Originally booked for 14h30, the match was re-timed 4.5 hours later (allowing more time to prepare the pitch.) From match results earlier that day, Thunder had ‘booked their place’ on ‘Finals day,’ beating Diamonds. This match was said to be an ‘opportunity for Vipers to prepare’ to progress beyond the group-stage to defend their title (expecting to play Thunder.) Commentators lauded Vipers’ skipper Georgia Adams (pictured) for scoring her undefeated ‘half-century’ including 3 ‘sixes’ and 6 ‘fours.’ Also for hitting winning runs to send Vipers to the ‘Play-off/semi-final.’ By comparison, Sunrisers duck-out with 7 straight-losses. Commentators were Jordan Clark (BBC radio Solent) & Phil Green (Hursley Park.) Video highlights from ECB online (NV Play) with full match video from Sussex CCC – please see below. Weather was ‘glorious blue sky’ and a fine evening; with floodlights switched-on.
Sunrisers’ Innings *Change of skipper & International player: Dane van Niekerk (ex Republic of South Africa.) *[Nicole Faltum keeping wicket for Vipers] *Debutante Esmae MacGregor (Sunrisers’ Academy) *With Scotland’s Abtaha Maqsood. *Sunrisers lost 4 quick wickets *Alice ‘Lissy’ Macleod 0(3) was stumped by Nicole Faltum, for a 3rd ball ‘duck,’ missing a shot across-the-line, bowled by Linsey Smith. *Dane van Niekerk went plumb ‘leg before’ 2(5) to a straight ball bowled by Linsey Smith, departing without hesitation. *5 balls later, Mady Villiers 1(3) came down-the-wicket, edged and caught at ‘deep-extra-cover’ by Georgia Elwiss, from Linsey Smith. *Risking a second run, Amara Carr 1(3) dived flat-out, but was ‘run out’ by keeper Nicole Faltum, receiving at striker’s end from Alice Monaghan. *After 6 overs’ PowerPlay, Sunrisers were 19/4 & Cordelia Griffith & Flo Miller’s main partnership recovering Sunrisers’ score to 45/4 by mid-way.*5th wicket partnership ended after 12 overs when Florence ‘Flo’ Miller 20(30) was bowled a ‘Yorker,’ with her middle-stump knocked back by Georgia Elwiss. *After 16.4 overs(100 balls) Sunrisers were 119/6. *Cordelia Griffith 65(46), who hit 1 ‘six,’ was caught at ‘extra-cover’ by Georgia Elwiss, from Anya Shrubsiole *Taking a second run, Kelly Castle 4(7) was ‘run out’ by keeper Nicole Faltum, receiving at striker’s end from Alice Monaghan. *Only 3 batters made double-figures, including Eva Gray who hit 1 ‘six’ and was 19*not out (from 13 balls.) *Cordelia Griffith 65(46) made top-score; and Linsey Smith (3/13) was Vipers’ best bowler.
Vipers’ Innings *Skipper Georgia Adams *[Amara Carr keeping wicket for Sunrisers] *International player Nicole Faltum (Australia Women’s Big Bash League.) *Missing ‘all their England players’ (Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean & Danni Wyatt.) With Anya Shrubsole,. Alice Monaghan & Mary Taylor. *Nicole Faltum 1(6) was short-lived, playing across-the-line and losing her off-side bail to Mady Villiers. *3 balls later, Ella McCaughan 13(9) was caught lofting toward ‘Cow Corner’ by Flo Miller, bowled by Mady Villiers. *After 6 overs’ PowerPlay, Vipers were 41/2 (vs. 19/4.) *Next over, Georgia Elwiss 10(15) was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Kate Coppack, bowled by Mady Villiers.*By mid-way, Vipers were 81/3 (vs 45/4.) *Next over, left-hander Freya Kemp 12(11) was bowled by Esme MacGregor, whom Kemp had just hit for ‘four.’ *During the 13th over, Emily Windsor 8(10) missed a ‘square-cut,’ and lost her leg-side bail to debutante Esmae MacGregor (2/23). *Finally, during the 15th over, top-scorer Georgia Adams launched ’six’ followed by running ‘two’ to win. Earlier, Adams had been ‘dropped’ on 19. *Nancy Harman was 2*not out (7) *Mady Villiers (3/15) was Sunrisers’ best bowler.
Match Summary: Vipers made a convincing win, beating Sunrisers in their last group-stage match. South Africa’s former skipper Dane van Niekerk had stepped-in to captain Sunrisers, Kelly Castle having stepped-down. Despite absence of key England players, Georgia Adams’ booked Vipers’ place on Finals day, with a ‘brilliant half-century,’ also hitting the winning runs for an early night in chilly floodlit conditions. Batters on both sides scored ‘sixties’ and best bowlers took 3 wickets, 5 Sunrisers batters made single-figures, compared to Vipers 2. As mentioned above, Commentators lauded Vipers’ skipper Georgia Adams (pictured) for scoring her undefeated half-century’ and hitting the winning runs to sent Vipers to defend their title, in their Head Coach’s name. Jokingly, commentators speculated that Vipers’ qualification for ‘Finals Day’ in 2nd rather than 3rd place may affect little else other than ‘dressing room’ allocation.
Match Result: Southern Vipers Women 115/5 (target 115) beat Sunrisers Women 114/7 by 5 wickets with 31 balls remaining
*Sunrisers’ batting: 114/7 (from 20/20 overs @5.7 runs-per-over); Cordelia Griffith 65(46), Florence ‘Flo’ Miller 20(30), Eva Gray 19*not out (13); Vipers’ bowling: Linsey Smith 3/13, Georgia Elwiss 1/10, Anya Shrubsole 1/22; Fow 1-0, 2-3, 3-5, 4-18, 5-83, 6-97, 7-114.
* Vipers’ batting: 115/5 (from 14.5/20 overs @7.7 runs-per-over); Georgia Adams 63*not out (33), Ella McCaughan 13(9), Freya Kemp 12(11), Georgia Elwiss 10(15); Sunrisers’ bowling: Mady Villiers (3/15), Esme MacGregor 2/23; Fow 1-17, 2-18, 3-41, 4-86, 5-100.
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV Play at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#me3ebc9ee-7fdc-4c6b-bd9e-f785208b9218
*Full match video courtesy of Sussex CCC for Southern Vipers (starting from 22m30s/2h46m40s) via YouTube at URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo1zYKbxSF4&t=1s
*Post-match interview with Georgia Adams courtesy of BBC radio Solent at URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0fswk9b
*Latest England and Wales Cricket Board tables at URL: https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/tables/2023
