The Blaze vs Western Storm at Nottingham (Trent Bridge) on 8 May 2024
Storm posted their second highest total of the season (to date) with ‘fifties’ from Sophie Luff and Natasha ‘Nat’ Wraith (career best 73.) Blaze’s Kirstie Gordon took a 4-fer (4/40.) Blaze’s top order (Tammy Beaumont and Teresa Graves) ‘laid a good foundation,’ but were let down by mid-order collapse, needing ‘a good batting partnership’ to recover. Nadine deKlerk partnered by Ella Claridge added 139 runs for Blaze’s 7th wicket, their match-winning partnership prompting speculation whether Storm realised how they’d lost the match? Post-match, Nadine de Klerk who hit an unbeaten century [106*not out (from 113 balls)] revealed she’d remember (that match) for ‘quite a while.’ Separately Ella Claridge who scored an unbeaten ‘fifty’ [closing 64*not out] added that she gained in confidence to help see Blaze ‘over-the-line’ for their’ 2nd win. Commentators were Jamie Ramage and Beth Harmer (England u-19s & Blaze.) Weather clear blue sky with warm sunshine 15-20C.
*Storm’s innings skipper Sophie Luff, with Mollie Robbins, Chloe Skelton, Sophia Smale, (England u-19s), Fran Wilson (ex England), & Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia World Cup winner & Big bash); Ellie Anderson (Sparks loan); Without Heather Knight, Lauren Filer or Jess Hazell; [*Ella Claridge keeping wicket for Blaze]; *Alex Griffiths was caught 2nd ball by Tammy Beaumont from a ‘top-edge’, pitched ‘wide’ by Sophie Munro; *After ten overs ‘power-play,’ 49/1; *Fran Wilson ‘top-edged’ to Grace Ballinger at ‘backward point’ from Kirstie Gordon; *Changing ends, Kirstie Gordon’s next ball saw Sophia Smale bowled ‘off-stump’ with bails flying; *By mid-way (25 overs) 134/3: a ‘breakthrough’ followed another bowling change when Sophie Luff was caught at ‘long-on’ by Sophie Munro, from Josie Groves; *Nadine de Klerk returned to bowl, to see top-scorer Nat Wraith hit ‘well above head-height,’ and caught behind by fellow keeper Ella Claridge; *Katie Jones (gaffed as Thunder’s Hannah Jones) went ‘leg-before’ to Kirstie Gordon; *Three balls later after hitting Kirstie Gordon for ‘six’, Niamh Holland was bowled ‘leg-stump’ from a ball that Kirstie Gordon ‘floated up’; *After launching Nadine de Klerk for ’six,’ Amanda-Jade Wellington was bowled ‘middle stump’ by de Klerk’s ‘off-cutter;’ *With 3-4 overs remaining Mollie Robbins was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ with bails sent flying, by Sophie Munro; *Ellie Anderson was stumped, from Teresa Graves, described by commentators as ‘excellent’ from Ella Claridge, to wrap-up Storm’s innings. *Storm batting: *Nat Wraith 73(54), Sophie Luff 37(50) Fran Wilson 34(41), Sophia Smale 28(45), Amanda-Jade Wellington 17(15) ,Niamh Holland 17(31); *Blaze bowling: *Kirstie Gordon commended by commentators for Blaze’s timely bowling changes; *Kirstie Gordon 4/40, Nadine de Klerk 2/53, Teresa Graves 1/0, Sophie Munro 2/41 Josie Groves 1/4;
*Blaze innings *skipper Kirstie Gordon & Sophie Munro (England A), Tammy Beaumont (England), Josie Groves (England u19s) *Bethan ‘Beth’ Gammon (Wales) *With Nadine deKlerk (from Rep. South Africa) *Without Sarah Glenn (England) Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland) *Georgie Boyce (injured) [*Nat Wraith keeping wicket for Storm]; *During 10th over, a ‘breakthrough’ followed a bowling change when Teresa Graves was caught by keeper Nat Wraith, from Sophia Smale’s 1st ball; *After ten overs ‘power-play,’ 52/1 (vs 49/1);*Coming down-the-wicket, Tammy Beaumont was bowled ‘middle stump’ from 1st ball of Sophia Smale’s 3rd over; *With level-pegging scores, Marie Kelly was caught by Alex Griffiths, from Amanda-Jade Wellington; *Needing ‘a good partnership,’ Bethan Gammon went ‘leg-before’ to Amanda-Jade Wellington; *In ‘real trouble,’ Kirstie Gordon went ‘leg-before’ too far across the off-side, to Chloe Skelton; *Sophie Munro was bowled, her ‘leg-stump’ clipped by Alex Griffiths, commentators doubting a good outcome for ‘Blaze;’ *Nadine de Klerk hit the winning ‘six’ with one single shot; *Blaze batting: *Ella Claridge partnered by Nadine deKlerk match-winning 7th wicket partnership lasting 21 overs added 139 runs; *Nadine deKlerk 106 (113), Ella Claridge 64*not out(62), Tammy Beaumont 41(46), Teresa Graves 24(23); *Storm bowling: Sophia Smale 2/47, Amanda-Jade Wellington 2/51, Alex Griffiths 1/46, Chloe Skelton 1/60;
*Match result: The Blaze 276/6 (5.7 runs-per-over, target 276 from 48/50overs) beat Western Storm 275 (@5.7 rpo, 48.1/50 overs) by four wickets (with 12 balls remaining)
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @URL https://www.ecb.co.uk/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/match-centre/104440#scorecard AppleMac users may need to scroll down left margin
*Highlights free-to-air courtesy of The Blaze (via NV Play) on YouTube<07h11m57s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TK8h9FWXo8 &Â https://westernstorm.co.uk/fixtures-results/#v80d7bfa5-7f0d-483e-bcc8-b432f014ad66
Post match interviews courtesy of The Blaze via ‘YouTube:’ *DeKlerk: ‘It’s a game I’ll remember’ <2m32s>@URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nTQ4OVLWYc & *‘Cool headed Claridge credits deKlerk in match-winning partnership’ <1m46s> @ URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKlzo1vBKqU
