Bears vs Durham Cricket women (match 4 league one ‘double-header’) at Birmingham, Edgbaston Stadium on Saturday, 31 May 2025 (15h00)
History unfolded as Australian International Laura Harris broke Sophie Devine’s (NZ) long-standing record ‘fastest fifty’ that had stood for ten years. Beyond mid-way (on 72/1) Bears new signing Laura Harris took four overs to score eight ‘fours’ facing sixteen balls, passing her career-best ‘fifty’ with a third ’six.’ Removed seven balls later by Durham Cricket ‘DC’ keeper Bess Heath, POTM Davina Perrin (pictured) went on to make top-score [87runs (from 61 balls)] as Bears ‘piled-up’ 193/6. Only three batters made double-figures when DC’s replied. That included Suzie Bates 65(41) and Bess Heath 45(28) who contributed most runs. Post-match, Durham Cricket’s head coach Dani Hazell expressed her disappointment, but paid tribute to Laura Harris’ fastest ‘fifty,’ conceded as ‘the main difference’ between both teams. Commentators included Charles ‘Daggers’ Dagnall (broadcaster), Robert Croft (ex England) and Marcus North (Director of Cricket at Durham.) Weather was cloudy 16C.
Bears women wearing light blue diamond cheque with yellow trim over dark blue; with yellow helmets and black caps; *Skipper Georgia Davis *[Bess Heath keeping wicket for Durham Cricket] *international players Laura Harris (Australia) & Sterre Kalis (NL); *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 42/2; *Diving Abbey Freeborn was ‘run out’ by Lauren Filer’s direct-hit to the non-striker’s end, from her own bowling; *By mid-way (10 overs) 112/5 *’Dangerous’ Laura Harris was stumped by Bess Heath, from Suzie Bates; *Sterre Kalis failed to ground her foot upon Umpire’s review and was also stumped by Bess Heath, from Katie Levick; *Attempting a leg-side ramp, Charis Pavely was caught short of ‘long-leg’ by Mia Rogers, from Trudy Johnson *During the final over, Davina Perrin was caught-and-bowled with force, by Suzie Bates; *Short of a second-run, Issy Wong was ‘run out’ by Lauren Filer’s throw from ‘long-off’ to Suzie Bates receiving at the non-striker’s end; Bears batting: Davina Perrin87(61), Laura Harris55(21), Abbey Freeborn24(22), Charis Pavely10(6); Durham Cricket women bowling: Suzie Bates 2/32, Trudy Johnson 1/30, Katie Levick 1/39;
Durham Cricket women wearing yellow tops over navy blue with navy helmets and caps; *Skipper Hollie Armitage *[Abbey Freeborn keeping wicket for Bears]; *With international player Suzie Bates NZ; *With Katherine Fraser, Scotland; *Debutante Trudy Johnson; *with Lauren Filer, without Leah Dobson; *Snicking a thick-edge, Katherine Fraser was caught by keeper Abbey Freeborn diving to ’slip,’ from Issy Wong; *Mis-timing a leg-side scoop, Hollie Armitage went ‘leg-before’ to Issy Wong; Mady Villiers was caught at ‘extra cover’ by substitute fielder (Bethan Ellis),from Charis Pavely’s good length ball; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 36/3 (vs 42/2); & *By mid-way 77/3 (vs112/5); *Bess Heath played-on, bowled losing her leg-stump mail to Georgia Davis coming-around-the-wicket; *Three balls later, Mia Rogers was stumped with ‘quick work’ by keeper Abbey Freeborn, from Georgia Davis; *With a ‘huge appeal’ for mis-timing a sweep, Suzie Bates went ‘leg-before’ to Hannah Baker; *Next over, Tilly Johnson went aerial, caught at ‘backward point’ by Laura Harris, from Milly Taylor; *Diving Grace Thompson was ‘run out’ by Hannah Baker’s throw from ‘mid-off’ to Georgia Davis receiving at the non-striker’s end – on Umpire’s review; *Three balls later, Abi Glen was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by Georgia Davis; *Finally, Lauren Filer mis-timed to ‘backward-square,’ caught by rolling Katie George, from Charis Pavely; Durham Cricket women batting: Suzie Bates65(41), Bess Heath45(28), Abi Glen15(14); Warwickshire women bowling: Georgia Davis 3/27, Issy Wong 2/10, Charis Pavely 2/32, Milly Taylor 1/17, Hannah Baker 1/32;
*Match result: Bears (Women) 193/6 (@9.6 runs-per-over, from 20/20 overs) beat Durham Cricket (Women) 151/10 (@4.9 r-p-o target 194 from 20/20 overs) by 42 runs
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m31c052ac-01ce-4cad-959d-c35b37f79d1e
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225293 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/bears-women-v-durham-women/scorecard/3a444053-750e-502c-8db1-766b0636f78e
*Edited highlights – Laura Harris fastest ‘fifty’ in women’s T20 history – Vitality Blast; courtesy of Warwickshire Cricket (nv play) via YouTube [03m06s]@url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVK3cQ8XtIE
*Laura Harris innings was probably the difference in the game Dani Hazell interviewed post-match on Bears defeat, courtesy of Durham Cricket via YouTube [02m19] @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiIlbRUQEUE
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/11/27/vitality-blast-fixtures-for-season-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/11/27/vitality-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2025/
