Western Storm vs Sunrisers at Cheltenham College Ground (Glos.) on 24 July
‘Rain-shortened’ match, with 22 overs-per-innings, branded as the ‘Visit Cayman Islands Cheltenham Cricket Festival;’ as part of the 51st Cheltenham festival. Batting first, Storm’s top-scorer Fran Wilson (pictured) 56 runs (from 52 balls) was the only batter to score ‘fifty’ and took an ‘excellent’ catch. As before, both sides took each other ‘to the brink,’ with the match result decided by the final ball. Sunrisers fell agonisingly short by six runs as tail-end batter Flo Miller was stumped in-the-act of sweeping, by stand-in keeper Katie Jones. At the same time, Storm’s spinner Sophia Smale chalked-up a ‘4-fer’ (4/34) from the final match ball. Commentators were Ed ‘Cricket’ Seabourne (Sports journalist), Claire B Jenkins (Livestream cricket) and Carol Camino on debut (with support from Glos cricket partner HerGameToo.) Video highlights via ECB online (NV-Play, James Healy on camera) please see below. Slow outfield. A rain-affected match, weather at Cheltenham was continuously overcast with grey clouds and occasional spots of rain.
Storm’s innings *Skipper Sophie Luff, without Heather Knight [Amara Carr keeping wicket for Sunrisers] With England’s Danielle ‘Dani’ Gibson & Lauren Filer. Katie Jones second appearance, but making her debut ‘as keeper,’ without Natasha Wraith. Also, without international player Piepa Cleary (Australia WBBL) or Mollie Robbins (Academy) *Before the match Dani Gibson received her 50th Storm cap, following ‘in the steps of’ Sophie Luff (herself as presenter) & Fran Wilson. *Having hit Eva Gray for ‘four,’ Dani Gibson 12(9) was bowled ‘off-stump’ next ball, said to be a ‘huge wicket.’ *After 4 overs Power-play Storm were 19/1 & 73/1 by mid-way (11 overs.) *Main batting partnership between Fran Wilson, said to ‘move (about) all-over-her-crease’ and Alex Griffiths. *Together the pair banked 91 runs for Storm’s 2nd wicket. *Fran Wilson 56(52) ‘scooped’ a catch straight to Kate Coppack from Amu Surenkumar. *14 balls later Alex Griffiths 46(47) was caught aerial leg-side, by Eva Gray arriving from mid-wicket, also from Amu Surenkumar (2/37.) *Returner Niamh Holland was 28*not out(17) *Storm’s best batter was Fran Wilson 56(52) who was the only Storm batter to hit ‘six.’ *Sunrisers’ best bowler was Amu Surenkumar 2/37. *Abtaha Maqsood bowled one over. *Dane vNiekerk didn’t bowl.
Sunrisers’ innings *Skipper & International player Dane van Niekerk (Republic of South Africa), with Abtaha Maqsood (Scotland) & Grace Scrivens (England ‘A’ skipper); without Alice ‘Lissy’ MacLeod [as noted above, Katie Jones was keeping wicket for Storm] *Commentators lauded Storms’ pace-attack, said to be ‘one of the quickest.’ *Dani Gibson, Lauren Filer and Phoebe Graham – Graham gaffed as ‘Trudy,’ while commentators were distracted by an ‘angry wasp.’ *Sunrisers’ Cordelia Griffith 3(7) was short-lived, caught ‘two-handed’ by Fran Wilson at ‘backward-point’ (as mentioned above.) *That brought two left-handers to the crease, batting briefly under ‘a few drops of rain.’ *After 4 overs Power-play Sunrisers were 19/1 (vs 24/1).*Next ball, Jodi Grewcock 1(4) was bowled ‘under her bat,’ by Sophia Smale’s spin, her off-stump tilted-back. *Skipper v.Niekerk 26(22), who had been ’short on runs,’ added 51 runs with Mady Villiers, for Sunrisers’ third wicket. *By mid-way (11 overs) Sunrisers were 66/2 (vs 73/1.) *Dane v.Niekerk 26(22) was caught-and-bowled by Chloe Skelton.*Said to be a ‘game-changing moment as v.Niekerk made her slow-exit in a state of denial. *10 balls later, Grace Scrivens 39(45) came-down-the-wicket to Chloe Skelton and was caught behind by Katie Jones (gaffed as stumped,’ albeit from a difficult angle.) *Taking two wickets with consecutive balls, Sophia Smale had Eva Gray 27(19) caught by Danielle Gibson; ‘running and sliding’ from deep-mid-wicket. *Next ball, Amara Carr went ‘leg before’ for a ‘golden duck,’ with ‘ball ‘smashing into pads’ below the ‘knee-roll.’ *Commentator’s curse struck with 3 overs remaining. *Earlier gaffed as ‘Danni,’ Mady Villiers 22(16) was urged ‘to stay in’ as ‘key’ (to Sunrisers innings); but was immediately caught by Sophia Smale. *Flo Miller ‘successfully negotiated’ Chloe Skelton’s (3/36) ‘hat-trick’ ball during her ‘big over.’ *Finally, needing ’six’ runs to tie the match, Flo Miller 16(13) came-down-the-wicket to Sophia Smale (4/34) but was stumped by Katie Jones. *Amu Surenkumar remained 10*not out(7) *Sunrisers’ best batter was Grace Scrivens 39(45) with skipper v.Niekerk & Eva Gray both scoring ‘sixes.’ Sunrisers’ best batter was Grace Scrivens 39(45); Storms best bowler was Sophia Smale 4/34.
Match summary ‘Rain-shortened’ basement battle with both sides taking each other ‘to the brink,’ augmented by amusing commentators’ gaffs. As mentioned above, Storm’s ex-England veteran Fran Wilson was the only batter to score ‘fifty’ and took an ‘excellent’ catch. Sunrisers fell ‘agonisingly short’ needing six runs to tie the match from their last ball. Storm’s spinner Sophia Smale chalked-up a ‘4-fer’ from the final match ball. Although Storms’ second win lifts them from last place, neither side has any expectation to finish in the top-three qualifying places that decide which teams make progress beyond the group stage.
Match result: Western Storm Women 165/3 beat Sunrisers Women 159/8 by 6 runs (22 overs)
* Storm batting:165/3 (@7.5 runs-per-over from 22/50 overs); Alex Griffiths 46(47), Fran Wilson 56(52), Niamh Holland 28*not out(17), Danielle Gibson 12(9); *Sunrisers’ bowling: Amu Surenkumar 2/37, Eva Gray 1/20; Fow 1-22, 2-113, 3-133.
* Sunrisers’ batting:159/8 (@7.2 r-p-o from 22/50 overs; target 166 from 22 overs); Grace Scrivens 39(45), Eva Gray 27(19), Dane van Niekerk 26(22), Mady Villiers 22(16), Flo Miller 16(13), Amu Surenkumar 10*not out(7); *Storm’s bowling: Sophia Smale 4/34, Chloe Skelton 3/36, Danielle Gibson 1/38; Fow 1-10, 2-19, 3-70, 4-81, 5-121, 6-121, 7-131, 8-159.
* Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB (via NV-Play) via Glos Cricket for Western Storm on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#md0fa1c65-3943-481c-b696-d4f1e61e55e8 & BBC Sport @URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKE1000567
*Match free-to-air (starting from 05m30/03h13m12s) courtesy of Glos Cricket (via NV Play) <sound loss 1h11m17s-1h37m00> via YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbbGVIdqs3w
