Ruthless bowling sees Sunrisers storm to victory
Sunrisers 144 for six (Villiers 29) beat Western Storm 143 (Corney 34, Grewcock 3-24, Coppack 3-26) by 4 wickets
Sunrisers’ ruthless bowling paved the best way for them to climb off the foot of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy desk after overcoming Western Storm by 4 wickets at Radlett.
Kate Coppack‘s early three-wicket burst lowered Storm to 18 for 4 after seven overs and, though Emma Corney‘s 34 improved their fortunes, Sunrisers’ trio of spinners restricted them to simply 143 all out.
Jodi Grewcock completed with 3 for twenty-four, whereas Mady Villiers and Grace Scrivens bowled a full allocation of overs for two for 31 and 1 for 19 respectively.
Villiers then top-scored with 29 from 24 balls as Sunrisers handed their goal with 16.1 overs to spare, avenging their six-run defeat to Storm at Cheltenham in July in addition to leapfrogging their opponents within the standings.
Having received the toss and unsurprisingly chosen to bat in scorching, dry circumstances, Storm had been left reeling as Coppack and Eva Gray blew away their high order – regardless of missed alternatives to take away each openers even earlier.
Stand-in captain Scrivens was unable to cling onto a pointy slip catch supplied by Alex Griffiths to the primary supply of the match, whereas Corney was but to get off the mark when she was put down behind the stumps.
However, Gray had Griffiths taken at level and Coppack despatched Storm skipper Sophie Luff’s center and off stumps flying earlier than dismissing each Fran Wilson and Niamh Holland in her fourth over, a double-wicket maiden.
Corney caught round to launch a mini-recovery with Nat Wraith, who dispatched each Coppack and Gray for boundaries earlier than being tempted right into a slog sweep that was neatly pouched by Jo Gardner, operating in from deep midwicket.
Sophia Smale helped Corney so as to add 42 for the sixth wicket, however Sunrisers once more struck twice in an over, with Grewcock’s floaty leg-spinners trapping Smale in entrance, then piercing the opener’s defences.
Nicole Harvey batted sensibly for an innings of 25 that, coupled with Sunrisers’ curious reluctance to convey again their frontline seamers, enabled the guests to edge as much as 143 earlier than they had been bowled out with nearly 5 overs unused.
That whole seemed unlikely to be sufficient and debutant Ariana Dowse helped to assemble a strong platform for Sunrisers’ reply, steering Mollie Robbins for 2 elegant cowl boundaries as she and Scrivens placed on 33.
However, Robbins broke the opening partnership by successful an lbw choice in opposition to Dowse and left-arm spinner Smale, who was launched as quickly because the eighth over, constructed strain on the batters as Scrivens was persuaded to gap out to lengthy off.
Grewcock and Amara Carr displayed persistence, ready for the dangerous balls to return as they steadied the ship with a stand of 43 – just for each to be washed overboard in successive deliveries. Grewcock was lbw after lacking a full toss from Chloe Skelton and Carr got here up quick making an attempt to beat Smale’s throw from lengthy leg for a second run as Storm, with 62 nonetheless wanted, sensed a gap.
Their hopes had been dashed by Villiers and Gardner, who batted confidently in a partnership of 48 from 52 and, though Griffiths collected two late wickets, Gardner sealed victory with a single off Smale to complete unbeaten on 24.