Lancashire Thunder vs Central Sparks at Emirates Old Trafford on 30 May 2024 at 14h30 (double-header)
‘Lancs TV’ commentators witnessed an ‘upset,’ albeit with home-team enthusiasm when Thunder ‘narrowed the gap’ needed to qualify for the next stage. Sparks previously looked certain of bagging their place in the finals, as they stood unbeaten at the top of the leader-board. After losing two quick wickets to seamer Tara Norris,’ Sparks lost their next wicket to seamer Phoebe Graham, who also took another two wickets during her death over for a ‘3-fer.’ In between, Sparks lost another three wickets to Fi Morris (pictured) spin [‘3-fer’ (3/22).] When Thunder batted, Fi Morris made top-score [43 runs from (38 balls).] After the match presenter Fraser Danson interviewed Thunder’s Fi Morris who told Danson she was keen (as were team-mates) to see Thunder qualify in the top-half of the table to play on finals day. Commentators who spoke of a ‘match of two halves’ were Mike McCann (Sports journalist) with Allyson Bryne (former Lancs & Cheshire women.) Pitch was ‘slow’ with outfield slowed by earlier rain. Overcast, with grey clouds and brief interruption for rain, around 15-18C
*Sparks’ innings: *skipper Evelyn ‘Eve’ Jones (England, Englands ‘A’ & Australia Big bash); Grace Potts & Hannah Baker (England A); *Courtney Webb (Australia Big bash); Charis Pavely & Davina Perrin (England u-19s); *Chloe Brewer on extended contract; *Without Amy Jones (England call-up) [*Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Thunder]; *Tara Norris struck twice during the first over; *Chloe Brewer was played-on from her front pad to leg-stump, for a 2nd-ball duck from Tara Norris; *Next ball, commentator’s curse struck when an ‘exciting talent’ Davina Perrin was bowled ‘with pin-point accuracy’ and ‘stumps pointing in each direction,’ for a golden duck; *Third wicket fell during the power-play when Abbey Freeborn played an ‘uncontrolled’ shot and was caught by Fi Morris from Phoebe Graham; *After 6 overs power-play, 31/3; *Aiming for ‘extra cover,’ Courtney Webb went ‘leg-before’ to Fi Morris; *Approaching mid-way, a ‘big wicket’ fell when Eve Jones (said to be ‘furious’ with herself) was caught at ‘backward-point’ by Sophie Morris from Fi Morris’s ‘full-toss;’ *Rain-stopped-play for 20-25 minutes at mid-way on 54/5, said to be a ‘beneficial’ hiatus, later enabling Sparks to add 47 runs for their seventh wicket after play resumed; *On 72/6, Katie George was caught-and-bowled by Fi Morris’ ‘full-toss,’ bent-double to take a return-catch; *Phoebe Graham’s death over claimed two wickets; *Firstly, Emily Arlott was caught sweeping to Hannah Jones from Phoebe Graham; *Secondly, Grace Potts was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Danni Collins from Phoebe Graham from the final ball; *Charis Pavely remained ‘not out’ with second-highest score; *Sparks’ batting: *Emily Arlott 28(22), Charis Pavely 27*not out(27), Evelyn ‘Eve’ Jones 19(28), Katie George 17(18), Abbey Freeborn 15(12); *Thunder’s bowling: Phoebe Graham 3/16, Fi Morris 3/22, Tara Norris 2/30;
*Thunder’s innings: skipper Ellie Threlkeld; with Emma Lamb (England), Mahika Gaur & Seren Smale (England ‘A’), Ailsa Lister (Scotland), *Without Georgia Voll (Australia big-bash – injured); *Without Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone & Mahika Gaur (England call-up); *Naomi Dattani departed for Sunrisers; [*Abbey Freeborn keeping wicket for Sparks]; *During the 4th over Emma Lamb was caught at ‘short-fine-leg’ by Chloe Brewer from a ‘top edge’ over the keeper’s head, from Charis Pavely; *Georgia Davis was on a hat-trick firstly when Seren Smale snicked ‘the thinnest of edges,’ caught by keeper Abbey Freeborn, from Georgia Davis; *Next ball Ellie Threlkeld went ‘leg-before,’ commentators adding ’sugar-plum,’ & ‘looking to sweep,’ for a golden duck; *After 6 overs power-play, 42/3 (vs 31/3): the match said to be ‘balanced;’ *After Danni Collins ‘hit across-the-line’ and was bowled by Katie George, Thunder recovered to 73/4 (vs 54/5) by mid-way; Fifth wicket partnership between Fi Morris and Ailsa Lister added 37 runs; *Top-scorer Fi Morris was caught by Katie George from Hannah Baker; *Next over Ailsa Lister was caught behind by Abbey Freeborn from Emily Arlott; *Needing 5 to win, *Tara Norris was bowled by Emily Arlott; *Finally Phoebe Graham scored two ‘fours’ three balls apart, to win the match with one over remaining; *Thunder’s batting: Fi Morris 43(38), Ailsa Lister 23(22), Tara Norris 10(9) Emma Lamb 10(11), Liberty ‘Libby’ Heap 10*not out (16); *Sparks’ bowling: Georgia Davis 2/19, Emily Arlott 2/38, Charis Pavely 1/8, Katie George 1/15, Hannah Baker 1/22;
Match result: Lancashire Thunder 125/7 (6.5 runs-per-over, from 19/20overs, target 122 from 20 ov.) 4 points; beat Central Sparks 121/8 (6.0 rpo from 20/20 overs) by three wickets with 6 balls remaining;
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @url: https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/match-centre/104383#scorecard
*Video highlights (39) courtesy of NV Play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#vaefaced0-0b94-49c3-970d-87ac06010fcd
*Match free-to-air courtesy of Lancashire Thunder (via NV Play) with Fi Morris interview on YouTube <03h53m00s/04h10m55s> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q5L-PG2014
