South East Stars vs Central Sparks at Beckenham, Kent (at the Kent County Ground) on 27 April (11h30 – delayed start)
‘Fifties’ scored by Stars’ stand-in skipper Tash Farrant and Paige Scholfield; plus a variety of dropped catches in chilly conditions ensured that Stars were always ‘in control’ during what turned out to be a one-sided match. As before, Sparks suffered a carbon-copy batting collapse, as happened only a couple of days beforehand at the hands of the defending champions. Once again, no Sparks batter scored ‘fifty’ but one less batter made double-figures, than before. Sparks Hannah Baker took a 5-fer, albeit for the losing side. In contrast, Stars Ryana MacDonald-Gay took a 4-fer, now top of the bowler’s leader-board with 12 wickets from the first three matches. Commentator Guy Swindells. Umpires had no appetite to continue the day’s play beyond 5pm. Once the Duckworth Lewis Stern DLS method was applied, the match was awarded to Stars by a relatively wide margin.
*Stars’ Innings skipper Tash Farrant (in Bryony Smith’s absence) with Sophia Dunkley & Alice-Davidson-Richards (England); Ryana MacDonald-Gay & Paige Scholfield (England ‘A’) *with Kalea Moore & Emma Jones *without Bryony Smith (injured) [Abbey Freeborn keeping wicket for Sparks] *Opening partnership 103 between Farrant & Kalea Moore in ‘bitterly cold’ conditions: *After 10 overs power-play Stars were 44/4 and 117/2 by mid-way; *Following a catalogue of dropped catches, breakthrough came for Sparks when both Stars openers were dismissed within 9 balls of each other. Having scored ‘fifty’ Tash Farrant was run out by Amy Campbell’s throw from ‘mid-wicket.’ *Kalea Moore 42 made her top ‘A-list’ score when caught at ‘cover’ by Eve Jones; *3rd wicket partnership between Sophia Dunkley partnered by Paige Scholfield added 73 runs over the next 16 overs with more dropped catches; *Phoebe Franklin make a quick-fire 27 with top strike rate until caught at ‘mid-off’ by Eve Jones; *Two wickets fell within 5 balls, firstly when Paige Scholfield 65 who made top-score was caught by Ria Fackrell; *Secondly Alice Davidson-Richards was caught by Davina Perrin; *Hannah Baker’s next over also claimed 2 wickets when Aylish Cranstone (pictured) with top strike rate of the match (160) was bowled, her bails sent flying; *Also Ryana MacDonald-Gay was caught by Katie George for a duck; *During the final 2 overs, Bethan Miles was caught by Davina Perrin and Danielle Gregory was bowled by Issy Wong. *Last 4 Stars wickets fell for 6 runs; *Stars’ batting: Paige Scholfield 65(66) Tash Farrant 54(58), Kalea Moore 42(75), Sophia Dunkley 37(48), Phoebe Franklin 27(20), Aylish Cranstone 16(10) *Sparks’ bowling Relied on seam until 20th over. Hannah Baker 5/45; Grace Potts 1/29; Bethan Ellis 1/33; Issy Wong 1/47; Ria Fackrell 1/49;
*Sparks Innings *Skipper Evelyn ‘Eve’ Jones with Issy Wong (England & England A) Grace Potts & Hannah Baker (England A) Davina Perrin (England u-19s) *Without Amy Jones (England) [*Chloe Hill keeping wicket for Stars] *Tash Farrant paired with Phoebe Franklin were replaced by after 8 overs by Alice Davidson-Richards paired with Ryana MacDonald-Gay *Chloe Brewer was caught by Aylish Cranstone from Tash Farrant. *After 10 overs power-play Sparks were 40/1 (vs 44/4) with 44 ‘dot’ balls. *During the 15th over, Davina Perrin was bowled by Ryana MacDonald-Gay, who took a second wicket when Eve Jones was caught by Aylish Cranstone at ‘mid-on,’ also chalking-up a wicket-maiden. *Two wickets fell close together after just 2 runs were scored from 11 balls; *Firstly Ami Campbell was caught by Kalea Moore; *Two balls later Katie George was bowled, presenting Ryana MacDonald-Gay with a 4-fer *Next over, Ryana MacDonald-Gay caught Abbey Freeborn from Alice Davidson-Richards *By mid-way Sparks 97/6 (vs 117/2); *Thereafter, Bethan Miles and Danni Gregory bowled with good economy until 30 overs was reached – from which point Umpires left the field and there was no further play; *Sparks’ batting Sparks innings was curtailed by rain, their total score ‘never looked enough:’ Issy Wong 34*not out (43), Eve Jones 29(60), Bethan Ellis 18*not out (23); *Stars’ bowling Ryana MacDonald-Gay 4/36; Alice Davidson-Richards 1/23; Tash Farrant 1/18;
Match result: South East Stars 268 (@5.39 runs per over from 49.4/50 overs ) beat Central Sparks 119/6 (@3.9 rpo from 30/50; target 191 from 30 ov) by 71 runs, DLS method
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @URL https://www.ecb.co.uk/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/match-centre/104425#scorecard
*Video highlights via ECB & courtesy of South East Stars (via NV Play) @URL https://www.southeaststars.com/matches/central-sparks-rhft-27th-apr-2024/
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of South East Stars (via NV Play) on ‘YouTube’ <7h48m01s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pnVCuS9FAs
