Spin wizardry from Bell, Morris leads Thunder to crushing win over Stars
Thunder 147 for 4 (Lamb 50) beat South East Stars 145 (Schofield 38, Bell 4-23, Morris 3-33) by six wickets
Olivia Bell and Fi Morris produced spin wizardry as Thunder crushed hosts SE Stars by six wickets at Guildford to maintain alive their hopes of a spot within the end-of-season play-off.
Bell bowled with nice flight and revs to extract sharp flip from the Woodbridge Road wicket in taking 4 for 23, whereas Morris wheeled away successfully from the opposite finish to return 3 for 33 as Stars had been hustled out for 145, Paige Scholfield‘s 38 the one vital contribution for the hosts.
Thunder chased down the goal of 146 with 145 balls to spare, England opener Emma Lamb main the cost with 50.
Stars quickly slumped to 30 for 3 contained in the powerplay. Skipper Bryony Smith could not replicate her large hitting exploits of The Hundred, miscuing an tried pull off Tara Norris to mid-on. Phoebe Graham then stepped as much as fortress first Alexa Stonehouse, then Kira Chathli to depart the hosts reeling.
Aylish Cranstone briefly threatened, solely to chip the second ball after the drinks break from Bell to a grateful Graham at midwicket. It marked the start of a bewitching spell from the off-spinner who quickly disposed of Alice Davidson-Richards for a scratchy 21.
Hopes of a rebuild lay with Scholfield and Chloe Hill, the previous having made 100 towards Thunder within the reverse fixture again in April. With Bell briefly faraway from the assault – a baffling name given the flip she was extracting, Scholfield took heavy toll of two wayward overs from Lamb because the 50-partnership rattled up in solely 25 minutes.
Just as they’d a foothold Stars imploded, Hill lofting one from Morris into the deep. The dismissal sparked a dramatic collapse, 5 wickets tumbling for simply 18 runs to the spin twins, Morris securing the prize wicket of Scholfield, caught by Lamb.
With so few to defend Ryana Macdonald-Gay endured a nightmare 10-ball opening over, two wides and two no-balls serving to Thunder knock 12 off the goal.
The errant bowler was jettisoned in favour of Schofield, who made the breakthrough within the fifth over, having Seren Smale caught at backward level and the South African-born all-rounder might need had two in two if her vociferous lbw shout towards Naomi Dattani had been answered within the affirmative, however Stonehouse continued to leak runs from the opposite finish.
Stars unleashed spin within the type of Smith and Kalea Moore seeking inspiration, however Dattani swept the previous for 4, whereas Lamb, extra snug with bat in hand, twice lofted Moore again over her head for wonderful straight sixes.
A sweep for 4 by Dattani raised the 50-stand, whereas Lamb moved serenely to a half-century from 56 balls, and it was a shock when she fell lbw to Davidson-Richards with out additional addition.
Spinner Dani Gregory was belatedly launched and eliminated Dattani with one which caught within the pitch and Morris too departed simply earlier than the emphatic win was sealed.