Southern Vipers vs The Blaze at Arundel (Castle Cricket Ground, Sussex) on 26 August 2024 at 10h30
Blaze beat the defending champions in a close contest in which both sides lost all their wickets, with both sides equally depleted without their front-line Internationals. Despite losing, Vipers have better chances to qualify for the semi-finals. Earlier, England u-19 spinner Ava Lee bowled a career-best 4-fer (taking 4 wickets conceding 51 runs.) Blaze’s batter Marie Kelly posted top-score with 40, staging the highest partnership (38 runs) together with debutante Ireland International Orla Prendergast (pictured). Blaze received a late boost past the 200-mark from ’gutsy’ batter Georgie Boyce, who’d earlier interrupted her innings by retiring to receive ‘ice-pack’ treatment for a leg-injury. Vipers reply lost three early wickets to Orla Prendergast, who also staged a ‘run-out’ in between. England u-19 starlet Abi Norgrove partnered by Linsey Smith added 25; at which point Vipers fell short. Tail-enders were no match for Scotland’s skipper who mopped-up two wickets with three balls to bag Blaze’s win by a narrow margin. Post-match, Ava Lee who bowled a ‘birthday 4-fer,’ was congratulated by the Kev James – please see below. Broadcaster was Kevan ‘Kev’ James (BBC radio Solent), with Charlotte Taylor (Vipers) who came with ‘the usual support’ on commentary (believed to include Phil Green from Hursley Park.) Weather: an early shower, gave way to a glorious sunny day, 22-24C.
*Blaze’s innings: *Skipper Kirstie Gordon (England A) & Lucy Higham (England A); *Josie Groves (England u19s) *With Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Bryce (Scotland) *With Michaela Kirk (Republic of South Africa) & debutante Orla Prendergast (Rep. of Ireland) *Without Tammy Beaumont & Sarah Glenn (England call-up) [*Rhianna Southby keeping wicket for Vipers]; *Sarah Bryce lost her leg stump – knocked-back by Freya Davies; *After 10 ov. Power-play 38/1; *After 12 overs Marie Kelly retired with an leg injury on 17*not out, replaced by Marie Kelly; *Kathryn Bryce was bowled by Georgia Elwiss; Orla Prendergast went ‘leg-before’ to Ava Lee; *After 25 overs (mid-way) 105/3; *Top-scorer Marie Kelly went ‘leg-before’ to Georgia Adams; *Ella Claridge was caught aerial by keeper Rhianna Southby from Georgia Adams; *Kirstie Gordon and Josie Groves both went aerial, caught ‘in-the-deep’ by Linsey Smith, from Ava Lee’s spin; *Cassidy McCarthy was caught aerial ‘off-side’ (in-the-covers) by Alice Monaghan from Freya Davies; *Six balls later, Lucy Higham made a carbon-copy dismissal going aerial, and caught ‘in-the-deep’ by Linsey Smith, from Ava Lee’s spin; *Georgie Boyce returned after ‘ice pack’ treatment, accompanied by runner Kathryn Bryce, to partner Grace Ballinger, together adding what turned out to be a match-winning 24 for Blaze’s tenth wicket; *Finally, Grace Ballinger was ‘run-out’ by Linsey Smith, from Georgia Adams’ penultimate ball; *Blaze’s batting: Marie Kelly 40(37), Lucy Higham 29(45), Georgie Boyce 27(47), Kirstie Gordon 18(29), Kathryn Bryce 16(25), Ella Claridge 14(26) Cassidy McCarthy 11(10) Orla Prendergast 11(25);*Vipers’ bowling: Ava Lee 4/51, Georgia Adams 2/32, Freya Davies 2/41, Georgia Elwiss 1/17;
*Vipers’ Innings: skipper Georgia Adams (England ‘A’), with Linsey Smith (England ‘A’), Freya Davies (England); *Also with Ava Lee, Abi Norgrove & Mary Taylor (England u-19s) *without Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier Charlie Dean & Danni Wyatt on England call-up [Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze]; *Following two ‘wides,’ Ella McCaughan went ‘leg-before’ to Orla Prendergast’s third ball; *After 10 ov. Power-play 43/1 (vs38/1); *Georgia Adams was caught by Josie Groves from Orla Prendergast: Georgia Elwiss was caught-and-bowled by Kirstie Gordon, from a ‘top-edge;’ *Facing scoring pressure following four ‘dot’ balls, Rhianna Southby was ‘run-out’ in a ‘mix-up, falling short-of-her-ground; *After 25 overs (mid-way) 99/4 (vs 105/3); *Key partnership between top-scorer Emily Windsor and Abi Norgorve added 78 runs until Emily Windsor was bowled ‘top-of-leg-stump-bail’ by Orla Prendergast; *Grace Ballinger was on a ‘hat-trick’ after Mary Taylor was ‘run-out’ by Cassidy McCarthy’s throw to Sarah Bryce at the striker’s end; *Next ball Alice Monaghan was caught by keeper Sarah Bryce for a golden duck from Grace Ballinger (followed by stumping); *Abi Norgrove partnered by Linsey Smith added 25 until Linsey Smith was caught at ‘square’ by Marie Kelly from Kirstie Gordon;*Five balls later, Abi Norgrove was stumped by Sarah Bryce from Kathryn Bryce; *Finally, three balls later, Ava Lee went ‘leg before’ for a third-ball duck from Kathryn Bryce; Vipers’ batting: Emily Windsor 41(64), Rhianna Southby 36(58), Abi Norgrove 32(58), Georgia Adams 14(22), Georgia Elwiss 12(14), Linsey Smith 10(15); Blaze’s Bowling: Orla Prendergast 3/38, Kathryn Bryce 2/18, Kirstie Gordon 2/26, Grace Ballinger 1/31;
*Match result: The Blaze 208/10(@4.1 runs-per-over from 49.5/50 overs) beat Southern Vipers 188/10 (@4.2 r-p-o from 44/50 ov) by 20 runs
*Scorecard and video highlights when available courtesy of ECB (via NV Play) @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/match-centre/104459#scorecard *AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin to select a match;
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of Southern Vipers (NV Play) via YouTube but without sound <06h10m47s> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKITUKItTlw & Edited highlights also courtesy of Southern Vipers@url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ACdkKwdeCs
*Ball-by-ball commentary from BBC radio Solent @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/live/cz07d3d7j91t*Ava Lee Please(d) With Career Best, Despite Defeat to Blaze – Post match interview by Kev James (BBC radio Solent) with Ava Lee courtesy of Southern Vipers <02:56> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHFpT_VG180
*Updated Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy fixtures and results @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/08/23/updated-rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-fixtures-and-results-2/
