South East Stars vs Southern Vipers at the Kia Oval on 2 June 2024 @15h00 – double header
Batting first, the double-defending champions scored 67/5 by half-way with key wickets taken by Stars spinner Dani Gregory. Vipers top-scorer Alice Monaghan [44runs (from 33balls)] partnered by keeper-turned-batter Rhianna Southby 25*not out (22) played a defiant cameo launching ‘three ’sixes.’ By contrast, Stars had four wickets advantage by mid-way (73/1). England’s Sophia Dunkley 53(42) match-winning partnership with England ‘A’ all-rounder Paige Scholfield 50(34) added 87 runs that reduced the host’s target to 9 runs from 23 balls. For consolation, Vipers’ International player Charli Knott took two wickets in two balls, with Phoebe Franklin hitting the winning ‘four’ for Stars six wickets win. Commentators added that Stars were undefeated at the competition’s half-way marker, remaining second only to Blaze: two points behind with four wins (plus one ‘no result’.) Commentators Jamie Reid with Michael ‘Mike’ McCann (sports journalists.) Also with Sam Downing, interviewing pitch-side. Weather: ‘surprisingly’ sunny as mentioned, with light breeze 15-20C.
*Vipers’ innings: skipper Georgia Adams (England ‘A’) with Freya Davies (England); Georgia Elwiss (ex England); Mary Taylor (England u-19) *Also with Charli Knott (Australia Big-bash); Ella McCaughan & Alice Monaghan *Depleted by four players on England call-up; including Freya Kemp (injured); [*Chloe Hill keeping wicket for Stars]; *Tilly Corteen-Coleman opened the bowling; *During the 3rd over Charli Knott was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ ‘a huge wicket’ and a ‘wonderful’ catch by Alice-Davidson-Richards, from Phoebe Franklin; *During the 6th over, Ella McCaughan was caught at ‘cover’ by Ryana MacDonald-Gay, from Alexa Stonehouse; *After 6 overs power-play, 39/2; *Skipper Georgia Adams was caught ‘in-the-deep’ by diving Alexa Stonehouse, from Alice-Davidson-Richards; *Two wickets fell next over to Dani Gregory’s 2nd over of spin; *Firstly, Georgia Elwiss was bowled; *Five balls later, Emily Windsor was stumped by Chloe Hill; *By mid-way, 67/5; *Dani Gregory took a third wicket from her 3rd over when Nancy Harman went ‘leg-before;’ *Main partnership added 69 runs between keeper-turned-batter Rhianna Southby who hit one ‘six;’ *Partnered by top-scorer Alice Monaghan who hit two ‘sixes; and two ‘fours’ from Phoebe Franklin’s death over; *Vipers’ batting: Alice Monaghan 44*not out (33) Rhianna Southby 25*not out (22); Georgia Elwiss 22(25), Georgia Adams 19(12), Ella McCaughan 10(10); *Stars’ bowling: *Tilly Corteen-Coleman opened the bowling following previous match’s 5-fer. *Dani Gregory 3/23, Alice-Davidson-Richards 1/12, Alexa Stonehouse 1/19, Phoebe Franklin 1/34;
*Stars’ innings skipper Bryony Smith with Alice-Davidson-Richards & Sophia Dunkley (England); *Ryana MacDonald-Gay & Paige Scholfield (England ‘A’); *Alexa Stonehouse & Tilly Corteen-Coleman (England u-19s); *Also with Phoebe Franklin, Danielle ‘Dani’ Gregory & Kalea Moore; *Without Tazmin Brits (Rep. South Africa, injured) *Without Alice Capsey; also Kira Chathli & Tash Farrant (both injured) [*Rhianna Southby keeping wicket for Stars] *After 6 overs power-play, (47/0 vs 39/2);*Next ball, Bryony Smith was caught by Georgia Adams from Linsey Smith; *By mid-way, 73/1 (vs 67/5); *As mentioned above, main partnership added 87 runs between Paige Scholfield and Sophia Dunkley reduced the target to 9 runs from 23 balls when Paige Scholfield was caught behind by Rhianna Southby from Freya Davies; *Two wickets fell next over to Charli Knott; *Firstly Sophia Dunkley was caught by Linsey Smith from Charli Knott; *Next ball Alice-Davidson-Richards was caught by Mary Taylor, for a golden duck from Charli Knott; *After a change of ‘over,’ Phoebe Franklin struck the winning ‘four’ without further incident; *Stars’ batting: Sophia Dunkley 53(42), Paige Scholfield 50(34), Bryony Smith 31(25), Phoebe Franklin 10(7); *Vipers’ bowling: Charli Knott 2/19, Linsey Smith 1/27, Freya Davies 1/30;
*Match result: South East Stars 146/4 (@8.0 runs-per-over, from 18.1/20 overs target 143 from 20/20 ov); beat Southern Vipers 142/6 (@7.0 runs-per-over, from 20/20overs); by six wickets with 11 balls remaining
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/match-centre/104388#scorecard AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin to select a match
*Video highlights (51) courtesy of South East Stars & NV Play @url https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m1bb11ad8-837e-40de-92ac-3c4897f91525 & <06m18s> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qCvfgWYugI
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of South East Stars (via NV Play) on YouTube<03h04m08s> @url https://www.utilitabowl.com/cricket/news/live-stream-south-east-stars-v-southern-vipers,-cec-2024/
*Footnote: full match includes pitch-side news that Stars skipper Bryony Smith became the first ever female to land a women’s ‘County Cricket professional,’ contract from Surrey for next year; and also Sophia Dunkley discussing ream-mate Tilly Corteen-Coleman’s extraordinary ‘four ball double hat-trick’ also adding that her main focus (as anyone else’s) was ‘to win games.’
