Central Sparks vs The Blaze at Birmingham (Edgbaston Stadium) on 19 June 2024 at 11h30 prev apr20th when Sparks beat Blaze at 50overs
An ‘enterprising innings’ by top-scorer Davina Perrin (England u19s) – the only batter to score ’six,’ – gave Sparks sufficient momentum to close their innings shy of 140. Commentator’s curse struck when ‘building that score, Davina Perrin was caught by Ella Claridge, from u-19 team-mate Josie Groves. The Blaze relied with a match-winning century partnership between Marie Kelly – pictured [89*not out from (63 balls)] who struck 9 ‘fours;’ with Scotland’s skipper Kathryn Bryce 27(32.) Receiving news at the ‘dug-out’ that Vipers had beaten Stars, the remaining match became an unexpected dress-rehearsal’ for finals day. Separately earlier this season, Sparks skipper Eve Jones told reporters she was ‘chuffed’ when Sparks beat Blaze for the first time (at 50 overs on 20 April) when playing on the same ground. Finishing the group-stage ‘in top spot,’ Blaze will play fourth-placed Sparks again, in Saturday’s first semi-final at Derby – please see below. Commentators were Clare B Jenkins (Women’s cricket commentator & ex-Somerset & Derbys Women) with Kevan ‘Kev’ James (BBC Sport.) Special guests Dr Raf Nicholson & Syd Egan: both CRICKETHer social-media ‘podcast.’
Sparks’ Innings *Skipper Evelyn ‘Eve’ Jones (England A) *Sarah Glenn & Amy Jones (England) Hannah Baker (ECB Women’s Development XI), Charis Pavely & Davina Perrin (England u-19s) Emily ‘Em’ Arlott, Grace Potts & Georgia Davis *Also with Courtney Webb (Australia Big bash) *Without Issy Wong (England ‘A’) Ami Campbell or Ria Fackrell [*Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for ‘Blaze’]; *After 6 overs power-play 25/0 reaching 67/1 by mid-way (10 overs.) *As noted above, commentator’s curse struck during the 10th over, when next ball, top-scorer Davina Perrin struck with toe-end, but was caught at ‘extra-cover’ (reported elsewhere as ‘mid-off’) by Ella Claridge, from Josie Groves; *Abbey Freeborn ‘top-edged’ and caught just short of ‘fine-leg’ ( by Grace Ballinger, from Sarah Glenn; *Eve Jones was caught aerial ‘easily’ at ‘deep-square’ by Josie Groves, from Grace Ballinger; *Courtney Webb was caught ‘at shotgun third’ by Kirstie Gordon, from Josie Groves; *Katie George steepled an ‘uppish’ catch to ‘deep-mid-off’ to Kirstie Gordon, from Heather Graham; *Kirstie Gordon took a pair of wickets during the 19th over; *Amy Jones was bowled off-stump with bails flying by Kirstie Gordon, from the left-armer coming around-the-wicket; *Missing a sweep, Emily Arlott lost her leg-stump bail to Kirstie Gordon, for a second-ball duck; *Finally Charis Pavely was bowled leaving angled middle stump and bails sent flying, by Heather Graham; *Sparks’ batting: Davina Perrin 37(33), Abbey Freeborn 39(32), Amy Jones 36(26); *Blaze’s bowling: Josie Groves 2/13, Kirstie Gordon 2/14, Heather Graham 2/38, Grace Ballinger 1/16, Sarah Glenn 1/26;
Blaze’s innings *Skipper Kirstie Gordon (England A) *With Sarah Glenn (England); *Lucy Higham (England A) *Josie Groves (England u-19s) *Heather Graham (Australia Big bash) *Daisy Mullan on loan from Thunder *Also with Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland) *Without Tammy Beaumont (England); Georgie Boyce injured [*Abbey Freeborn keeping wicket for Sparks]; *After 6 overs power-play 34/1 (vs 25/0) but level-pegging at 65/1 (vs 67/1) by mid-way (10 overs.) *First-ball-of-the-innings, Teresa Graves was comfortably caught at ‘mid-off’ by Courtney Webb from Emily Arlott, for a golden duck; *Century partnership between Marie Kelly & Kathryn Bryce added 106 runs, as mentioned above; *During the 15th over Kathryn Bryce was trapped down the leg-side and stumped by Abbey Freeborn, from Grace Potts’ in-swing; *Sarah Bryce was short-lived, snicking a fine-edge to keeper Abbey Freeborn, from Georgia Davis; *Next over Heather Graham raised her bat, mis-timed and was bowled by Charis Pavely; *Ella Claridge went aerial, caught backward of ‘point’ by Davina Perrin from Hannah Baker; *Sarah Glenn scored the winning ‘single from Emily Arlott’s death over;’*Blaze’s batting Marie Kelly 89*not out(63), Kathryn Bryce 27(32),Ella Claridge 10(5); *Sparks’ bowling:Emily ‘Em’ Arlott 1/18, Grace Potts 1/16, Charis Pavely 1/18, Georgia Davis 1/27, Hannah Baker 1/34;
Match result: The Blaze 139/5 (@7.1 runs-per-over from 19.2/20 overs; target 139 from 20 overs) 4 points beat Central Sparks 138/8; (@6.9 rpo from 20/20 overs) by five wickets with 4 balls remaining.
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/match-centre/104407#scorecard
*Video highlights (47) courtesy of Central Sparks & NV Play @url https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#v6055267c-1f14-4541-84e4-0679c5467fb0
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of Central Sparks (via NV Play) on YouTube<02h55m25s>@url https://www.youtube.com/live/puTRO-MJu9g
*Finals day at Derby @url https://derbyshireccc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/charlotte_edwards_cup_finals_day
