Western Storm vs South East Stars at Taunton, (at The Cooper Associates County Ground, Somerset) on 1 May (10h30 start delayed to 11h45)
Speaking post-match, England veteran Fran Wilson (pictured) told reporters that Storm batters knew they were capable to ‘pull-off’ a good win, in a rain-affected match. By mid-way (22 overs) Storm’s were 20 runs behind, bolstered by a 131-run partnership between Fran Wilson and skipper Sophie Luff. As Storm’s top-scorer with 65 runs (from 61 balls) Fran Wilson added that bowlers had expected the ball ’to move around a bit.’ Earlier in the match, 3 Stars’ batters scored ‘fifties,’ setting Storm a daunting 300-run target. A lower target emerged once more were overs docked by inclement weather. Australian Amanda-Jade Wellington ‘hit a few sixes,’ added a quick-fire 33 runs with Natasha Wraith in 21 balls. As heavy rain returned the match ended prematurely. Storm were declared winners by a wafer-thin three-run margin (‘Duckworth-Lewis-Stern’ method.) Lead commentator was Ed ‘cricket’ Seabourne. Weather ‘grey and overcast’ with ball-towelling.
*Stars’ innings skipper Bryony Smith with Alice-Davidson-Richards (England); Ryana MacDonald-Gay & Paige Scholfield (England ‘A’) with Phoebe Franklin & Danielle Gregory; *Without rested England duo Sophia Dunkley & Tash Farrant [Natasha ‘Nat’ Wraith keeping wicket for Storm] *Bryony Smith 30(19) was caught by Jess Hazell from the first ball of Mollie Robbins’ first over *Alexa Stonehouse was caught by Fran Wilson from Ellie Anderson; *By mid-way 22/44ov, 142/2; *Paige Scholfield and Alice Davidson-Richards main partnership added 100 runs from 109 balls; *Paige Scholfield 74 went ‘leg before’ to Niamh Holland; *Alice Davidson-Richards partnered by Aylish Cranstone added 51; *Alice Davidson-Richards 65 was caught by Sophia Smale from Alex Griffiths; *Phoebe Franklin was caught With bowled Niamh Holland; *During the last 4 overs (41-44), Ryana MacDonald-Gay partnered by Aylish Cranstone added 47 (from 24 balls); *Stars batting: Three batters made ‘fifties;’ Paige Scholfield 74(68), Alice Davidson-Richards 65(85), Aylish Cranstone 63*not out(40), Bryony Smith 30(19), Alexa Stonehouse 29(39), Ryana MacDonald-Gay 17*not out(11); *Storm bowling Used 9 bowlers; *Niamh Holland 2/59 Alex Griffiths 1/52, Mollie Robbins 1/29, Ellie Anderson 1/39;
* Storm’s innings skipper Sophie Luff; with Sophia Smale (England u-19s), Fran Wilson (ex England), & Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia World Cup winner & Big bash) *with Mollie Robbins, Ellie Anderson & debutante Jess Hazell; *Without rested England trio Danielle ‘Danni’ Gibson, Heather Knight or Lauren Filer; [*Chloe Hill keeping wicket for Stars]; *Alex Griffiths was bowled by Alexa Stonehouse; *After power-play, Sophia Smale was caught-and-bowled by Phoebe Franklin; *By mid-way 22/44ov, 122/2 (vs 142/2); *Sopie Luff partnered by Fran Wilson added 131 runs (from 119 balls); *Sophie Luff was bowled by Bethan Miles; *Fran Wilson was stumped by Chloe Hill, from Danni Gregory; As mentioned above, Amanda-Jade Wellington partnered by Natasha Wraith, added what turned out to be a match-winning 33 runs in 21 balls; *Amanda-Jade Wellingtonwas caught by Ryana MacDonald-Gay, from Bethan Miles; *Scoring faster than one-run-per-over, Natasha Wraith & Niamh Holland were ‘not-out’ and saw Storm to victory; *Storm’s batting Fran Wilson 65(61) Sophie Luff 59(73); Natasha Wraith 40(28), Amanda-Jade Wellington 30(16), Niamh Holland 15(15); *Stars’ bowling Used 9 bowlers; *Bethan Miles 2/47, Phoebe Franklin 1/14, Alexa Stonehouse 1/18, Danni Gregory 1/38;
Match result: Western Storm 236/5 (@6.5 runs-per-over, target 299 from 36/36 overs) beat South East Stars 298/5 (@6.7 rpo 44/44 ov) by 3 runs DLS method
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @URL https://www.ecb.co.uk/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/match-centre/104433#scorecard
*Full match free-to-air <7h44m08s> courtesy of Western Storm & NV Play accessible @URL https://westernstorm.co.uk/news/sophie-and-fran-help-storm-to-dramatic-win/ Viewers may need to be have Facebook social media to access the full match video via Western Storm’s website
*BBC Somerset radio interview ‘Fran Wilson Reacts to Brilliant Victory’ via ‘YouTube’<3m50>@URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVOevu6V5_4
