South East Stars vs Southern Vipers (Beckenham, Kent County Ground) on April 20 (10h30)
Keenly contested high-scoring match, Stars beating Vipers (as 3 times defending champions): hitting their run-chase target by a wafer-thin margin. Put in to bat, Vipers chalked-up a defendable score, their openers banking 80 runs between EllaMcCaughan and Australian Charli Knott. By contrast, Stars openers achieved a record home ground partnership of 165 runs between Bryony Smith and Tash Farrant. Tension mounted as Stars needed just 2 runs from their final over, firstly drawing level before winning with 3 balls to spare. Commentators: Jamie Reid (BBC Sport) with sports journalist John Burgess (?) who described the match as a ‘tremendous game’ culminating in a ‘remarkable win’ for Stars – awarded 4 points (4th place.) Match was played in a stiff breeze, mainly under cloudy conditions with cold wind-chill 5-10C.
Vipers’ innings skipper Georgia Adams, with Freya Kemp (England), Georgia Adams & Linsey Smith (England A), Mary Taylor (England u19s), Georgia Elwiss (ex-England) & Charli Knott (Australian on short-term contract.) [*Chloe Hill keeping wicket for Stars] *Vipers reached 49/0 after ten overs’ power-play; their run-rate remaining constant until midway 117/2. *Beyond midway, Georgia Elwiss partnered by skipper Adams necessitated Danni Gregory’s replacement by skipper Smith, who bowled 2 dot balls. *’Looking solid’ on 150/3, Freya Kemp played anchor scoring her maiden ‘fifty,’ until bowled by Bryony Smith with 2 overs remaining. *Next ball, tail-ender Linsey Smith was caught-and-bowled by Ryana MacDonald-Gay. *Vipers’ batting: Top-order batters made good scores: Freya Kemp 50(47) scored 6 ‘fours,’ Georgia Elwiss 44(57), Charli Knott 41(56), Georgia Adams 33(34) Ella McCaughan 30(52); *Stars’ bowling: used 8 bowlers with Alice-Davidson-Richards offering best-of-match economy. *Ryana MacDonald-Gay 3/46, Sophia Dunkley 2/22, Bethan Miles 2/59.
*Stars’ Innings skipper Bryony Smith with Paige Scholfield (England ‘A’) *Also with Sophia Dunkley, Alice-Davidson-Richards & Tash Farrant (England returner) [Rhianna Southby keeping wicket for Vipers] *Initially facing 8 overs of ’spin’ and ‘pace’ Stars were level-pegging reaching 51/0 (vs 49/0) after ten overs’ power-play; with 2 wickets’ advantage by midway 131/0 (vs 117/2.) *Record home-fixture opening record partnership between Tash Farrant (recovered from back injury following two year’s absence) and skipper Bryony Smith added 165 inside 30 overs – both falling short of scoring ‘tons’. *Thereafter, batters required-run-rate remained on target. *Sophia Dunkley played anchor role, closing undefeated just short of ‘fifty.’ *Ryana MacDonald Gay ‘who could also bat’ scrambled the winning ‘leg-bye’ mid-way through the final over. *Stars’ batting: Significant first wicket partnership of 165. Tash Farrant 94(97), Bryony Smith 90(99), Sophia Dunkley 48*not out(60); *Vipers’ bowling: used 6 bowlers (vs 8) *Charli Knott 2/35 (with best economy), Georgia Adams 2/48 (who injured her left-hand, when dropping a return catch from A D-R.)
Match result: South East Stars 274/6 (49.3/50 overs, 5.53 runs-per-over; target 274 from 50 ov) beat Southern Vipers 273/9 (50/50 overs 5.46 rpo) by four wickets with 3 balls remaining
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @URL https://www.ecb.co.uk/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/match-centre/104420#scorecard
*Youtube video with initial sound loss<5h17m20s> courtesy of Utilita Bowl (So’ton) with highlights edited by NV Play @URL https://www.utilitabowl.com/cricket/match-highlights/?match=219042
*ECB Reporters Network (Ben Redwood, Surrey Cricket) @URL https://www.southeaststars.com/stars-beat-vipers-in-high-scoring-opener/
