Western Storm vs Southern Vipers at Bristol (Seat Unique Stadium) on 4 May (09h30)
Australian Charli Knott scored a career-best 102 in record time for Vipers as defending champions, partnered by skipper Maia Bouchier and Georgia Adams. Previous Vipers’ fastest ton record-holder Georgia Elwiss, partnered by Freya Kemp, struck a match-winning fifty runs from 29 balls; setting Storm a formidable target, shy of 300. Four Storm batters scored ‘fifties.’ Heather Knight and Fran Wilson added 112. With 81 needed from the last ten overs, Danni Gibson played a pivotal role, scoring faster than one-run-per-over. Firstly by adding another 78 runs in 9 overs with skipper Sophie Luff. Secondly, partnered by Molly Robbins, Danni Gibson took the match down to the final over. Overall, both teams put on a great show going down-to-the-wire. For Storm, it was their second consecutive ‘nerve-racking’ match, decided by another wafer-thin margin. Commentator (and interviewer – please see below) was Kevan ‘Kev’ James (BBC Solent Radio) Weather: mild with sunny spells.
*Vipers’ innings skipper Georgia Adams with England’s Maia Bouchier, Freya Davies, Freya Kemp & Danni Wyatt; Mary Taylor (England u19) Georgia Elwiss (ex England); Charli Knott (Australia Big-bash); *Without Alice Monaghan & Nancy Harman; *Maia Bouchier was caught at ‘cover’ by Heather Knight, from Amanda-Jade Wellington; *After 10 overs power-play 73/1, *By midway (25ov) 144/1; *Georgia Adams was caught at ‘cover’ by Heather Knight, from Sophia Smale; *Charli Knott was bowled by Sophia Smale; *Danni Wyatt was bowled by Alex Griffiths; *Charlie Dean was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Heather Knight from Danni Gibson; *Freya Kemp and Georgia Elwiss were undefeated. *Vipers’ batting Charli Knott 102(112), Georgia Adams 65(86), Freya Kemp 44*not out(33), Maia Bouchier 34(44), Georgia Elwiss 18*not out(10), Danni Wyatt 11(10); *Storm’s bowling *Sophia Smale 2/49, Alex Griffiths 1/46, Amanda-Jade Wellington 1/52, Danni Gibson 1/63;
* Storm’s innings skipper Sophie Luff, with England’s Danielle ‘Danni’ Gibson, Heather Knight; Mollie Robbins, Chloe Skelton, Sophia Smale, (England u-19s), Fran Wilson (ex England), & Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia World Cup winner & Big bash) Without Lauren Filer, Ellie Anderson or Jess Hazell; [*Rhianna Southby keeping wicket for Vipers]; *Sophia Smale was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Maia Bouchier, from Freya Davies;*Alex Griffiths snicked to keeper Rhianna Southby, from Freya Davies; *After 10 overs power-play 38/2 (vs 73/1):*By midway (25ov) 125/2 (vs 144/1); *Heather Knight was ‘run-out’ by a deflection onto the non-striker’s stumps, by bowler Freya Davies; *Fran Wilson was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Dani Wyatt, from Charlie Dean; *Nat Wraith was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Maia Bouchier, from Charli Knott; *Sophie Luff was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Maia Bouchier, from Georgia Adams; *Niamh Holland was bowled by Linsey Smith; *During the final over, Danni Gibson was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Freya Kemp, from Georgia Adams; *Mollie Robbins was ‘run out’ by Charlie Dean. *Finally, Amanda-Jade Wellington hit 2 ’two’s,’ narrowing the margin to 4 runs. *Storm’s batting Match went down to the final ball. *Four batters scored ‘fifty:’ Heather Knight 62(59), Fran Wilson 53(63), Sophie Luff 51(50); Danielle ‘Danni’ Gibson 51(34), Alex Griffiths 16(25); *Vipers’ bowling Freya Davies 2/51, Georgia Adams 2/58, Charlie Dean 1/33, Linsey Smith 1/62, Charli Knott 1/66;
Match result: Southern Vipers 295/5 (@ 5.9 runs-per-over, 50/50 overs) beat Western Storm 291/9 (@ 5.8 rpo, target 296 from 50 ov) by 4 runs
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @URL https://www.ecb.co.uk/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/match-centre/104436#scorecard
*Full match free-to-air <06h59m12s> courtesy of Western Storm & NV Play accessible @URL https://westernstorm.co.uk/news/2024-rhft-western-storm-v-southern-vipers-live/ Viewers may need to be have Facebook social media to access the full match video via Western Storm’s website
*BBC Solent radio interview ‘Centurion Charli Knott Praises ‘Great Group’ (Vipers) In Storm Win’ courtesy of Southern Vipers via YouTube <02:42> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrx2hzoVowY
