Western Storm vs Southern Vipers at Millfield School (Street, Somerset) on 15 July 2023 (10h30)
Vipers’ & England’s Maia Bouchier (pictured) made top-score 71 (from 72 balls); partnered by skipper Georgia Adams. Together the pair added 95 runs for Vipers’ second wicket. Both batters made ‘fifty’ in blustery conditions interrupted for an hour, by rain. Although Vipers reportedly ‘came out on top,’ Storm’s Emma Corney had earlier hit her career-best 69 runs. Seeking their first win since May, previously, Vipers had lost 50-overs matches to Sparks and Sunrisers and tied with Thunder. Video highlights via ECB online (NV-Play); & full match without commentary (NV-Play): please see below.
Storm’s Innings *Skipper Sophie Luff *[Vipers keeper Rhianna Southby] *International player Piepa Cleary (Australian Womens’ Big Bash League) *With Nicole Harvey. *Without Dani Gibson & Heather Knight or Lauren Filer (Ashes duty.) *Storm were put in to bat. *After 9 overs Power-play, Storm were 24/0 (vs 39/0) *During the 13th over, Alex Griffiths 7(38) lobbed a ‘dolly’ to Maia Bouchier at ‘mid-on,’ from Alice Monaghan *By mid-way (24/48 overs) Storm were 88/1. *Three overs later, skipper Sophie Luff 24(46) lobbed a ‘dolly’ to Alice Monaghan who caught at ‘mid-on,’ from Georgia Adams. *Emma Corney 69(100) who batted her season’s-best, steepled down the wicket to Georgia Adams caught deep of ‘mid-on,’ from spinner Linsey Smith. *Rain interrupted play during the 39th over, with Storm 167/3. *Resuming one hour later, Fran Wilson 49(47) went aerial one run short of ‘fifty,’ but was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Georgia Adams, from Linsey Smith. *During the 48th over, Niamh Holland 44(43) stood back to hit a leg-side ball from Georgia Adams to the off-side, but was caught at ‘square’ by Mary Taylor. Innings closed after 48 overs. *Emma Corney 69(100) made top-score for Storm. *Vipers’ best bowlers were Linsey Smith 2/36, & Georgia Adams 2/50.
Vipers’ Innings *Skipper Georgia Adams *[Storm keeper Natasha Wraith] *International player Maitlan Brown (WBBL); *With Maia Bouchier, but without England Ashes players Lauren Bell, Charlie Dean or Danni Wyatt; *With Megan Sturge replacing Ava Lee. *Match was reduced to 48 overs per innings. *After 9 overs Power-play, Vipers were 39/0. *Finding Phoebe Graham unplayable, Ella McCaughan 10(27) was caught at ‘square’ by Chloe Skelton. *By mid-way (24/48 overs) Vipers were 126/1. *Maia Bouchier 71 (72) was easily caught & bowled, dead centre, by Alex Griffiths. *Batting partnership with skipper Georgia Adams banked 95 runs for Vipers’ 2nd wicket. *Georgia Adams 59 (66), caught at ‘deep-square’ by Fran Wilson, from Piepa Cleary. *Emily Windsor 21(35), went aerial, was caught ‘backward-of-square’ by Piepa Cleary, from Chloe Skelton. *Maitlan Brown 10(12) was caught ‘deep-of-mid-off’ by Sophie Luff from Piepa Cleary. *Left-hander Freya Kemp 47(36) lost her off-side bail, bowled by Alex Griffiths. *Finally, Alice Monaghan hit the winning ‘four,’ *Linsey Smith was 11*not out (12.) *Storm’s best bowlers were Alex Griffiths 2/35 & Piepa Cleary 2/45.
Match summary: Highlights of Storm’s innings were Emma Corney scoring her career-best 69; followed by 63 runs added by former England player Fran Wilson (49) partnered by Niamh Holland (44); with an hour’s interruption for rain in between. As mentioned above, Vipers’ match-winning scoring-rate was achieved firstly by Maia Bouchier scored (71) partnered by skipper Georgia Adams (59): together banking 95 runs. Secondly bowler-turned-batter Freya Kemp hit a rapid-fire 47. Finally, Alice Monaghan hit the winning ‘four.’ Fifth-placed Vipers chalked-up their first win since beating Sparks at Wormsley (May 1st.) After nine rounds, Vipers have 17 points; Storm trailing on 10 points but with one game-in-hand. Western Storm match report @URL: https://westernstorm.co.uk/news/vipers-come-out-on-top-at-millfield/
Match result: Southern Vipers Women 240/6 (revised DLS target 238 from 48 overs) beat Western Storm Women 230/5; by four wickets (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method) with 26 balls remaining
*Storm’s batting: 230/5 (@4.7 runs-per-over from 48/48 overs); Emma Corney 69(100), Fran Wilson 49(47), Niamh Holland 44(43), Sophie Luff 24(46), Piepa Cleary 14*not out (15); Vipers’ bowling: Linsey Smith 2/36, Georgia Adams 2/50, Alice Monaghan 1/31; Fow 1-43, 2-95, 3-131, 4-194, 5-227.
*Vipers’ batting: 240/6 (@5.4 r-p-o from 43.4/48 overs – target 238 from 48 overs); Maia Bouchier 71 (72), Georgia Adams 59 (66), Freya Kemp 47(36), Emily Windsor 21(35), Linsey Smith 11*not out (12), Ella McCaughan 10(27), Maitlan Brown 10(12); * Storm’s bowling: Alex Griffiths 2/35, Piepa Cleary 2/45, Phoebe Graham 1/45, Chloe Skelton 1/56; Fow 1-41, 2-136, 3-159, 4-175, 5-236.
Scorecard & statistics at URL https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#cfe6ae2eb-42c0-419f-8c45-68f7f498cd51_m54dc8455-34b3-401b-b5be-11e03cbde064 & BBC Sport @URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKE1000560
Match free-to-air without commentary (from 09h05/07h26m01s) courtesy of Somerset Cricket (via NV Play) on YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHEiQ20__Og&t=3s
