2023 (14h00) at Canterbury (St Lawrence, Spitfire Ground).
With neither team qualifiying beyond this year’s group stage, both teams had what commentators described as a ‘great opportunity’ to showcase their cricket, despite both teams missing players called-up by ‘England A.’ During the final over, the ‘dead rubber’ became an exciting match with a cliff-hanger ending. Stars’ Bryony Smith played a skipper’s innings, immediately followed by bowler-turned-batter Phoebe Franklin: who scored her second ‘fifty,’ constributing to Stars’ highest score of this year’s competition. Bryony Smith also bagged 3 wickets as Stars’ best bowler. Separately, Sparks’ bowler-turned-batter: Katie George, also scored ‘fifty,’ and Georgia Davis bagged 3 wickets. BBC radio Kent commentators were Ben Watts, Cameron ‘Cam’ Ponsonby, & Fred Atkins. Also archived via BBC Sport Website. Video highlights from ECB online (NV Play) with full match video from Kent CCC – please see below. Weather made it ‘difficult (for players) to see white balls’ until mist had cleared. Overcast, bright with the sun occasionally ‘appearing’ from behind white cloud,’
Stars innings *Skipper Bryony Smith [Abbey Freeborn keeping wicket for Sparks] *With Claudie Cooper, Kalea Moore and Chloe Hill (on loan.) *Alexa Stonehouse returned from injury. *Without England’s Sophia Dunkley, Freya Davies, Alice Davidson-Richards & Paige Scholfield: all at boot-camp. *After 6 overs PowerPlay, Stars were 62/0. *Bryony Smith 47(28) who’d earlier hit 1 ‘six,’ ballooned to ‘extra cover,’ caught by Erin Burns, bowled by Georgia Davis. *Chloe Hill 25(22) returned a dolly, ‘caught-and-bowled’ by Georgia Davis, taken on-the-turn. *After 10 overs, Stars were 92/2. *Aylish Cranstone 2(6) steepled a top-edge, caught ‘in-the-deep’ by Charis Pavely, bowled by Ellie Anderson. *Kira Chathli 11(13) was caught by Chloe Brewer ‘in-the-deep,’ bowled by Bethan Ellis – a carbon copy of Aylish Cranstone’s earlier dismissal. *After 16.4 overs, 153/4. *Phoebe Franklin 52(27) who’d anchored the innings for ten overs, hit 2 ‘sixes,’ but only faced 27 balls, mis-timed a ‘square-cut’ bowled Georgia Davis. *Ryana Macdonald-Gay 5(8) went over-the-top, caught at ‘mid-off’ by Erin Burns from Bethan Ellis. *Tash Farrant 13* was ‘not out’ (from 14 balls.) *Stars’ top-scorer was Phoebe Franklin 52(27.) *Sparks’ best bowler was Georgia Davis 3/12.
Sparks innings *Acting skipper Ami Campbell. [Kira Chathli keeping wicket for Stars] *With Ellie Anderson, Hannah Baker & Charis Pavely. *International player Erin Burns (Australia.) *Without Amy Jones (England), Eve Jones, Grace Potts & Emily Arlott. *Ami Campbell 2(3) was unable to back-track when diving back across the crease at the striker’s end, and ‘run out’ by Chloe Hill throwing to keeper Kira Chathli. *After 6 overs PowerPlay, Sparks were 59/1 (vs 62/0.) *Davina Perrin 29(16) edged-aerial, caught at ‘point’ by Aylish Cranstone from Ryana Macdonald-Gay *Bethan Ellis 29(27) was caught at ‘square-leg’ by Tash Farrant from Danielle Gregory. *After 10 overs, Sparks were 89/3 (vs 92/2) *Chloe Brewer 0(1) had both bales sent flying by spinner Danielle Gregory, for a ‘golden duck.’ *Erin Burns who hit 1 ‘six’ 39(22), returned a dolly, caught & bowled Bryony Smith *Charis Pavely had both bales sent flying by Bryony Smith – carbon copy dismissal to Chloe Brewer’s. *After 16.4 overs, Sparks were 146/6 (vs 153/4) *Ellie Anderson went plumb ‘leg before’ to Claudie Cooper. *Hannah Baker was ‘run out’ by Claudie Cooper throwing to Bryony Smith at the non-striker’s end. *When Katie George 53(34) was caught by Claudie Cooper from Bryony Smith’s (3/23) bowling, umpires were advised by George that Abbey Freeborn was unable to bat (injured when batting in-the-nets, between innings.) *Sparks’ top-scorer was Katie George 53(34.) *Stars’ best bowler was Bryony Smith 3/23.
Match summary Stars openers reached 62/0 during the PowerPlay before banked 76 without loss, before Bryony Smith departed just short of ‘fifty.’ Phoebe Franklin scored her second ‘fifty’ of the competition. Sparks’ run chase was level-pegging for most of the match, until they ran out of wickets. Drama struck during the final over when bowler-turned-batter Katie George 53(34) was out. The match reached an anti-climax during the final over, when Umpires were advised that Sparks had conceded the match with just 3 balls remaining.
Match result: South East Stars Women 176/6 beat Central Sparks Women 170 by 6 runs with 3 balls remaining
*Stars batting: 176/6 (from 20/20 overs @ 8.8 runs per-over) Phoebe Franklin 52(27), Bryony Smith 47(28), Chloe Hill 25(22), Tash Farrant 13*not out (14), Kira Chathli 11(13); *Sparks bowling: Georgia Davis 3/12, Bethan Ellis 2/32, Ellie Anderson 1/29; Fow 1-76, 2-91, 3-94, 4-125, 5-160, 6-171.
*Sparks batting: 170/9 (from 19.3/20 overs @ 8.7 runs per-over) Katie George 53(34), Erin Burns 39(22), Bethan Ellis 29(27), Davina Perrin 29(16); *Stars bowling: Bryony Smith 3/23, Danielle Gregory 2/23, Ryana Macdonald-Gay 1/26, Claudie Cooper 1/27; Fow 1-13, 2-60, 3-73, 4-89, 5-119, 6-139, 7-165, 8-170, 9-170.
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV Play at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#mfac5f5a3-8ec3-473c-adcd-66d4ef028636 & BBC Sport @URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKE1000525 Also via Kent Cricket at URL https://www.kentcricket.co.uk/fixture/south-east-stars-vs-central-sparks-2/
*Full match video courtesy of Kent CCC (starting from 10m00s/3h56m11s) via YouTube at URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhOBIoNjHKc
*Latest England and Wales Cricket Board tables at URL: https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/tables/2023
