The Blaze vs South East Stars at the Welbeck Cricket Ground of the John Fretwell Sporting Complex, Nettleworth (Mansfield, Notts) on 17 July.
Stars clinched back-to-back wins to retain third-place, thanks to Tazmin Brits made top-score with 85 runs (from 63 balls); from two batting partnerships of ‘match-winning quality,’ each adding exactly 55 runs. Playing under a short-term Stars contract, South Africa’s Tazmin Brits is (at time of writing) unexpectedly top of this season’s batting averages (50 ov.); and also 2nd-placed both for scoring most ’sixes’ & fastest-strike-rate. Before rain struck between innings, Stars’ bowling trio Freya Davies (3/28); Ryana Macdonald-Gay (2/25); and Alexa Stonehouse (2/31): reduced Blaze batters to 62/6. Teresa Graves stepped-up scoring her 2nd ‘List A’ fifty. The match concluded After Brits departed, when Stars’ tail-enders mustered a handful of winning runs, with plenty of overs to spare. Marquee commentators were Mike Perkins (Sports journalist) with Beth Harmer on debut (Blaze.) Video highlights via ECB online (NV-Play): please see below. A rain-interrupted match between innings, weather improved with rain-bearing clouds giving way to patches of blue sky.
Blaze’s Innings *Skipper Kirstie Gordon. *Without Tammy Beaumont, Sarah Glenn & Natalie Sciver-Brunt. *[Kira Chathli keeping wicket for Stars.] *International players Nadine de Klerk & Michaela Kirk (Republic of South Africa); With Scotland’s Kathryn & Sarah Bryce. *Blaze lost three early wickets to Freya Davies who was paired with Ryana Macdonald-Gay. *Firstly, Marie Kelly 9 went ‘leg-before’ to Freya Davies; followed by Georgie Boyce who was collected at ‘backward point’ by Ryana Macdonald-Gay for a 6th ball ‘duck,’ also from Davies. *Thirdly, Kathryn Bryce was skittled ‘middle-stump’ by Ryana Macdonald-Gay, reducing Blaze to 19/3. *After 10 overs Power-play, Blaze were 30/3. *Blaze were ‘in a spot of bother’ when Blaze lost another 3 wickets that included both international batters for low-scores. *Firstly Michaela Kirk 10(24) was caught by keeper Kira Chathli from Ryana Macdonald-Gay (2/25.) *Next over, Sarah Bryce 24(45) was skittled by Alexa Stonehouse. *After 100 balls, Blaze were 62/5. *Next ball, Nadine deKlerk 10(11) snicked-an-edge to keeper Kira Chathli, also from Alexa Stonehouse (2/31.) *By mid-way (24/48 overs) Blaze were 86/6. *Teresa Graves partnered by Sophie Munro withstood 5 maidens during the next 22 overs, peppered by ‘dot balls’ from Freya Davies and Paige Scholfield (1/25.) *Sophie Munro, 38.5 ov), went aerial after hitting ‘straight-down-the-ground,’ and was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Alice Davidson-Richards. *Having stepped-up to score her second ever (A-list) ‘fifty,’ Teresa Graves 56(96) was caught by Freya Davies from Alice Davidson-Richards (2/24.) *When Freya Davies returned, Lucy Higham 13(19) was clean-bowled by her 4th ball. *Blaze innings ended prematurely when Grace Ballinger 3(4) was caught by Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones from Alice Davidson-Richards. *All Stars seam bowlers took wickets. *Freya Davies took 3/28. *Blaze’s best batter was Teresa Graves 56(96.)
