Central Sparks vs North West Thunder at Worcester (New Road) on 2 July 2023 (10h30)
Sparks’ pairing Ami Campbell (pictured) and Abbey Freeborn mustered 139 runs for Sparks’ 4th wicket, during a match-winning century third-wicket stand. Ami Campbell top-scored with 68 (from 78 balls) and Abbey Freeborn scored 67. Previously in May (at Old Trafford) both teams had tied. With both teams missing players from Ashes call-up, the match went down to the penultimate over for a cliff-hanger ending. Commentators were Mike Perkins (Sports journalist) with Polly Starkie (‘HerGameToo’ regional cricket champion & co-host ‘Noughtie Child Podcast.’) Match video via ECB online (NV play) & ‘YouTube’ (Livestream) courtesy of Central Sparks. Weather at Worcester was described as changeable with an intermittent breeze, around 17C.
Sparks’ Innings Skipper Eve Jones, with international player Erin Burns (Australia, WBBL); minus Amy Jones, Emily Arlott (on England Ashes duty.) Returner Abbey Freeborn (who was injured between innings during previous match.) *Both openers departed during Power-play: Bethan Ellis 1 run (from 8 balls) was clean-bowled by Mahika Gaur; and skipper Eve Jones 4 (12) was clean-bowled by Tara Norris. *Erin Burns 17(20) was short-lived, caught by Deandre Dottin from Mahika Gaur (2/39.) *After 10 overs, Sparks were 32/3 & 71/3 by 16.4 overs (100 balls.) *Sparks recovered to 105/3 by mid-way (25 overs): *[at which point Sparks substantive fourth wicket partnership between Abbey Freeborn (38*not out) & Ami Campbell was (37*not out) later progressed to 139.] *Thunder’s bowlers struck with 3 wickets in 4 balls to halt progress. *Firstly, Ami Campbell 68*(72) came forward to address Tara Norris’ bouncer, but was momentarily stumped by keeper/skipper Threlkeld. *Next ball, Davina Perrin 0(1) went ‘leg-before’ to Tara Norris for a ‘golden duck’ *Resuming (2 balls later) after a lengthy rest, Laura Jackson clean-bowled Abbey Freeborn 67(98) with her first delivery. *Making 3rd highest score, left-handed batter Charis Pavely 33(36) providing entertainment by scoring ‘four’ between the non striker’s legs; later caught by Fi Morris from Tara Norris. *Katie George 11(19) was caught by Tara Norris, from Laura Jackson (2/37.) *Georgia Davis 8(12) was clean-bowled by Naomi Dattani (1/39.) *Finally, Grace Potts 4(8) was ‘run out’ by Naomi Dattani, leaving Ria Fackrell 10*not out (15.) *Sparks’ top-scorer was Ami Campbell, chalking-up her best of the season 68. *Best Sparks bowler was Tara Norris 4/42.
Thunder’s Innings Skipper Ellie Threlkeld [Abbey Freeborn keeping wicket for Sparks] with international Tara Norris (US) & superstar Deandre Dottin (formerly WIndies.) *Missing Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross & Emma Lamb (on England Ashes duty). Debutante left-arm spin-bowler Sophie Morris. Thunder lost 3 early wickets, their 4th wicket partnership banking 50 runs. *Playing ‘forward-defensive,’ Opener Naomi Dattani 0(12) lost her off-stump to unplayable Georgia Davis. *After 10 overs Power-play, Thunder were 35/1 (vs 32/3.) *Fi Morris 8(17) was caught ‘at square’ by Katie George from Grace Potts *After 10 overs Power-play, Thunder were 35/1 (vs 32/3) & 62/2 (vs 71/3) by 16.4 overs (100 balls.) *Third wicket fell when Deandre Dottin 21(23) went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Ria Fackrell’s straight ball. *Thunder reached 99/3 (vs 105/3) by mid-way (25 overs.) *Skipper Ellie Threlkeld 6(25) went ‘leg-before’ finding Erin Burns (1/40) unplayable, for a wicket maiden. *2 wickets fell for 2 runs: firstly when left-hander Danielle Collins 22(29) was caught in the deep by Ami Campbell from Bethan Ellis (2/22.) *Secondly, top-scorer Seren Smale 94(125) went aerial, caught at ‘deep-mid-off’ by Eve Jones from Katie George. *Batting lower down the order, Liberty ‘Libby’ Heap 5(6) snicked to keeper Abbey Freeborn. *With 6 overs remaining, Laura Jackson 5(10) was caught ‘in the covers’ by Katie George from Bethan Ellis. *Final 2 wickets fell for 4 runs. *Mahika Gaur 9 (11) was caught by Ami Campbell, from Georgia Davis (2/13.) *Finally, bowler-turned-batter Tara Norris 22(29) was caught by Davina Perrin from Katie George, ending the match with 8 balls remaining. *Thunder’s top-scorer was Seren Smale, chalking-up her personal best 94. Best Sparks bowler was Katie George 3/57.
Match summary Both sides were ‘missing a few players’ with England. Batting first, Sparks pairing Ami Campbell, and Abbey Freeborn mustered a match-winning 139 runs for Sparks’ 4th wicket. Previously Thunder’s (now England’s) Emma Lamb struck 68 and took 3 wickets. Without Emma Lamb (who made last year’s match-winning performance with 68 & took 3 wickets) at Old Trafford on May 6 when both teams tied. This time, Thunder’s Seren Smale stepped-up, bagging career-best 94, a whisker short of her maiden ‘ton.’ Thunder’s run-chase fell short during the penultimate over. To date, Sparks have 3 wins 2 loses and 1 ‘tie.’ Having played the 20 overs semi-final, Thunder (1 ‘tie’) are yet to chalk-up their first win to avoid receiving receiving the wooden-spoon for 50 overs.
Result: Central Sparks Women 233/10 beat North West Thunder Women 204/10 by 29 runs (and with 8 balls remaining)
*Sparks’ batting: 233/10 (from 50 overs @4.6 runs-per-over); Ami Campbell 68(72), Abbey Freeborn 67(98), Charis Pavely 33(36), Erin Burns 17(20), Katie George 11(19) Ria Fackrell 10*not out (15); Thunder bowling: Tara Norris 4/42, Laura Jackson 2/37, Mahika Gaur 2/39, Naomi Dattani 1/39; Fow 1-5, 2-5, 3-27, 4-166, 5-166, 6-166, 7-197, 8-213, 9-221, 10-233.
*Thunder’s batting: 204/10 (from 48.4/50 overs @4.1 r-p-o) Seren Smale 94(125), Danielle Collins 22(29), Tara Norris 22(29), Deandre Dottin 21(23); Sparks bowling: Katie George 3/57, Bethan Ellis 2/22, Georgia Davis 2/13, Grace Potts 1/13, Ria Fackrell 1/37, Erin Burns 1/40; Fow 1-19, 2-37, 3-87, 4-108, 5-160, 6-162, 7-171, 8-184, 9-200, 10-204.
Scorecard & statistics @URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#cfe6ae2eb-42c0-419f-8c45-68f7f498cd51_m765deeab-59bd-4374-ab15-aef7216216e1 & BBC Sport @URL:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKE1000548
Free-to-view, courtesy of ECB via NV-Play on YouTube (starting from 39m07s/07h41m30s) at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctvxm4BJOlI&t=3s
