Sunrisers vs Western Storm at Radlett (at the Radlett Cricket Ground, Herts) on 4 September 2024 (10h30)
Billed by commentators as an opportunity for Sunrisers to qualify for semi-finals, home team bowlers did well to keep Storm’s score below 200; and held two-wicket’s advantage by mid-way [102/4 (vs 93/6).] Storm’s top-scorer Amanda-Jade Wellington (pictured) was the only batter to smash ‘sixes,’ scoring a match-winning run-a-ball 45*not out (from 41 balls.) By comparison, Sunrisers’ Lissy MacLeod departed prematurely, also short of ‘fifty’. Whilst Amanda-Jade Wellington’s leg-spin had commentators counting down each ‘dot’ ball, Storm’s Chloe Skelton stole the show, chalking-up her career-best 5-fer [taking five wickets, (conceding 29 runs).] Even without scoreboard pressure, only four batters made double-figures, as Sunrisers ran out of wickets and went down to a ‘big defeat.’ Commentators were Kevin Hand (Sports Journalist) with Dom Ford (Middx Cricket, Media Intern) and guest Danni Warren Danni Warren (Performance Director at Middlesex Cricket, representing Sunrisers.) Post-match following Blaze’s win over Thunder, Sunrisers lack sufficient points to qualify for semi-finals. Weather: mainly grey cloud cover, cool 16-18C.
*Storm’s innings: skipper Sophie Luff with Sophia Smale, Chloe Skelton (England u19s), Ellie Anderson (England u19s loaned by Sparks); *International player Amanda-Jade Wellington (Aus); *Without Heather Knight, Lauren Filer, Danni Gibson (England) or Issy Wong; [*Amara Carr keeping wicket for Sunrisers];*Sophia Smale ‘looped-back,’ caught-and-bowled by Kate Coppack diving flat-out; *After 10 overs Power-play 34/1; *Emma Corney was bowled ‘middle-and-leg,’ by Sophie Munro’s ‘blockhole delivery’; *Fran Wilson was unfortunately ‘run-out’ when her skipper struck the stumps at the non-striker’s end, bushing Sophie Munro’s fingertips; *Natasha ‘Nat’ Wraith was caught aerial at ‘mid-wicket’ by Jo Gardner’s running catch, from Abtaha Maqsood; *Lauded for ‘using her feet,’ Niamh Holland was bowled ‘top of middle-and-off,’ by Sophie Munro; *Sophie Luff was bowled by Eva Gray’s ‘unplayable’ in-swinger to ‘off-stump’; *After 25 overs (mid-way) 93/6; *Katie Jones was caught ‘straight-to-cover’ by Cordelia Griffith, from Jodi Grewcock; *Alex Griffiths snicked an edge to keeper Amara Carr from Jodi Grewcock; *Chloe Skelton was bowled ‘middle-and-off,’ by Sophie Munro; *Ellie Anderson was bowled ‘middle-stump’ by Abtaha Maqsood; *Undefeated with five runs short of her ‘fifty,’ later said to have ‘changed the game’ Amanda-Jade Wellington hit two ’sixes;’ *Storm’s batting: Amanda-Jade Wellington 45*not out (41); Emma Corney 29(47), Sophie Luff 21(39), Alex Griffiths 17(24), Sophia Smale 12(33), Katie Jones 10(28) *Sunrisers’ bowling: Sophie Munro 3/42, Abtaha Maqsood 2/19, Jodi Grewcock 2/34, Kate Coppack 1/26, Eva Gray 1/34;
Sunrisers Innings *Skipper Grace Scrivens (England ‘A’) Jodi Grewcock (England u-19s), Abtaha Maqsood (Scotland) replacing Mady Villiers (ex England); [*Katie Jones (replacing Nat Wraith) keeping wicket for ‘Storm’]; *Jo Gardner was caught at ‘deep mid-on’ by Sophie Luff, from Ellie Anderson; *Left-hander Grace Scrivens was bowled with ‘leg-stump-bail’ flying, also from Ellie Anderson; *After 10 overs Power-play, 30/2(vs34/1);*Drinks taken at mid-way (25 overs): Sunrisers were 102/4(vs 93/6); *Left-hander Jodi Grewcock was caught by keeper Katie Jones , from Chloe Skelton; *Cordelia Griffith was caught at ‘deep-mid-wicket’ by Natasha Wraith, from Chloe Skelton; *Eva Gray went aerial, caught by Fran Wilson at ‘deep-mid-on’ from Ellie Anderson; *Top scorer Alice ‘Lissy’ MacLeod ‘who batted beautifully’ was caught at ‘cover’ by Alex Griffith’s diving catch from Sophia Smale; *Florence ‘Flo’ Miller was caught by keeper ‘Katie Jones’ from Chloe Skelton; *Sophie Munro was caught at ‘point’ by Fran Wilson’s diving catch, from Ellie Anderson; *Looking to sweep, Kate Coppack was caught vertically from a ‘top-edge’ by keeper Katie Jones from Amanda-Jade Wellington; *Finally, Abtaha Maqsood was went ‘leg-before’ ‘middle-and-leg’ to Chloe Skelton; *Sunrisers’ batting: Alice ‘Lissy’ MacLeod 48(61), Cordelia Griffith 39(47), Eva Gray 15(31), Grace Scrivens 12(24); *Storm’s bowling: Chloe Skelton 5/29, Ellie Anderson 3/35, Amanda-Jade Wellington 1/22, Sophia Smale 1/27;
*Match result: Western Storm 180/10 (@3.9 runs-per-over from 45.5/50 overs) beat Sunrisers 150/10 (@3.7 r-p-o target 181 from 39.3/50 ov) by 30 runs with 63 balls remaining.
*Scorecard and video highlights when available courtesy of ECB (via NV Play) @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/match-centre/104467#scorecard *AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin to select a match;
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of Sunrisers TV (NV Play) via YouTube <06h29m55s> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdNao47DSP4
*Updated fixtures and results @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/08/23/updated-rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-fixtures-and-results-2/
*Footnote: Video evidence confirms ECB scorecard: that Storm’s wicket-keeper was Katie Jones, not Storm’s usual keeper Nat Wraith as misreported elsewhere.
