The Blaze vs Central Sparks at Chesterfield (Cricket Club) on 6 September 2024 (10h30)
Both teams were knocked-out of this year’s competition before reaching the semi-finals stage. Abbey Freeborn’s third back-to-back win as stand-in skipper, ended Sparks’ final match on a high. Defeat for Blaze was made worse one day later, when pipped at the post by Sunrisers who’ve qualified for the semi-finals. Blaze started well, with a second-wicket stand of 63 between Michaela Kirk and Kathryn Bryce. Playing only her second game for Sparks, seamer Hannah Hardwick (pictured) reduced Blaze from 92/4 to 92/6; followed by fellow seamer Grace Potts who took a career-best 3-fer (3 wickets conceding 38 runs.) Without a solitary batter scoring ‘fifty,’ Blaze were rescued by two key partnerships: firstly between skipper Gordon and Ella Claridge; and secondly between Josie Groves and Grace Ballinger. Sparks’ reply suffered two-wickets disadvantage when comparing power-play scores. Sparks recovering favourably, gaining two-wickets advantage by mid-way. Without score-board pressure, Katie George top-scored with back-to-back ‘fours’: not only to chalk-up her undefeated ‘fifty;’ but also winning Sparks the match. Weather: grey cloud cover, cool 14-16C
*Blaze’s innings: skipper Kirstie Gordon & Lucy Higham (both England A); Josie Groves (England u19s) *With Kathryn Bryce & Sarah Bryce (Scotland) *With International player Michaela Kirk (Republic of South Africa) *Without Orla Prendergast (Rep. of Ireland); [*Abbey Freeborn keeping wicket for Sparks]; *After 10 overs Power-play 49/0; *Sarah Bryce was caught by Davina Perrin from Grace Potts; *After 10 overs 49/1; *Kathryn Bryce was bowled by Charis Pavely; *Marie Kelly went for a third-ball duck, played-on from Emily ‘Em’ Arlott; *Top-scorer Michaela Kirk went ‘leg-before’ to Grace Potts; *Teresa Graves played a stylish shot but was bowled by seamer Hannah Hardwick, who chalked-up her maiden wicket with an in-swinger, to top of ‘middle-and-leg’; *Next ball, Lucy Higham was bowled for a golden duck, placing Hannah Hardwick on a ‘hat-trick;’ *Drinks taken after 25 overs (mid-way) 103/6; *Ella Claridge was bowled by Ria Fackrell; *Kirstie Gordon played-on, from Emily ‘Em’ Arlott; *Josie Groves went aerial, caught at ‘mid-off’ by Ami Campbell from Charis Pavely; *Cassidy McCarthy was caught by Charis Pavely from Grace Potts; *Blaze’s batting: Michaela Kirk 36(55), Kathryn Bryce 33(36), Kirstie Gordon 22(56), Ella Claridge 19(37), Grace Ballinger 13*not out(26); *Sparks’ bowling: Grace Potts 3/38, Hannah Hardwick 2/20, Charis Pavely 2/27, Emily ‘Em’ Arlott 2/28, Ria Fackrell 1/24;
*Sparks’ innings: skipper Abbey Freeborn with Charis Pavely & Davina Perrin (England u19s); *Without Amy Jones (England) Hannah Baker or Georgia Davis; Also without resident skipper Eve Jones, loaned to Thunder [*Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze];*Ami Campbell was caught by Michaela Kirk, from by Lucy Higham; *Davina Perrin played-on from an ‘inside-edge’, bowled by Grace Ballinger; *Five balls later Meg Austin went ‘leg-before’ to Kirstie Gordon; *After 10 overs Power-play 45/3 (vs49/1); *Abbey Freeborn was bowled by Kathryn Bryce; *After 25 overs on 111/4 (vs103/6); *Chloe Brewer went ‘leg-before’ to Kirstie Gordon; *Partnered by Charis Pavely, Katie George top-scored with an unbeaten ‘fifty;’ *Sparks’ batting: Katie George 57*not out(90), Ami Campbell 23(19), Chloe Brewer 22(33), Abbey Freeborn 14(28); Charis Pavely 13*not out(46); *Blaze’s bowling: Kirstie Gordon 2/24, Grace Ballinger 1/20, Lucy Higham 1/22, Kathryn Bryce 1/34;
*Match result: Central Sparks 170/5 (@4.1 runs-per-over target 167 from 41.2/50 ov) beat The Blaze’s 166/10 (@3.5 r-p-o from 46.5/50 overs) by five wickets with 52 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/106643#scorecard
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of The Blaze (NV Play) without sound via YouTube <05h01m03s> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddPwVeCtr6g
*Updated fixtures and results @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/08/23/updated-rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-fixtures-and-results-2/
