Birmingham Bears (women) vs The Blaze (women) (match 31, league one – ‘double-header’ fixture) at Birmingham, Edgbaston Stadium on Friday 20 June (15h00)
Bears women notched-up their fourth consecutive win with a ‘dominant display,’ to continue their ‘winning streak’ against strong competition. Key to Bears women’s success were firstly Davina Perrin and Meg Austin opening fifty-run partnership; secondly a ‘well-deserved fifty’ from 38 balls from Dutch international Sterre Kalis (pictured) – who went on to make top score [54 runs (from 38 balls)]; and thirdly ‘all catches were taken.’ By contrast, Blaze women were strengthened by England team-mates Tami Beaumont 44(39) who made top-score, and leg-spinner Sarah Glenn; but played without Amy Jones or Nat Sciver-Brunt. Receiving Vertu POTM post match, top-scorer Sterre Kalis said she ‘ran hard’ and that the team ‘knew (they) had to play our best cricket.’ Sterre Kalis was also quizzed about playing for Yorkshire in league two.– please see below. Host commentators were Aatif Nawaz (Bears TV host) and Adam Bridge, Aaron Viles (Cricketfanaticsmag.com) with guest player Chloe Brewer. Weather: scorching hot summers day, late afternoon peaking at 31C
Bears women wearing ’sky’ blue diamond cheque with yellow trim over dark blue; with yellow helmets and black caps; *skipper Georgia Davis *[Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for The Blaze] *with international players Laura Harris (Australia) & Sterre Kalis (NL); *without Abbey Freeborn, Katie George or Phoebe Graham; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 54/0; *Davina Perrin was stumped by keeper Sarah Bryce, from Kathryn Bryce’s first ‘leg-break;’ *81/1 by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Meg Austin was stumped by keeper Sarah Bryce, from Kathryn Bryce; *Laura Harris was caught aerial at ‘deep-mid-wicket’ by Tammy Beaumont from Kirstie Gordon; *Charis Pavely caught aerial at ‘long-off’ by Tammy Beaumont, from Grace Ballinger; *Sterre Kalis was caught at ‘long-off’ by Marie Kelly, from Kathryn Bryce;*Nat Wraith was caught at ‘cover’ by Kirstie Gordon from Kathryn Bryce; *‘Death’ over yielded fourteen runs; Bears women batting: Sterre Kalis54(41), Meg Austin39(30), Davina Perrin25(18), Laura Harris10(7), Issy Wong10*not out(4); The Blaze women bowling: Kathryn Bryce 4/21, Grace Ballinger 1/36, Kirstie Gordon 1/37;
The Blaze women wearing orange with red splash over black; *skipper Kirstie Gordon *[Nat Wraith keeping wicket for Bears]; *with international player Heather Graham (Australia); *Tammy Beaumont & Sarah Glenn (England), *With Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland); *Marie Kelly was caught at ‘deep-backward-square’ by Hannah Baker, from Issy Wong’s short-length ball; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 52/1 (vs 54/0); *’Big moment’ when Kathryn Bryce was caught by Emily‘Em’Arlott from Millie Taylor; *Tammy Beaumont was caught at ‘long-on’ by Charis Pavely, from Issy Wong; *75/3 (vs 81/1) by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Heather Graham was caught ‘spectacularly’ by Georgia Davis diving and rolling sideways, from Hannah Baker; *Georgia Elwiss was caught ‘at deep-midwicket’ by Davina Perrin, from Emily‘Em’Arlott ; *Ella Claridge was caught at ‘long-on’ by Davina Perrin running round, from Millie Taylor; *Two wickets fell during Em Arlott’s ‘death’ over; *Sarah Bryce was caught at ‘deep-mid-wicket’ by Davina Perrin, from Emily‘Em’Arlott ; *Mis-timing a ‘swipe,’ Kirstie Gordon was bowled with her ‘leg-stump-bail’ sent flying by Emily‘Em’Arlott; The Blaze women batting: Tammy Beaumont44(29), Sarah Bryce32(20), Georgia Elwiss23(24), Kathryn Bryce17(17), Marie Kelly10(9);Bears women bowling: Emily’Em’Arlott 3/33, Millie Taylor 2/23, Hannah Baker 1/13, Issy Wong 1/19;
Match result: Birmingham Bears (women) 172/6 (@8.6 runs-per-over, from 20/20 overs) beat The Blaze (women) 147/8 (7.3 r-p-o from 20/20ov/target 173 from 20/20 overs ) by 25 runs
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#ma2bb230c-46b9-4878-b449-f16299a72698
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225320 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/bears-women-v-the-blaze/scorecard/6e366432-3681-5d54-93e0-70edec12b6a4
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Bears TV & Warwickshire CCC (vertu) via YouTube [03h18m31s] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz-9PUkHUB0
*Edited Highlights Bears Women on a winning streak! courtesy of Bears TV & Warwickshire CCC (vertu) via YouTube [09m46s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bGkASJmuI0
*Post-match interview with Sterre Kalis ‘We knew we had to play our best cricket’ courtesy of Bears TV & Warwickshire CCC (vertu) via YouTube [02h17s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FZpRsi2Krs
*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/
