The Blaze vs South East Stars at Derby, The Incora County Ground on 16 June 2024 at 11h00
During what became a dress-rehearsal for the finals, both teams are qualified to play in the finals, ‘in six-days’ time. Blaze suffered their first defeat to second-placed Stars who’d previously lost one match in this season’s competition, but remain in second-place. Blaze batters became vulnerable to Stars’ England-u19 left-armer bowlers. Firstly, spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman (2/19) trapped Tammy Beaumont ‘leg-before’ with her fourth ball. Next over, seamer Alexa Stonehouse (3/13) astonishingly chalked-up a rare ‘double-wicket maiden’ that reduced Blaze to 3/3; also posting the second ever ‘double-wicket-maiden’ at Derby. Blaze batters found themselves short of three figures. Playing on her home ground, England’s Sarah Glenn made top-score with her bat [21 runs (from 24 balls)], followed by a 3-fer (3/14.) Turning to Stars, after taking 1/10 with the ball, Emma Jones made top-score 30*not out (from 15) adding 32 runs with Georgia Redmayne (Australian Big bash). Emma Jones then drew commentator’s praise for ‘shot-of-the-day,’ striking ’six’ down the ground to finish ‘in grand manor.’ Commentators: Jamie Ramage (Sports journalist) with BBC Sport (believed to be Richard Wilson for Radios Derby & WM.) Weather: Following Friday’s night’s heavy downpour, commentators were ‘pleasantly surprised’ that the pitch became playable, with patches of blue sky seen overhead 15-20C.
*Blaze’s innings *skipper Kirstie Gordon (England A’), Tammy Beaumont (England), Josie Groves (England u19s), Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland) *With Heather Graham (Australia Big bash) replacing Nadine de Klerk; *Without Georgie Boyce (injured); [*Georgia Redmayne keeping wicket for Stars]; *Tammy Beaumont was beaten ‘leg-before, by spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman’s fifth ball; *Next over, Marie Kelly also went ‘leg-before,’ to seamer Alexa Stonehouse; *Four balls later Sarah Bryce was caught behind by Georgia Redmayne from Alexa Stonehouse, who’d chalked-up a double-wicket maiden (score 3/3); *Playing-on from an ‘inside-edge,’ Heather Graham’s ‘leg-stump’ was flattened by Ryana MacDonald-Gay; *After 6 overs power-play, 17/4; *Kathryn Bryce was bowled ‘middle-and-leg’ by Emma Jones; 39/5 by mid-way; *Commentators curse struck ’not knowing’ what to expect, when next over, Ella Claridge was caught ‘in-the-deep’ by Kalea Moore, from spinner Dani Gregory’s ‘full toss;’ *Josie Groves ‘looped’ aerial, caught-and-bowled by Dani Gregory; *Kirstie Gordon also went aerial, caught at ‘mid-on’ by Alice-Davidson-Richards, from Alexa Stonehouse; *Lucy Higham went aerial, was also caught by Alice Davidson-Richards at ‘mid-on,’ from Ryana MacDonald-Gay; *Finally, Sarah Glenn was bowled by Tilly Corteen-Coleman; *Blaze’s batting: Sarah Glenn 21(24), Ella Claridge 16(19), Josie Groves 14(16), Kathryn Bryce 14 (24); *Stars’ bowling: Alexa Stonehouse 3/13, Tilly Corteen-Coleman 2/19, Ryana MacDonald-Gay 2/9, Dani Gregory 2/15, Emma Jones 1/10;
*Stars’ innings skipper Bryony Smith, Ryana MacDonald-Gay (all England ‘A’); Alice-Davidson-Richards; (England) *Alexa Stonehouse & Tilly Corteen-Coleman (England u-19s); *International player *Georgia Redmayne (Australia Big bash) *Also with Phoebe Franklin, Danielle ‘Dani’ Gregory & Kalea Moore; *Without Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley, Tash Farrant, Bethan Miles, Paige Scholfield or Chloe Hill (loan); [*Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze]; *Skipper Bryony Smith went aerial, caught at ‘mid-on’ by Marie Kelly from Grace Ballinger; *Phoebe Franklin was caught at ‘backward-point’ by Ella Claridge from Sarah Glenn; *After 6 overs power-play, 24/2 (vs 17/4); & 38/2 (vs 39/5) by mid-way; *Left-handed Aylish Cranstone went aerial, caught at ‘mid-on’ (gaffed elsewhere as ‘mid-off’) by Marie Kelly from Heather Graham; *Georgia Redmayne was caught-and-bowled ‘with both hands’ by Sarah Glenn; *Alice-Davidson-Richards was caught by Kirstie Gordon, for a second-ball duck from Sarah Glenn; *Next over, Emma Jones scored ‘six’ down-the-ground to win, as mentioned above; *Stars’ batting: Emma Jones 30*not out (15), Georgia Redmayne 23(26), Phoebe Franklin 12(15), Aylish Cranstone 12(22); *Blazes’ bowling: Sarah Glenn 3/14, Grace Ballinger 1/7, Heather Graham 1/8;
*Match result: *South East Stars 89/5 (5.8 runs-per-over from 15.1/20 overs, target 85 from 20/20 ov.)beat The Blaze 84/10 (4.4 rpo from 18.5/20 ov.) by five wickets with 29 balls remaining.
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/match-centre/104405#scorecard AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin to select a match
*Video highlights (33) courtesy of South East Stars & NV Play @url https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#vb5de0da7-4c9d-4d1f-bc21-56ba2d574274
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of South East Stars (via NV Play) on YouTube<until02h56m20s/07h12m22s> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyR3NpUkcm4
*Remaining matches @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup
