Western Storm vs The Blaze at Cheltenham, Glos (The College Ground) on 10 July 2024 at 09h30
Cheltenham Festival cricket commentators described an ‘intriguing game’ in which match advantage alternated between each team, from the moment that Storm skipper Sophie Luff was ‘run-out’ by Blaze’s Kathryn Bryce’s quick thinking. Once top-scorer Fran Wilson departed, Storm lost their last eight wickets for 82 runs, with all six Blaze bowlers taking at least one wicket each. Star bowler was Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce who took a 4-fer. Commentators later expressed their disappointment that spinner Lucy Higham didn’t bowl. Recovering from 115/5, bowler-turned-batter Lucy Higham (pictured) [62*not out (from 71 balls)] partnered by Ella Claridge [43*not out (76)] staged an astonishing century partnership for Blaze’s sixth wicket, during which Lucy Higham hit seven ‘fours’ and was lauded for ‘expanding her repertoire of shots.’ That took Blaze towards a victory ‘that was by no means straightforward.’ Post-match, Lucy Higham reflected on her match-winning stand – please see below. Separately, home team commentators added that ‘The Blaze’ will next season become ‘The Nottinghamshire Blaze,’ the team already in search of their second trophy since winning this year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup at their second attempt. Storm meanwhile have suffered five back-to-back losses, and needed to ‘start winning very soon’ to avoid collecting their inaugural wooden spoon. Commentators were Charlie Taylor (BBC radio Bristol), Kath Wilkins (Coach and former player Somerset Women) and Ed ‘cricket’ Seabourne (BBC radio Glos. & Bristol.) Weather: ‘decent weather conditions’ with low cloud cover, 15C.
*Storms’ Innings *skipper Sophie Luff, with Issy Wong (England ‘A’), Niamh Holland and Sophia Smale (England u19s), *With Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia big bash), *Without Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson or Heather Knight on England call-up; *[Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze]; *After 10 overs Power-play 28/0; *Missing a ‘square-cut,’ Emma Corney was bowled by Kirstie Gordon; *Lobbing a returned dolly, Sophia Smale was caught-and-bowled by Josie Groves; *By mid-way (25ov) 112/2; *Hesitating whether to take a second run, Sophie Luff was ‘run-out’ by Kathryn Bryce’s return throw from ‘backward-point’ to keeper, from Kirstie Gordon’s bowling to Fran Wilson; *Nat Wraith was caught-and-bowled by Cassidy McCarthy rolling away to the off-side; *Fran Wilson was caught at ‘cow corner’ by Marie Kelly from Heather Graham; *Amanda-Jade Wellington lost her ‘off-stump’ to Grace Ballinger for a golden duck; *Alex Griffiths was bowled beneath her bat by Kathryn Bryce; *Finally, three wickets fell during Kathryn Bryce’s 47th over: *Firstly, Issy Wong was caught ‘in-the-covers’ by Cassidy McCarthy; *Secondly, Niamh Holland was caught at ‘square’ by Tammy Beaumont; *Thirdly Ellie Anderson was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ with bails sent flying, for a 2nd ball duck; *Storms’ batting: Fran Wilson 67(68), Sophia Smale 32(49), Sophie Luff 31(41), Niamh Holland 25(35), Emma Corney 23(47), Nat Wraith 20(21); * Blaze’s bowling: Kathryn Bryce 4/20, Josie Groves 1/28, Cassidy McCarthy 1/32, Kirstie Gordon 1/45, Heather Graham 1/45, Grace Ballinger 1/46;
*Blaze’s Innings skipper Kirstie Gordon (England A) *Tammy Beaumont (England), *Lucy Higham (England A); *Josie Groves (England u19s) *With Kathryn Bryce & Sarah Bryce (Scotland) *With Heather Graham (Australia big bash), *Also with Cassidy McCarthy & Ella Claridge *Without Teresa Graves or Sarah Glenn (England call-up), *Also without Nadine deKlerk, Michaela Kirk (Rep. South Africa) or Georgie Boyce (injured); *[Nat Wraith keeping wicket for Storm ]; *Offering a ‘full-bat-face,’ Tammy Beaumont was bowled beneath her bat, by Issy Wong; *Kathryn Bryce was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ with bails sent flying by Alex Griffiths; *After 10ov power-play 75/2 (vs 28/0) *Marie Kelly lost her ‘off-stump-bail’ to Alex Griffiths; *Heather Graham went aerial, caught at ‘deep-mid-on’ by Sophia Smale, from Chloe Skelton; *Sarah Bryce was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ with bails sent flying by Chloe Skelton; *Drinks taken at mid-way (25ov) 138/5 (vs. 122/2) *Century 6th wicket partnership between Lucy Higham’s [62*not out (71)] and Ella Claridge [43*not out (76)] took Blaze across-the-line. *Blaze’s batting Lucy Higham 62*not out (71) Sarah Bryce 61(54), Ella Claridge 43*not out (76), Marie Kelly14(15), Heather Graham 11(18), Kathryn Bryce 10(13); *Storm’s bowling: Alex Griffiths 2/33, Chloe Skelton 1/37, Issy Wong 1/33;
*Match result: The Blaze 220/5 (42.3/50 overs @5.1 runs-per-over, target 218 from 50/50 overs) beat Western Storm 217/10 (46.5/50 overs @4.6 rpo) by five wickets with 45 balls remaining
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/match-centre/104453#scorecard AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin to select a match
*Video highlights (67) courtesy of Glos Cricket & powered by NV Play @url https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_videos#cff4ce921-ba67-43e4-8045-f15cb3ac842c_m9006c052-319a-49c2-bc29-263789b4813d
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of Glos Cricket (via NV Play) on YouTube<06h36m10s> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8j8VjO9Nco
*Lucy Higham Reflects On Match-Winning Stand With Claridge interview, free-to-air courtesy of The Blaze @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9mGeXx4ZRY
*Updated fixtures and results @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/05/12/updated-rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-fixtures-and-results/
