Western Storm vs Central Sparks at Taunton on 22 May 2024 at 18h30 (night match)
Sparks second straight win set Storm an achievable target, but despite best efforts, top-scorer (England’s) Dani Gibson said afterwards that it was a ‘frustrating’ night, both with bat-and-ball. Just after Sparks’ power-play, Fran Wilson (fielding) left the field for concussion, replaced on the scorecard by Jess Hazell. Sparks’ keeper Abbey Freeborn made top-score [68 (from 40 balls)] partnered by England u-19 star batter Davina Perrin 926 (from 20).] Together, adding 63 for Sparks’ 2nd wicket: that turned out to be a match-winning performance. Separately, when Storm replied, Sparks bowlers Katie George (4/36) took a 4-fer and Grace Potts (3/35) took a 3-fer.
*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 Ria Fackrell; [*Nat Wraith keeping wicket for Storm]; *Left-hander Ami Campbell was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ with bails flying, by Dani Gibson’s 6th ball; *After six overs power-play, Sparks were 53/1; *Davina Perrin was caught aerial by Mollie Robbins from Chloe Skelton; *At mid-way, 77/2; *Abbey Freeborn who scored ‘fifty’ was caught aerial at ‘deep mid-off’ by Sophie Luff from Chloe Skelton; *Eve Jones was ’run out’ by a direct hit to the non-striker’s end by Amanda-Jade Wellington, guided by Sophia Smale; *Next over Katie George was caught at ‘deep square’ by Niamh Holland from Alex Griffiths; *Three balls later Emily Arlott was bowled dislodging off-stump bail, by Amanda-Jade Wellington; *Sparks batting: Abbey Freeborn 68(40), ‘Eve’ Jones 38(26), Davina Perrin 26(20), Courtney Webb 15*not out(14); *Storm’s bowling: Chloe Skelton 2/31, Amanda-Jade Wellington 1/22, Alex Griffiths 1/26, Dani Gibson 1/27;=
*Storm’s innings skipper Sophie Luff, with Danni Gibson (England), Mollie Robbins, Chloe Skelton, Sophia Smale, (England u-19s), Fran Wilson (ex England), & Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia World Cup winner & Big bash); Without Heather Knight or Lauren Filer (England) [*Abbey Freeborn Hill keeping wicket for Sparks]; *Hitting her 1st ball for ‘four,’ next ball, Emma Corney was caught at ‘slip’ by Katie George from Grace Potts; *Niamh Holland played across-the-line, bowled by Katie George; *After six overs power-play, Storm were 58/2 (vs 53/1); *Danni Gibson 40(21), was caught high, sweeping leg-side, by keeper Abbey Freeborn, from Katie George; *Two balls later Nat Wraith was caught at mid-wicket by somersaulting Georgia Davis, from Hannah Baker; *Next over Sophie Luff played-on from an inside-edge for a fourth-ball duck from Katie George; *At mid-way, 83/5 (vs 77/2); *Sophia Smale was stumped by Abbey Freeborn, stepping forward to Grace Potts; *Three balls later Alex Griffiths was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Katie George, from Grace Potts; *Mollie Robbins thick-edged off-side to keeper Abbey Freeborn, from Katie George; *Chloe Skelton was ‘run out’ by Davina Perrin’s direct hit, to the non-striker’s end, from Georgia Davis; Finally, Jess Hazell (substituted for Fran Wilson) was caught by Davina Perrin from Georgia Davis leaving Amanda-Jade Wellington 31*not out(16); *Storm’s batting: Danni Gibson 40(21), Amanda-Jade Wellington 31*not out(16), Alex Griffiths 18(16), Niamh Holland 15(14); *Sparks’ bowling: Katie George 4/36, Grace Potts 3/35, Hannah Baker 1/20, Georgia Davis 1/25;
Match result: Central Sparks 168/6 (8.4 runs-per-over, from 20/20 overs); beat Western Storm 147/10 (7.9 rpo from 18.3/20 overs target 169) by 21 runs (with 9 balls remaining)
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @URL https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/match-centre/104376#scorecard AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin to select a match
*Video highlights courtesy Western Storm & NV Play @URL https://westernstorm.co.uk/fixtures-results/?tab=m_scorecard#mbe0d87b3-7e00-4a6b-8eee-d36948affc5a
*Dani (Gibson) looks back on a frustrating night @URL https://www.facebook.com/100063771270872/videos/6322650871193353/?__so__=permalink
