Davidson-Richards celebrates England call-up with ton as Stars thrash Blaze
South-East Stars 278 (Davidson-Richards 101, Scholfield 56, Ballinger 4-54) beat Blaze 171 (Gordon 40, Gregory 3-32) by 107 runs
Alice Davidson-Richards celebrated her newest England call-up with a century as South-East Stars thrashed desk toppers The Blaze by 107 runs at Beckenham to spice up their prospects of a spot within the end-of-season playoffs.
The 29-year-old Kent batter, who will hyperlink up with England tomorrow instead of the in poor health Lauren Bell, struck 101 with a six and 11 fours in an innings of 128 balls.
Davidson-Richards shared a stand of 119 for the fifth wicket with in-form Paige Scholfield because the hosts posted a frightening 278, Grace Ballinger returning 4 for 54 and Lucy Higham 2 for 32 for the guests.
Blaze, who dropped Davidson-Richards twice and Scholfield as soon as in an uncharacteristically sloppy show within the subject had been no higher bat in hand, Kirstie Gordon high scoring with 40 in an underwhelming reply of 171. Alexa Stonehouse’s opening spell of 1 for 4 put them on the again foot earlier than Dani Gregory’s 3 for 32 cleaned up the tail.
Ballinger ensured an explosive begin to the encounter, trapping Jemima Spence lbw for a golden duck along with her third supply and when Kira Chathli inside edged one into her center stump two balls later Stars had been 1 for two.
Skipper Bryony Smith retaliated with a trio of boundaries off Cassidy McCarthy and Davidson-Richards caught the temper to cream one from Ballinger via the covers. Successive fours by Davidson-Richards off spinner Kirstie Gordon raised the 50 partnership in 42 balls, however Ballinger concluded her preliminary spell by eradicating Smith for 34.
Davidson-Richards drilled the sport’s first six over bowler Gordon’s head, earlier than being given a life on 32, the spinner failing to carry on to a tricky caught and bowled. She would benefit from the reprieve, her seventh 4 carrying her to 50 in 61 balls.
Scholfield was additionally given an early reprieve, Ella Claridge shelling a routine catch at midwicket and the South African-born all-rounder’s response was to unfurl a sequence of canopy drives as she sped to 50 from 55 balls.
The pair raised the 100-stand and had been sitting fairly at 180 for 4 on the second drinks interval. Scholfield departed quickly afterwards and whereas Davidson-Richards reached her century, she was stumped virtually instantly. However, an enormous six from Stonehouse and a cultured 33 from Bethan Miles meant stars had 278 to defend.
Lizelle Lee quickly confirmed her energy, pulling one from Ryana Macdonald-Gay for six, however the bowler gained revenge when the previous South African opener drilled a fuller ball straight to Scholfield at cowl.
Stonehouse was bowling beautifully from the opposite finish, but satirically her worst ball acquired a wicket, Georgie Boyce tickling one down leg-side via to Chathli and when Macdonald-Gay flattened Teresa Graves’s off-stump with the primary ball of the subsequent over The Blaze had been 41 for 3.
As the clouds rolled in and the speed required rose, the anticipated onslaught from a workforce who’d gained seven out of eight accomplished video games by no means materialised. Miles, impressed by her batting cameo bowled Michaela Kirk for a painstaking seven and Munro was caught brief in her bid to scamper again for 2 by Chloe Hill’s throw.
Claridge chewed up 50 balls for 33 earlier than falling lbw to Smith’s first supply and solely Gordon’s late resistance gave the rating a extra respectable look.