Issy Wong shines with bat and ball as Sparks defeat Stars
Central Sparks 246 for 8 (Pavely 57*, Wong 50, Davidson-Richards 3-46) beat South East Stars 225 (Blinkhorn-Jones 77, Davidson-Richards 48, George 3-30) by 21 runs
Issy Wong starred with bat and ball as Central Sparks beat hosts South East Stars by 21 runs at Woodbridge Road.
Wong, launched from England Ashes obligation for the fixture, made her maiden list-A half-century, sharing a stand of 102 with Charis Pavely for the seventh wicket, the teenager ending 57 not out in solely her second recreation at this degree. Their heroics carried Sparks to 246 for 8 regardless of Stars’ England all-rounder Alice Davidson-Richards returning 3 for 46.
Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones led the run chase with an impressive 77 whereas Davidson-Richards made 48, however Sparks’ bowlers had the ultimate say, Katie George taking 3 for 30, Georgia Davis 3 for 52 and Wong 2 for 37 as Stars have been bowled out for 225 with 15 balls left.
Eve Jones, Sparks’ main batter within the competitors, was quickly out caught behind off Ryana MacDonald-Gay, the primary of three catches for wicketkeeper Kira Chathli. In-form Abbey Freeborn additionally nicked MacDonald-Gay behind, and with Davidson-Richards hanging two additional blows Sparks stumbled to 61 for 4.
George holed out quickly afterwards just for a no-ball to be referred to as for a waist-high full toss and the batter made good of the reprieve with three fashionable fours in her 31, elevating a 50-partnerhip with opener Bethan Ellis who swept to good impact.
The pair fell within the house of seven balls, George pinned lbw on the again foot by Dani Gregory, whereas Ellis (42) performed one sweep too many towards Stars’ skipper Bryony Smith.
At 121 for six Sparks wanted simply that – a spark and in reality discovered two as Pavely and Wong hit the reset button.
Pavely, exhibiting nice maturity, performed a straight drive again previous Gregory earlier than pulling the identical bowler to the fence at sq. leg. Wong performed second fiddle for some time earlier than unable to include her attacking intent any longer – she despatched one six into the scoreboard and one other clear out the bottom as Sparks posted a difficult whole.
Inspired by her batting exploits, Wong ought to have had an early wicket when discovering the sting of Chathli’s bat, however wicketkeeper Freeborn might solely parry the prospect away to her proper. Wong’s response was to take the fielder’s out of the equation and uproot Chathli’s off-stump.
The England fast quickly appealed once more for a catch behind towards Stars’ skipper Bryony Smith, not answered within the affirmative, however from the very subsequent ball Ami Campbell plucked one out of the sky at huge mid-off to ship the house skipper packing for a duck.
Alexa Stonehouse (29) briefly threatened solely to fall to a catch on the fence by George and Jones pulled off one other blinder at slip as Jemima Spence got here and went, Davis the profitable bowler on each events.
Paige Scholfield with two centuries and greater than 300 runs within the match was one other to not final lengthy, bowled by the gate by Australian all-rounder Erin Burns and at 94 for five Stars’ hopes regarded slim.
Davidson-Richards and Blinkhorn-Jones dug in, surviving a number of vociferous appeals to punish the odd unhealthy ball when it got here to lift a 50-partnership and convey the runs required below 100.
The spectacular George returned to take away each Davidson-Richards, caught within the deep and Kalea Moore, however Blinkhorn-Jones stood agency, twice dispatching the returning Wong to the fence as she raced to 50.
Macdonald-Gay proved foil in a stand of 51 to go away the sport within the steadiness, however she was bowled by Davis and when Blinkhorn-Jones holed out at cowl the sport was up.