South East Stars vs Central Sparks at Canterbury (The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence) on 9 June 2024 at 11h00 double-header
Sparks seamer Emily Arlott (pictured) heroics with bat-and-ball not only took a hat-trick, but also bowled a ‘4-fer’ and scored the winning ‘four’ with her bat. Sparks bounced back from their previous defeat, to raise doubts about the unbeaten home-team’s ‘perfect’ opportunity: that commentators said was needed (to qualify for) finals-day. Batting first, Paige Scholfield’s (England ‘A’) run-a-ball partnership with Sophia Dunkley (England) [who made 58 runs (from balls)] moved Stars along ‘very nicely’ until the 18th over. Sparks were allowed back into the match when five sacrificial wickets fell, adding just 4 runs. Advantage then swung favourably for Stars when Tilly Corteen-Coleman (Englands u-19’s) took two wickets and one catch during Sparks’ power-play. Match hung in-the-balance with Sparks needing to score 8 runs from 6 balls. Bowler-turned-batter Emily Arlott stepped-up to score two ‘straight fours’ to clinch victory. Sparks who have 4 wins and three losses, must win their last three rounds to be sure to qualify for finals day. By comparison, Stars face less pressure, just needing at least one more win. Commentators Jamie Reid with Michael ‘Mike’ McCann (Sports journalists.) Included pitch-side interview with Emma Calvert (Regional Director of Women’s Cricket for the South-East Stars); whose appointment to lead next season’s professional Women’s Surrey team was recently announced. Weather was overcast but dry.
*Stars’ innings skipper Bryony Smith, with Tash Farrant , Ryana MacDonald-Gay & Paige Scholfield (England ‘A’); Sophia Dunkley (England); *Alexa Stonehouse & Tilly Corteen-Coleman (England u-19s); *Also with Phoebe Franklin, Danielle ‘Dani’ Gregory & Kalea Moore; *Without Alice Capsey, Alice-Davidson-Richards or Aylish Cranstone (injured); [*Abigail ‘Abbey’ Freeborn keeping wicket for Sparks]; *Bryony Smith was disappointed to be ‘run-out’ by Katie George deflecting Sophia Dunkley’s return drive straight onto the non-striker’s stumps; *After 6 overs power-play, 48/2; & *By mid-way, 72/4; *With ‘incredible form,’ Paige Scholfield’s run-a-ball partnership with Sophia Dunkley moved along ‘very nicely;’ *Commentator’s curse struck when Paige Scholfield was caught at ‘deep-mid-wicket’ by Katie George diving forward, from Charis Pavely; *Disaster struck during the 18th over on 107/2 when five wickets were sacrificed for 4 runs; *Firstly, top-scorer Sophia Dunkley (who’d played as anchor and made ‘fifty,’) was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Courtney Webb, from Emily Arlott; *Next ball Tash Farrant was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Eve Jones, for a golden duck, also placing Emily Arlott on a hat-trick; *Ryana MacDonald-Gay went for another golden duck, from Emily Arlott’s hat-trick ball; *Next (penultimate) over, Phoebe Franklin was bowled by Katie George; *Next ball Chloe Hill was bowled for Stars’ third golden duck; *Finally, Alexa Stonehouse was caught by her England u19 team-mate Davina Perrin, from Emily Arlott; *Stars’ batting: Sophia Dunkley 58(49), Paige Scholfield 27(27), Phoebe Franklin 12(19); *Sparks’ bowling: Emily ‘Em’ Arlott 4/21, Katie George 2/31, Charis Pavely 1/17;
*Sparks’ innings: *skipper Evelyn ‘Eve’ Jones (England, England ‘A’ & Australia Big bash); *Grace Potts & Hannah Baker (England ‘A’); Katie George (Ex England) *Courtney Webb (Australia Big bash); *Charis Pavely & Davina Perrin (England u-19s); & Ami Campbell; *Without Amy Jones (England) [*Chloe Hill keeping wicket for Stars]; *Davina Perrin seemed furious with herself when bowled ‘off-stump’ by Tilly Corteen-Coleman’s first ball; *Commentator’s curse struck 4 balls later, when Ami Campbell (gaffed erroneously as ‘Abigail Baker’ by non-UK sources) departed ‘from the big stage’ when bowled with ‘middle-stump’ flattened by Tilly Corteen-Coleman; *During the 6th over Abbey Freeborn was caught by Tilly Corteen-Coleman from Tash Farrant; *After 6 overs power-play, 29/3 (vs 48/2); *Next over Katie George was stumped by Chloe Hill from Kalea Moore; *Recovered by mid-way 56/4 (vs 72/4); *Match-winning 5th wicket partnership between Courtney Webb and Eve Jones added 59 runs; *During the 17th over Courtney Webb was bowled by Tilly Corteen-Coleman; *Penultimate 19th over saw top-scorer Eve Jones (having earlier been dropped on a low-score) caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Paige Scholfield from Ryana Macdonald-Gay; *Two balls later, Charis Pavely was bowled by Ryana Macdonald-Gay; *Finally, Emily Arlott [19*not out (from 7 balls)] scored two ‘fours,’ ramping the second winning ‘four’ over the keeper’s head to clinch victory. *Sparks’ batting: Evelyn ‘Eve’ Jones 43(52), Courtney Webb 31(26), Emily ‘Em’ Arlott 19*not out(7); Ami Campbell 12(10); *Stars’ bowling: Tilly Corteen-Coleman 3/14, Ryana MacDonald-Gay 2/13, Tash Farrant 1/28, Kalea Moore 1/31;
*Match result: Central Sparks 123/7 (6.3 runs-per-over from 20/20 overs; target 123 from 20 ov.) beat South East Stars 122/8 (6.1 rpo, from 19.2/20 ov.) by three wickets with 4 balls remaining
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/match-centre/104397#scorecard AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin to select a match
*Video highlights (34) courtesy of SE Stars & NV Play @url https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#v891699bd-026a-47e4-8559-10aff7b3722c
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of Central Sparks (via NV Play) on YouTube<03h42m45s> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icveQNyjiDw
