At Cheltenham College (Cheltenham Festival), Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy on July 23
Following what commentators described as an ‘excellent maiden century and test wicket’ playing against South Africa, Stars’ stand-in skipper Alice Davidson-Richards (pictured) made a skipper’s ‘fifty’ and bowled a ‘4-fer;’ to bag a decisive win. For consolation, Storm’s, skipper Sophie Luff tops the competition’s batting averages (81) for 50-overs. Also as top run-getter after four rounds, with most runs scored (243.) Storm’s off-spinner Chloe Skelton took personal-best figures of 5 for 54. Previously, Stars beat Storm (June 2021.) Commentators included Ed ‘cricket’ Seabourne (Somerset), Claire Jenkins (former cricketer), Lisa Pagett (Regional Director of Women’s cricket SW & Wales, for Western Storm) with guest Cassie Coombs (Somerset Women.) Also via ESPN-cric-info social media. Weather was described as a hot summer’s day (25-28C.)
Star’s Innings
Stars were without Bryony Smith, Freya Davies, Alice Capsey (England duties); Aylish Cranstone and Tash Farrant. *Kirstie White 11(14) was caught by Fi Morris at backward point, from Dani Gibson. *After ten overs power play, Stars were 70/1. *Opener Chloe Brewer 61(53) made ‘fifty’ until lofting Chloe Skelton leg-side from Dani Gibson. *After 100 balls, Stars were 96/2′ *Next ball, Kira Chathli 14(26) went aerial, looping to Skelton to the off-side and was caught by Fi Morris. *Drinks were taken at mid-way, when Stars were 144/3 (after 25 overs.) *Alice Davidson-Richards and Phoebe Franklin added 56 runs for their fourth wicket until Franklin 29 (37) was caught by Chloe Skelton from an identical shot that snared Brewer, from Fi Morris’ (152/4) bowling.
*Acting skipper Alice Davidson-Richards chalked up ‘fifty’ during the thirty-seventh over. Next over, Davidson-Richards attempted a reverse-sweep and was caught at ‘backward point’ by Sophia Smale from Claire Nicholas (190/5). *Recent Australian recruit Lauren Smith 20(25) partnered Rhianna Southby 54(52) who scored her ‘fifty’ with a ‘six’ from Dani Gibson. Together they added 57 runs in 44 balls. *After a bowling change, Chloe Skelton collected three quick wickets in five balls. *Firstly, Southby was caught by Sophie Luff. *Secondly Smith was caught by Claire Nicholas. Thirdly, Alexa Stonehouse 2(3) was caught by Lauren Filer. *Having already taken two wickets (please see above), Skelton collected her first (5/54) 5-fer. *Adding twenty-six runs for Stars’ ninth wicket, tail-enders Ryana Macdonald-Gay 13(12) and Eva Gray 11(11) hit Claire Nicholas’ last over for 12 runs.
Storm’s Innings
*Storm were without Heather Knight (England duty) and Georgia Hennessy. *Stars’ Alexa Stonehouse ‘sent down’ five overs for nine runs and clean-bowled Natalie Wraith (4). *After ten overs power play, Storm were 48/1 (vs 70/1); falling slightly behind (with lower strike rate): 73/1 (vs 96/2) after 100 balls. *Second-wicket partnership between Sophie Luff and Alex Griffiths took Storm passed mid-way 117/1 (vs 144/3.) *Sophie Luff reached 50 from 66 balls *Storm’s Griffiths-Luff partnership passed 102 runs during the twenty-seventh over. *Next ball, Alex Griffiths 48(79) top-edged just short of her ‘fifty,’ caught by keeper Kira Chathli from Alice Davidson-Richards. *Faced by scoring eight-runs-per-over, Fran Wilson 15(19) made a ‘square-cut’ that top-edged to Lauren Smith and was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ from Davidson-Richards. *With second-highest competition strike-rate, Katie George 16(21) struck a looping shot, caught by Chloe Brewer from Phoebe Franklin.
*Four balls later, Fi Morris 1(3) was clean-bowled by Eva Gray. *Dani Gibson 9(6) swung high, striking two fours from Phoebe Franklin over fielders’ heads, but was clean-bowled next over by Alexa Stonehouse. *Storm needed an unlikely 83 runs from the last 9.2 overs. *Another bowling change trapped Sophia Smale 1(2) ‘leg before’ to Ryana Macdonald-Gay (1/32). *Two overs later, match advantage swung to Stars when Sophie Luff 95(119) was beaten by Alexa Stonehouse’s (3/27) faster ball. *Skipper Luff was bowled while swinging across the line, having struck 11 ‘fours.’ *With victory in sight, Alice Davidson-Richards (4/33) skittled Storm’s last two batters during the same over. Chloe Skelton 3(13) went ‘leg before;’ and Lauren Filer 23(22) was caught-and-bowled.
Summary
On a high-scoring ground, 530 runs were scored and 18 wickets fell. Three Stars players hit fifties Chloe Brewer (61) Rhianna Southby (54) and Alice Davidson-Richards (50); compared to Storm: Sophie Luff (95) and Alex Griffiths (48). Stars’ best bowlers were Alice Davidson-Richards: 4-fer (4/33); and Alexa Stonehouse: 3-fer (3/27.) Storms’ best bowler was Chloe Skelton, who took her first ever 5-fer (5/54.) Although wicketless, commentators mentioned separately that previously, Storm’s Laura Filer had taken ‘back-to-back 3-fers’ and had been invited to play in the up-coming Commonwealth Games. Stars (14 points) and Storm (9 points) stay unchanged: remaining in third and fourth places after four rounds of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
Result: South East Stars Women 283/8 (50 overs) beat Western Storm Women 247/10 (48/50 overs) by 36 runs and with twelve balls to spare.
Stars batting: 283/8 (50 overs, 5.66 runs-per-over): Chloe Brewer 61(53), Rhianna Southby 54(52), Alice Davidson-Richards 50(66), Phoebe Franklin 29(37), Lauren Smith 20(25), Kira Chathli 14(26), Kirstie White 11(14); Storm bowling: Chloe Skelton 5/54, Fi Morris 1/26, Dani Gibson 1/40, Claire Nicholas 1/44; Fow 1-38, 2-85, 3-96, 4-152, 5-190, 6-247, 7-256, 8-257.
Storm batting: 247/10 (48/50 overs, target 284; 5.14 runs-per-over) Sophie Luff 95(119), Alex Griffiths 48(79), Lauren Filer 23(22), Katie George 16(21), Fran Wilson 15(19); Stars bowling: Alice Davidson-Richards 4/33, Alexa Stonehouse 3/27, Eva Gray 1/27, Phoebe Franklin 1/55, Ryana Macdonald-Gay 1/32; Fow 1-21, 2-123, 3-153, 4-182, 5-183, 6-201, 7-206, 8-229, 9-246, 10-247.
Scorecard and statistics at URL https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2022-1297659/western-storm-vs-south-east-stars-1297940/full-scorecard
Video highlights are free-to-view courtesy of ECB live stream (NV play) via Youtube and Smart TV (ignore incorrect headers) at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#mcacb76dd-ced9-4dbf-a510-490fa74cc08e
Entire match, is free-to-view from Glos. Cricket live stream via Youtube and Smart TV (starting from 0:01mins; with audio from 21:20/6h49m10s) at URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA3Y27U8i-Q