Stars’ Innings *Skipper Bryony Smith. *[Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze.] *International player Tazmin Brits (Republic of South Africa.) *With England’s Freya Davies; but without Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley, Phoebe Franklin or Tash Farrant. *During the 6th over, both Stars openers departed two balls apart. *Alexa Stonehouse 9 was ‘run-out’ by Michaela Kirk’s direct-hit & Kira Chathli 1 was caught at ‘slip’ by Georgie Boyce from Grace Ballinger. *Stars were said to be ‘in a spot of bother,’ when skipper Bryony Smith went ‘leg before’ to her opposite number, Kirstie Gordon. *After 10 overs, Stars were level-pegging: 30/3 (vs 33/3.) *Tazmin Brits built two batting partnerships, each adding 55 runs. *Firstly, scoring 2 ’sixes’ from Kirstie Gordon, Brits added 55 for Stars 4th wicket, partnered by Alice Davidson-Richards 20(31) who went ‘leg-before to Kathryn Bryce (1/25.) *Next over, Maddy Blinkhorn-Jones 2 was clean-bowled by Sophie Munro, whom Brits also hit for ’six’. *By mid-way (24 overs) Stars were ahead with faster run-rate: 127/5 (vs 86/6.) *Tazmin Brit’s second 55-run partnership with Paige Scholfield 17(18) for Stars 6th wicket ended during the 25th over when Paige Scholfield 17(18) – misreported elsewhere as a ’streaky’ 19 – top-edged a vertical ’steepler,’ that was caught by Marie Kelly at ‘slip’ from Kirstie Gordon (2/46.) *Making top-score, Tazmin Brits 85(63) hit 10 ‘fours’ & 3 ‘sixes,’ bringing-up Stars 150; until caught by Kirstie Gordon from Grace Ballinger. *Grace Ballinger (3/26) took a third wicket when Ryana Macdonald-Gay was caught in the ‘gulley’ by Michaela Kirk. *Finally Freya Davies hit the winning ‘four’ to clinch Stars’ victory, bagging a bonus point for faster run-rate. *Stars’ top batter was Tazmin Brits 85(63); *Blaze best bowler was Grace Ballinger 3/26
Match summary Both teams each lost 3 wickets during their Power-play. As mentioned above, seam-bowler pairings between Freya Davies (3/28); Ryana Macdonald-Gay (2/25) and Alexa Stonehouse (2/31) reduced Blaze batters to 62/6. South Africans Nadine de Klerk & Michaela Kirk were both out for 10. *Teresa Graves stepped-up scoring her 2nd ‘List A’ fifty for Blaze. *All Stars seam bowlers took wickets. *Freya Davies took 3/28. *Blaze’s best batter was Teresa Graves 56(96.) *Rain stoppage between innings reduced Stars innings to 48 overs with a ‘soggy’ outfield slowing the ball. *Despite only three Stars batters reaching double-figures, the target was reached with at least 13 overs to spare. *South Africa’s Tazmin Brits made top-score and staged two ‘match-winning’ partnerships with Alice Davidson-Richards and Paige Scholfield. *Mike Perkins added that Blaze bowlers made an ‘excellent effort’ to get 8 stars wickets by the 35th over. *No change between the top three teams. *Stars narrowing the gap between the leaders and third-place, after ‘denting’ Blaze’s unbeaten record (from completed matches.)
Match result: South East Stars Women 161/8 (34.3/48overs) – target 159 from 48 overs – beat The Blaze Women 159/10 (46.2 overs) by 2 wickets (with 81 balls remaining); DLS method
*Blaze’s batting: 159/10 (@3.4 runs-per-over from 46.2 overs); Teresa Graves 56(96), Sarah Bryce 24(45), Sophie Munro 15(55), Lucy Higham 13(19), Nadine de Klerk 10(11), Michaela Kirk 10(24); *Stars’ bowling: Freya Davies 3/28, Alice Davidson-Richards 2/24, Ryana Macdonald-Gay 2/25, Alexa Stonehouse 2/31, Paige Scholfield 1/25; Fow 1-9, 2-13, 3-19, 4-50, 5-51, 6-62, 7-127, 8-142, 9-156, 10-159.
*Stars’ batting 161/8 (@4.6 from 34.3 r-p-o/target 159 from 48 overs); Tazmin Brits 85(63), Alice Davidson-Richards 20(31), Paige Scholfield 17(18); *Blaze’s bowling: Grace Ballinger 3/26, Kirstie Gordon 2/46, Kathryn Bryce 1/25, Sophie Munro 1/26; Fow 1-11, 2-11, 3-30, 4-85, 5-89, 6-134, 7-154, 8-155.
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB & Trent Bridge via NV-Play on YouTube @URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#m4aa29aa5-0eb3-40de-ba23-eed47cadd777 & BBC Sport @URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKE1000562
*Match commentary marquee free-to-air courtesy of Trent Bridge for The Blaze (Second innings coverage starts from 50m09s/02h27m29s) via YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh6844VdqgA
*Latest players’ performance stats at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=c_stats#cfe6ae2eb-42c0-419f-8c45-68f7f498cd51
