Central Sparks vs Sunrisers at Worcester (New Road) on 19 May 2024 at 14h30
Scene was set for Worcester’s first match staged after an exceptionally wet Spring, between the last year’s trailing pair of teams who finished in 7th & 8th place. Sunrisers awarded Jo Gardner her 50th cap. Veteran Kia super-league winner (twice) Lissy MacLeod posted ‘fifty’ (54 from 39 balls.) Lissy MacLeod also added ‘fifty’ to Sunrisers’ total score when partnered by Jodi Grewcock (England u-19s.) Undefeated match-winning partnership between Davina Perrin (pictured) and Courtney Webb added 83 runs to win by a comfortable margin, scooping Sparks a bonus batting point. Separately, Davina Perrin was top batter by a wide-margin from England u-19s, scoring 143 runs from four matches when beating both Australia & Sri Lanka at IT20. Courtney Webb was recruited by Eve Jones from Australia’s Big Bash league: where both play for Melbourne Renegades. Clear blue sky 15-20C.
*Sunrisers innings: skipper Grace Scrivens with Mady Villiers (England A), Jodi Grewcock (England u19s) & Nicola Hancock (Australia Big-bash) *With Amu Surenkumar, *Without Ariana Dowse, Kelly Castle (injured) *Also without international player Dane van Niekerk [*Abbey Freeborn keeping wicket for Sparks]; *4 wickets fell during first 4 overs.*Scampering a ’single,’ skipper Grace Scrivens was ‘run out’ by Davina Perrin, from Emily Arlott; *After 6 overs power-play, 41/1; *Secondly, Jo Gardner was bowled ‘leg stump’ with bails flying by Hannah Baker’s first ball; *Thirdly, Mady Villiers was bowled top of ‘off-stump,’ by Emily Arlott; *Fourthly Cordelia Griffith came-down-the-wicket and was bowled ‘leg-stump’ by Hannah Baker; *50 runs added between Lissy MacLeod partnered by Jodi Grewcock; *Jodi Grewcock was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Davina Perrin, from Bethan Ellis; *Finally, Lissy MacLeod who scored ‘fifty,’ went ‘leg before,’ sweeping across-the-line to Emily Arlott; from the penultimate ball; *Sunrisers’ batting: Lissy MacLeod 54(39), Grace Scrivens 30(25), Jo Gardner 30(25), Jodi Grewcock 19(19), Flo Miller 13*not out(12); *Sparks bowling: Emily Arlott 2/23, Hannah Baker 2/21, Bethan Ellis 1/12;
*Sparks innings: *skipper Evelyn ‘Eve’ Jones (England & Australia Big bash); Grace Potts & Hannah Baker (England A); Davina Perrin (England u-19s); *Courtney Webb (Australia Big bash); *Without Amy Jones & Issy Wong (England) or Charis Pavely (u-19s) *Ami Campbell and Abbey Freeborn promoted to open; *Left-hander Ami Campbell was caught at ‘deep mid-off’ by Jodi Grewcock, from Eva Gray; *Abbey Freeborn went ‘leg-before,’ sweeping across-the-line to Mady Villiers; *Left-hander Eve Jones was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Nicola Hancock, from Mady Villiers; Davina Perrin scored ‘fifty’ from 25 balls with 8 ‘fours’ and 2 ’sixes;’ *Sparks batting: Match-winning partnership between Davina Perrin and Courtney Webb added 83 runs to win; *Davina Perrin 79*not out (48), Courtney Webb 27*not out(15), Abbey Freeborn 13(6); *Sunrisers’ bowling Mady Villiers 2/37, Eva Gray 1/27;
Match result: Central Sparks 142/3 (10.1 runs-per-over, from 14/20overs, target 139) 5 points; beat Sunrisers 138/6 (6.9 rpo from 20/20 overs) by seven wickets (with 36 balls remaining)
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @URL https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/match-centre/104374#scorecard AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin
*Video highlights courtesy Central Sparks & NV Play @URL https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#v90218d56-bab5-4efd-936b-be03638037f0 & https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/womens/central-sparks-vs-sunrisers-sunday-19th-may-2024/
Footnote: Full-length video was removed from ‘YouTube’ by NV Play for Central Sparks, as the commentary was inaudible with unresolved sound problems throughout the livestream broadcast.
