Nat Sciver-Brunt exhibits class as Blaze outshine Sparks
Blaze 193 for 7 (Sciver-Brunt 66*, Lee 40) beat Central Sparks 189 (Ellis 53, George 50, Groves 3-39) by 3 wickets
The Blaze fought off closest pursuers Central Sparks in an engrossing match at Edgbaston to report a three-wicket win and strengthen their place on the prime of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy desk.
The league leaders bowled Sparks out for 189 as solely Bethan Ellis (53) and Katie George (50) handed 15 for the house aspect. A good Blaze bowling show was led by Josie Groves (three for 39) as they exploited the turning wicket and a few ill-judged pictures.
The Blaze reply was then spectacularly launched by Lizelle Lee. Spinners Georgia Davies and Hannah Baker precipitated a collapse from 73 for 1 to 91 for six, however Nat Sciver-Brunt confirmed all her expertise and sophistication in an unbeaten 66 to see Blaze residence to 193 for seven from 45.1 overs.
After selecting to bat, Sparks struggled to 38 for 3 within the twelfth over. Kathryn Bryce took the large wicket of Eve Jones who was tempted into enjoying away from her physique and edged to gully. Abbey Freeborn nicked Sophie Munro behind and New Zealand worldwide Maddy Green chipped Grace Ballinger to mid-off to bag a debut duck.
Ami Campbell began purposefully (11 from ten balls) however when she chipped Lucy Higham to mid-wicket, Sparks had been 66 for 4. The resolute Ellis finally discovered some assist from the extra forceful George and the fifth-wicket pair rebuilt fastidiously. However, they fell in successive overs; Ellis lbw to Kathryn Bryce and George lbw to Groves, who then added two extra fast wickets courtesy of careless chips into the infield because the final six wickets tumbled for 40 in 15 overs.
Lee and Tammy Beaumont took simply 34 balls to wipe off that 40 in a thunderous begin, together with six fours from ten balls throughout the third and fourth overs. Lee’s 40 included 9 fours earlier than she lifted a drive at George to cowl.
Beaumont smote the one six of the match, over mid-wicket off George, however when she ambled a single and was run out by Charis Pavely’s throw, the innings went into decline towards the spinners. Five wickets fell in six overs as sharp return catches by Davis eliminated the Bryce sisters and Baker bowled Georgie Boyce and Munro.
A diligent stand of 40 in 11 overs between Sciver-Brunt and Higham ended when the latter fell to a shocking catch by Green at mid-wicket. That left Sciver-Brunt with 59 to seek out with the decrease order and, with loads of overs within the financial institution, she did it completely, reaching a 57-ball half-century in an unbroken stand of 62 in 90 balls with skipper Kirstie Gordon, who completed 15 not out.