Warwickshire women vs The Blaze – (match 11) – Birmingham, Edgbaston Wednesday 30 April 2025 (10h30)
First Midlands Derby of the new season saw a ‘thoroughly deserved’ five wicket haul for Kathryn Bryce (pictured) [5fer (5 wickets conceding 38 runs)] Batting first, Blaze batters showed their resilience by building partnerships that their opponents failed to do. Sister Sarah Bryce made Blaze’’s only ‘fifty.’ Crucial for Blaze was their last wicket stand of 32 between Grace Ballinger and Charlotte Phillips that was said to account for most of the winning margin. Commentators added that because of Kathryn Bryce’s ‘outstanding (bowling) performance,’ Warwickshire were unable to sustain their (batting) partnerships ‘at crucial times.’ Special mention was given to home team’s top-scorer Davina Perrin [53 runs (from 49 balls)]; Abbey Freeborn’s 40; and Nat Wraith’s 34. Also, Charis Pavely’s batting performance ’towards the end’ narrowed the gap with her quick-fire 25. Once Warwickshire lost nine wickets, Umpires signalled the end somewhat prematurely, as Chloe Brewer was unable to bat. Commentators were Aaron Viles (Cricketfanaticsmag.com) with Dr Jane Powell, President Yorks CCC and ECB’s Disabilities Performance Manager. Weather – dry, warm and sunny 20C
The Blaze women wearing orange with vertical stripes over black with half-white stripes; *Skipper Tammy Beaumont *[Abbey Freeborn keeping wicket for Warwickshire] *with international player Orla Prendergast (Rep. of Ireland ROI); *Scottish internationals Kathryn & Sarah Bryce; *Amy Jones went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Issy Wong for a golden duck; *Kathryn Bryce was sent back, ‘run out’ by Davina Perrin’s throw from Gulley to keeper Abbey Freeborn) for a golden duck, from Issy Wong; *By 10 overs ‘power-play’ 53/2; *Tammy Beaumont was caught behind by keeper Abbey Freeborn diving to ‘slip,’ from Emily ‘Em’ Arlott; *Georgia Elwiss feathered an edge, caught behind by Abbey Freeborn from Georgia Davis; *Sarah Bryce ‘snicked-an-edge’ to fellow keeper Abbey Freeborn, from Georgia Davis; *By midway (25ov) 116/5; *Orla Prendergast was caught at ‘deep square’ by Issy Wong, from Hannah Baker; *Sarah Glenn edged to ‘third,’ caught by Davina Perrin, from Emily ‘Em’ Arlott; *Josie Groves went aerial, caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Hannah Baker from Emily ‘Em’ Arlott; *Next over Ella Claridge was ‘run out’ by Emily Arlott’s direct hit to the non-striker’s end, from Georgia Davis; *Grace Ballinger & Charlotte Phillips remained ‘not out;’ The Blaze batting: Sarah Bryce52(56), Tammy Beaumont38(48), Ella Claridge38(53), Orla Prendergast34(47), Josie Groves26(25), Grace Ballinger19*not out 29, Charlotte Phillips 11*not out 13; Warwickshire women bowling: Emily ‘Em’ Arlott 3/39, Georgia Davis 2/46, Hannah Baker 1/38, Issy Wong 1/45;
Warwickshire women wearing light blue splash over dark blue with golden bear logo; *Skipper Georgia Davis *[Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for The Blaze] *with international player Sterre Kalis (NL); *By 10 overs ‘power-play’ 28/0; *Sterre Kalis was caught low down at ‘mid-wicket’ by Ella Claridge from Orla Prendergast; *By mid-way 112/1 (vs 116/5); *Abbey Freeborn ‘lobbed-a-returned-dolly,’ caught-and-bowled by Kathryn Bryce; *Davina Perrin went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Kathryn Bryce; *Katie George was caught at ‘deep square’ by Orla Prendergast from Grace Ballinger; *Emily ‘Em’ Arlott was caught low down at ‘mid-wicket’ by Kathryn Bryce from Grace Ballinger; *Natalie ‘Nat’ Wraith was caught by Amy Jones from Charlotte Phillips; *Next over Issy Wong went aerial, caught in-the-covers by Orla Prendergast, from Kathryn Bryce; *Missing a ‘swipe,’ Charis Pavely was stumped by Sarah Bryce from Kathryn Bryce; *Finally, two balls later, Hannah Baker was bowled by by Kathryn Bryce; Warwickshire women batting: Davina Perrin 53(49), Abbey Freeborn 40(60), Natalie ‘Nat’ Wraith 34(35), Sterre Kalis 27(57), Charis Pavely 25(20), Katie George 17(20); The Blaze bowling: Kathryn Bryce 5/38, Grace Ballinger 2/29, Orla Prendergast 1/22, Charlotte Phillips 1/32;
*Match result: The Blaze women 252/9 (@5 runs-per-over, from 50/50 overs) beat Warwickshire women 211/9 (@4.9 r-p-o from 42.3/target 253 from 50 overs) by 41 runs
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#cd7e1a744-02e9-4425-a3a4-d603f624f346_m8cc5819e-ffec-42f3-afda-fac849cbe190
BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225528 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/warwickshire-women-v-the-blaze/scorecard/f4b65cc8-b364-511b-a85b-1e61da5a0763
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Warwickshire CCC (vertu) via YouTube [07h08m30s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZtgNz_wWgc&t=2s
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/03/04/metro-bank-league-one-fixtures-for-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/03/05/metro-bank-one-day-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-2025/
