Western Storm vs Southern Vipers – Bristol (The Seat Unique Stadium) on 9 June 2024
Heroics by Georgia Adams (pictured) both with bat-and-ball secured victory for the double-defending champions by 18 runs. Three Vipers spinners [Charlie Dean (England); skipper Adams & Linsey Smith (both England ‘A’)] each took two pairs of Storm wickets. Initially, Vipers had a disappointing innings as skipper Georgia Adams [55 runs (from 40 balls)] scored almost half of Vipers’ runs and seven batters failed to reach double-figures. That resulted in Vipers’ below-par score. Commentators lauded Storm’s Lauren Filer [3/8] (England) for ‘one of the best fast-bowling spells seen for some time.’ Australian leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington also took a 3-fer for Storm. By comparison, England skipper Heather Knight [69 (from 56 balls)] posted more than half of Storms’ runs (60%.) Also, both teams chalked-up almost identical scores by mid-way (both having lost three wickets). Thereafter, Storm’s run-chase faltered when losing two pairs of wickets repeatedly for a second and third time. On the third occasion, Storm’s run-chase seemed destined to fall short. Hence it would be misleading (as reported by non-UK sources) that Storm’s run-chase stood any chance of success during either of the final two overs immediately after Heather Knight departed. Commentators were Clare B Jenkins (Women’s cricket commentator & ex-Somerset & Derbys Women) with Dr Hannah Thompson-Radford (Sports media journalist.) Also Ed ‘cricket’ Seabourne who was announced belatedly; and with guest appearance from Danni Gibson (England & Storm.)
*Vipers’ innings: skipper Georgia Adams (England ‘A’) with Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean, Freya Kemp (England); Georgia Elwiss (ex England); *Also with Charli Knott (Australia Big-bash); Nancy Harman, Alice Monaghan; Without Freya Davies, Ella McCaughan, Mary Taylor or Danni Wyatt; [*Natasha ‘Nat’ Wraith keeping wicket for Storm]; *’Enormous wicket’ when Maia Bouchier ‘mis-timed,’ caught at ‘mid-on’ by Sophia Smale’s ‘safe hands:’ for 3rd-ball duck from Lauren Filer; *Georgia Elwiss ‘edged upwards’, caught by Heather Knight from Sophia Smale’s spin; *After 6 overs power-play, 41/2; *Commentator’s curse struck after Charli Knott had ‘shown what she’s got,’ (by hitting ‘six’) came down-wicket again, ‘swiped’ and was stumped by Nat Wraith, from Amanda-Jade Wellington; *By mid-way 79/3; *Two balls later, commentators became wrong-footed when Freya Kemp ‘hit-wicket,’ standing ‘deep-in-crease’ with her leg-stump bail missing, bowled by Lauren Filer; *Later adding that ‘hit-wicket’ was ‘a strange turn of events,’ notably ‘quite rare’ in t20; *Next over, Charlie Dean was caught behind from a ‘thin edge’ by Nat Wraith from Amanda-Jade Wellington; *Commentator’s curse struck again with 6 overs remaining: when ‘changed tactics’ called for ‘singles’ rather than scoring ‘fours.’ Next ball, Nancy Harman was bowled by Lauren Filer; *Alice Monaghan was caught high at ‘long-on’ by by Fran Wilson, from Amanda-Jade Wellington’s final over; *Next over, Georgia Adams who top-scored with fifty’ was also caught at ‘long-on’ by Fran Wilson, from Sophia Smale; *Finally, Rhianna Southby was caught by Nat Wraith from Issy Wong; *Storm were said to be ‘delighted’ to keep Vipers (score) ‘below 140;’ *Vipers’ batting: Georgia Adams 55(40), Charli Knott 37(29), Alice Monaghan 11(13); *Storm’s bowling: Lauren Filer 3/8, Amanda-Jade Wellington 3/17, Sophia Smale 2/28, Issy Wong 1/27;
*Storm’s innings *Storm’s innings skipper Sophie Luff, with Heather Knight (England), Fran Wilson (ex-England), Chloe Skelton, Sophia Smale, (England u-19s), Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia Big bash), & Ellie Anderson ‘on loan’ & Issy Wong from Sparks, *without Danni Gibson – (guest inside commentary box); [*Rhianna Southby keeping wicket for Vipers] *Heather Knight made top-score with double-figures; *Disaster struck during the 3rd over firstly when Nat Wraith was caught by Georgia Adams; and next ball Fran Wilson went ‘leg-before,’ for a golden duck, placing Linsey Smith on a hat-trick; *Level-pegging after 6 overs power-play, 43/2 (vs 41/2); *Another wicket fell before mid-way when Sophie Luff went ‘leg-before’ to Charlie Dean; *By mid-way 71/3 (vs79/3); *Amanda-Jade Wellington was caught by Freya Kemp, from Charli Knott’s 2nd over; *Second hat-trick, this time for Charlie Dean threatened, firstly when Niamh Holland was bowled; *Next ball Issy Wong was bowled for a golden duck; *Sophia Smale was caught by Maia Bouchier from Georgia Adams; *Third hat-trick, this time for Georgia Adams threatened, firstly when top-scorer Heather Knight was caught by Alice Monaghan; *Next ball Lauren Filer was bowled for a golden duck; *Finally, Chloe Skelton was caught by Georgia Adams, from Lauren Bell’s final delivery; *Storm’s batting: Heather Knight 69(56), Sophie Luff 12(19); *Vipers’ bowling: Georgia Adams 3/23, Charlie Dean 3/24, Linsey Smith 2/16, Charli Knott 1/26, Lauren Bell 1/29;
*Match result: Southern Vipers’ 137/9 (6.8 runs-per-over from 20/20 overs) beat Western Storm 119/10 (5.9 rpo from 20/20 ov; target 138 from 20/20 ov) by 18 runs
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/match-centre/104395#scorecard AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin to select a match
*Video highlights (49) courtesy of Glos Cricket & NV Play @url https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#vceadcd8e-4a2e-465f-a71f-fbec5d71ae43
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of Western Storm & Glos Cricket (via NV Play) on YouTube<03h07m17s> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHKxrSVIFhY
