Lauren Bell quells Storm batting earlier than Maia Bouchier leads stroll to victory
Southern Vipers 107 for 3 (Bouchier 45) beat Western Storm 105 for 8 (Luff 44, Bell 3-19) by seven wickets
Charlie Dean turned Southern Vipers’ all-time main wicket-taker as Vipers started Champions Day on the Ageas Bowl with a crushing victory over Western Storm.
England offspinner Dean overtook Tara Norris as her 2 for 15 catapulted her to 52 wickets for the aspect throughout the Kia Super League, Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, and Charlotte Edwards Cup.
Lauren Bell‘s two wickets within the first over meant certain Storm by no means actually bought going, as they solely set holders Vipers 106. Maia Bouchier ensured it wasn’t a irritating chase with a measured 45 to carry dwelling the seven-wicket bonus level victory with 35 balls to spare.
Storm selected to bat first on a dry wicket underneath clear blue skies however had been 4 for 3 earlier than the top of the second over.
Nat Wraith chipped Bell to cowl third ball earlier than Dani Gibson edged behind a hooping in-swinging supply. Anya Shrubsole then had her former England captain Heather Knight stumped off a large to proceed the procession of wickets.
Vipers had walked out previous the Charlotte Edwards Cup trophy, with Hampshire’s Vitality Blast trophy additionally on present, as the 2 sides celebrated their 2022 triumphs.
Fran Wilson tried to settle issues down and carved Bell for boundaries via level both aspect of being dropped at first slip. She was quickly stumped off Dean earlier than Orla Prendergast did not take her life – having been put down by Bouchier – as she stepped throughout her stumps and was lbw. Alex Griffith did not fare significantly better as she picked out long-on.
Around all of the wickets, captain Sophie Luff was utilizing her textbook working to good impact, whereas nearly single-handily taking Storm to some type of respectability with 5 fours. She fell for 44 when slapping a returning Bell to level – the quick bowler returning 3 for 19. Niamh Holland was the final to depart when she was castled by Linsey Smith as Storm limped to 105 for 8.
Danni Wyatt bought the reply off to a flyer with a trio of powerfully struck boundaries off the primary over earlier than Bouchier took over with some brutal placing down the bottom.
Wyatt was yorked by Prendergast and Nicole Faltum was bowled via the gate by Lauren Filer. But Bouchier’s easy run making made certain there was no wobble as she placed on 47 with Georgia Adams to take them inside 11 runs.
Having struck eight fours, Bouchier tried to succeed in a half-century with a six over midwicket however was caught on the boundary edge. But Georgia Elwiss clubbed the profitable runs after her swing to the leg aspect was dropped on the ropes and pushed for 4 to verify Vipers stay unbeaten because the 2021 Eliminator within the Charlotte Edwards Cup.