South East Stars vs Lancashire Thunder at Beckenham (The County Ground, Kent) on 26 August 2024 at 10h30
North-South Derby leaving Thunder with more ‘work to do’ to qualify for a semi-final. By contrast, despite losing, Stars need to win at least half their remaining matches – by no means easy for either side, both missing key players. Batting first, Thunder’s 3rd wicket partnership between Seren Smale and Fi Morris (who both scored ‘fifties’) added 96 runs: that was later said by commentators to ‘change the momentum’ of the game. Fortunes differed beyond mid-way, by which point Thunder were 20 runs ahead with two wicket’s advantage over Stars. Thunder went on to score 250. Commentators expectations for either Bryony Smith or Alice Davidson-Richards to play a ‘special innings’ were dashed when Thunder’s Kate Cross despatched both batters with consecutive balls. Having faced Kate Cross’ hat-trick ball upon arrival, top-scorer Kira Chathli made ‘fifty’ to commentator’s astonishment for a batter who ’hadn’t played at all this season.’ Finally, a ‘bad’ situation became ‘worse’ when Thunder wrapped-up Stars’ innings somewhat prematurely. As mentioned below, four tail-enders’ wickets fell to Kate Cross who chalked-up her career-best 6-fer (taking 6/40.) Commentators were Jamie Reid & Michael McCann (Sports journalists.) Weather: glorious sunny day, 22-24C.
Thunder’s innings: skipper Ellie Threlkeld, with Kate Cross & Emma Lamb (England), Alice Clarke (u19s), Without Mahika Gaur; [*Kira Chathli keeping wicket for Stars] *After 10 overs Power-play 33/0; *Opening partnership of 53 ended with ‘pressure building, just as predicted’ (by commentator’s curse) when Alice Clarke was bowled by Kalea Moore; *Five balls later, encountering ’added pressure’ when Emma Lamb was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ (stump) by Ryana MacDonald-Gay; *After 25 overs (mid-way) 109/2; *’Big wicket’ when Fi Morris who made ‘fifty,’ was caught ‘hard’ at ‘cover’ by Paige Scholfield, from Kalea Moore; *Attempting a ramp-shot ‘scoop’ Ellie Threlkeld was bowled, hitting low-down sending leg-stump bail flying, by Ryana MacDonald-Gay; *Three wickets fell during the same over; *Firstly, Naomi Dattani was bowled ‘off-stump’ (to left-hander) with bails flying, by Ryana MacDonald-Gay; *Three balls later, Danielle Collins was ‘run-out’ by Ryana MacDonald-Gay from the non-striker’s end; *Thirdly, Seren Smale made a ‘dicey call’ from a ‘wide’ ball and was run-out by Phoebe Franklin for a ‘well-made’ 75; *Finally, Kate Cross was ‘run-out’ by Alexa Stonehouse; *Thunder’s batting: Seren Smale 76(87), Fi Morris 54(56), Ellie Threlkeld 33(38), Emma Lamb 24(36), Alice Clarke 23(55), Naomi Dattani 14(13); Stars’ bowling: Ryana MacDonald-Gay 3/42, Kalea Moore 2/49;
*Stars’ innings: skipper Bryony Smith (England ‘A’) with Alice Davidson-Richards (England) Paige Scholfield (England ‘A’); Alexa Stonehouse (u19’s); Without Sophia Dunkley or Alice Capsey (both England); [Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Thunder]; *Cursed by commentators for ‘batting for lengthy periods,’ Bryony Smith was caught at ‘extra cover’ by Alice Clarke from Kate Cross; *Next ball, Stars were ‘in a lot of trouble’ when Alice Davidson-Richards was bowled from an inside-edge for a golden duck from Kate Cross; *After 10 overs Power-play 43/2 (vs 33/0); *’Leading a rebuild,’ Chloe Hill went aerial from a leading-edge, caught at ‘cover’ by Alice Clarke from Sophie Morris; *Kalea Moore was bowled ‘top of middle-and-leg’ (stump) by Naomi Dattani; *After 25 overs (mid-way) 88/4 vs 109/2); *Notably with the season’s highest strike-rate, Aylish Cranstone went ‘leg-before’ to Fi Morris; *Phoebe Franklin was caught by Kate Cross from Fi Morris; *Top-scorer Kira Chathli who made ‘fifty’ was caught ‘in-the-deep’ by Tara Norris ‘diving to her left,’ from Kate Cross; *Ryana MacDonald-Gay was caught at ‘deep-mid-wicket’ by Fi Morris from Kate Cross; Batting at No.10 with discomfort, Paige Scholfield ‘chipped’ a catch to Naomi Dattani, from Kate Cross; *’Final blow’ when Dani Gregory was bowled by a ball that ‘nipped-back’ for a third-ball duck, also from Kate Cross who closed with career-best figures; *Stars’ batting: Kira Chathli 54(74), Chloe Hill 18(49), Ryana MacDonald-Gay 13(23), Bryony Smith 12(11), Alexa Stonehouse 11*not out; Thunder’s bowling: Kate Cross 6/40, Fi Morris 2/17, Naomi Dattani 1/17, Sophie Morris 1/21;
*Match result: Lancashire Thunder 250/8 (@5 runs-per-over from 50/50 overs) beat South East Stars 130 (@3.5 r-p-o from 36.4/50 ov) by 120 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/104458#scorecard *AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin to select a match
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of South East Stars (NV Play) via YouTube <05h58m58 s> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zD0n8sz3ZE
*Updated fixtures and results @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/08/23/updated-rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-fixtures-and-results-2/
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