The Blaze vs Southern Vipers at Chesterfield (Queens Park) on 5 July 2024 at 10h30
Billed as a top-of-table clash between two of the top three teams, with both contenders depleted by England call-up. Bizarrely, Blaze lost to the defending champions with a superior run-rate, but were bowled-out by Vipers in ‘tricky’ conditions. Seam bowlers were said to ‘find movement,’ but strangely ‘not much turn’ for spinners. Vipers’ Georgia Elwiss (pictured) scored her third ‘ton’ at 50-overs cricket, clocking-up three figures with a ‘huge’ match-winning ’six,’ to close undefeated [on 101*not out (from 110 balls).] Lead commentator Kev James mentioned that Marie Kelly and Emma Lamb had also scored ‘tons’ on the same ground. Separately, James added that as a former cricketer, he’d also scored a ‘ton’ on the same ground, during his very last visit. Georgia Elwiss’ partnership with Abi Norgove (England-u19s) added 136 runs (from 124 balls): that enabled a ‘tight finish’ during the final over. Top-of-table Vipers nudged Blaze into second-place. Post-match, Abi Norgorve spoke to Kev James about chalking-up her highest ever score 64 please see interview below. Commentators sat inside pitch-side tent with Kevan ‘Kev’ James (BBC Sport) with Charlotte Taylor (Vipers) and guest Nigel Mallender, (Chair, Chesterfield CC.) Weather ’surprisingly’ sunny, breezy, mainly with blue sky; 15C.
*Blaze’s innings *Skipper Kirstie Gordon (England A) & Lucy Higham (England A); *Josie Groves (England u19s) *With Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Bryce (Scotland) *With Heather Graham (Australia big bash), *Also with Cassidy McCarthy & Ella Claridge *Without Tammy Beaumont & Sarah Glenn (England call-up) *Without Nadine deKlerk, Michaela Kirk (Rep. South Africa call-up) or Georgie Boyce (injured); [*Rhianna Southby keeping wicket for Vipers]; *Teresa Graves was ‘run-out’ ‘by a good yard,’ at the striker’s-end by a throw from ‘covers’ (from Alice Monaghan gaffed as Charli Knott); *After 10 ov. Power-play 45/1; *Two short of ‘fifty,’ Sarah Bryce was caught ‘reflexively’ (motionless) at ‘backward point’ (non-uk sources reported as ‘dive’ at ‘point’) by Mary Taylor from Ava Lee; *After 25 overs (mid-way) 130/2; Kathryn Bryce was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Georgia Adams from Ava Lee; Marie Kelly was bowled ‘middle-and-off’ by Mary Taylor’s ball, said to ‘nip back;’ Missing a ’square-cut,’ Ella Claridge was caught leg-side from a ‘poor ball,’ edged wide to Rhianna Southby from Charli Knott; Playing ‘across-the-line’ Kirstie Gordon went ‘leg-before’ to Charli Knott for a golden duck; Missing ’reverse paddle,’ Lucy Higham was bowled ‘middle-stump’ by Georgia Adams; Missing a ‘square-cut,’ Josie Groves was bowled by Charli Knott; Heather Graham was cursed by commentators for scoring ‘one shot too many’ than the ‘same number of runs’ to the number worn on her back; *Next ball, Heather Graham was caught at ‘long-on’ by Charli Knott from Mary Taylor; *Finally, Cassidy McCarthy went for a ‘carbon copy’ dismissal, placing Mary Taylor on a ‘hat-trick’ when bowling her first ball, next match; *Blaze’s batting: Heather Graham 78(59), Kathryn Bryce 65(72), Sarah Bryce 48(64), Marie Kelly 33(40), Ella Claridge 13(17); Vipers bowling: Mary Taylor 3/32, Charli Knott 3/63, Ava Lee 2/51, Georgia Adams 1/54;
*Vipers’ Innings skipper Georgia Adams, with Freya Davies & plus Charli Knott (Australia big-bash); *Also with Ava Lee, Alice Monaghan & Abi Norgrove *without Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean & Freya Kemp on England call-up [Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze]; *’Wrapped on the pad,’ a ‘big loss’ when Charli Knott went ‘leg-before’ to Grace Ballinger’s ball that nipped back; *After 10 ov. Power-play 50/1 (vs 45/1); *Ella McCaughan was bowled by Heather Graham; *Pair of wickets fell when Cassidy McCarthy bowled the 20th over; *Staging two ‘fifty’ partnerships, Georgia Adams was ‘run-out’ by Lucy Higham’s direct hit; 4 balls later, Emily Windsor was caught at ‘backward point’ by Josie Groves; *After 25 overs (mid-way) 137/4 (vs 130/2); *5th wicket partnership between Georgia Elwiss and Abi Norgrove added 136; *Commentator’s curse struck when batters needed to consider ‘playing their shots now!’ *Pair of wickets fell when Abi Norgrove was caught ‘overhead’ at ‘mid-wicket’ by Marie Kelly; 3 balls later Alice Monaghan ‘went for a swipe,’ when bowled by Kathryn Bryce; Vipers’ batting: Georgia Elwiss 101*not out(110), Abi Norgrove 64(75), Georgia Adams 47(53), Ella McCaughan 26(43); Blaze’s Bowling: Kathryn Bryce 2/43, Cassidy McCarthy 1/30, Grace Ballinger 1/33, Kirstie Gordon 1/43, Heather Graham 1/57;
*Match result: Southern Vipers 281/6(@5.6 runs-per-over from 49.2/50 overs) beat The Blaze 278/10 (@5.8 r-p-o from 47.2/50 ov) by four wickets, with four balls remaining.
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/match-centre/104446#scorecard/ AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin to select a match
*Video highlights (88) courtesy of The Blaze & powered by NV Play @url https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#v3326b0e6-e45b-4740-912f-851084e385b6
*Full Blaze’s innings free-to-air courtesy of Southern Vipers <03h08m39s>@url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO_qytnMysc&t=16s
*Full Vipers’ innings free-to-air courtesy of The Blaze <03h08m40s>@url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO_qytnMysc&t=20s
*Post match interview by Kev James with Abi Norgrove: Norgrove on Great Win Over The Blaze <02m29>@url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtBnN84v01U
*Updated fixtures and results @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/05/12/updated-rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-fixtures-and-results/
