Orla Prendergast century on debut propels Western Storm to victory over Thunder

Western Storm 215 for 4 (Prendergast 115, Wilson 74*) beat Thunder 214 (Lamb 74, Dottin 41) by six wickets

Prendergast’s very good innings comprised 115 balls and included 11 fours and a six as Storm chased down a victory goal of 215 with 51 balls to spare. The decide of Thunder’s bowlers, Mahika Gaur claimed 3 for 39 from her allotted overs.

Heavily defeated by reigning champions Northern Diamonds at Headingley of their opening fixture, Storm summoned the proper response, however Thunder are nonetheless searching for their first win.

Eager to stake a declare for a spot within the England workforce for this summer season’s upcoming Ashes sequence towards Australia, Thunder opener Lamb was decided to make a great impression at a venue through which she posted a notable half-century in a T20 match towards Storm two seasons in the past.

But the early going was predictably powerful towards the brand new ball pair of Gibson and Filer, who made the England worldwide play and miss on a number of events. Fellow opener Naomi Dattani by no means regarded snug and was crushed by motion off the seam, caught on the wicket off Gibson, whereas former Storm participant Fi Morris was comprehensively bowled by a superbly-executed in-swinging yorker from Filer as Thunder slipped to 19 for two inside six overs.

Unfazed by what was occurring on the different finish, the meticulous Lamb continued to chop and drive with confidence, gathering seven boundaries on her method to a chanceless 50 from 59 balls. She was afforded beneficial help from her captain, Eleanor Threlkeld fortunately enjoying second fiddle in an innings of 27 which helped regular the ship. These two added 72 in 13.5 overs for the third wicket to place the guests in credit score, and Storm breathed a collective sigh of aid when Threlkeld inadvertently fluffed her strains, caught and bowled by sluggish left armer Sophia Smale within the act of driving.

Any respite afforded the house workforce proved short-lived as former West Indies worldwide Dottin picked up the cudgels in progressive partnership with Lamb, the fourth-wicket pair staging a quickfire alliance of 69 in 61 balls, within the course of placing a younger Storm aspect beneath intense strain.

Dottin seized the initiative when harvesting a quartet of boundaries in a single over from Filer, this a prelude to launching off spinner Claire Nicholas over long-on for the primary most of the innings after which cowl driving the Wales worldwide for 4 later in the identical over.

Desperate to impact a breakthrough and stem the stream of runs, skipper Gibson referred to as upon Skelton’s off breaks with quick outcomes. The 22-year-old Gloucestershire bowler struck twice within the area of 9 deliveries to say the important thing wickets of Lamb and Dottin and altogether alter the complexion of the sport.

Lamb had plundered 74 from 85 balls with eight fours and little question had three figures in her sights when she miss-timed a pull shot straight to Wilson at deep mid-wicket, whereas the aggressive Dottin, having raised 41 from 40 balls and struck seven fours and a six, holed out to Gibson at deep long-on.

Sitting fairly at 160 for 3 within the twenty ninth over, Thunder went into freefall thereafter, their final seven wickets falling inside 14 overs for the addition of simply 54 runs.

Encouraged by their double breakthrough, resilient Storm turned the screw, Filer accounting for Liberty Heap and Nat Wraith adroitly stumping Tara Norris off the bowling of the superb Gibson. Thunder have been by now dependent upon Danielle Collins, however she was bowled by Skelton for 23, after which Alex Griffiths knocked again Gaur’s off stump after which accomplished a run out to dismiss Alex Hartley and terminate the innings with 5.2 overs unused.

Defending a modest complete, Thunder required the reassurance of early wickets. Sure sufficient, Gaur obliged in a new-ball burst of two for 8 in 5 overs, the tall left-arm seamer pinning Griffiths lbw for one after which persuading Emma Corney to edge behind for 2 as Storm stuttered to 11 for two, their new-look opening partnership failing to fireplace for a second successive match.

Having solely lately arrived from Ireland and nonetheless attending to know her new team-mates, Prendergast discovered herself between a rock and a tough place, charged with the duty of rebuilding beneath excessive strain in unfamiliar environment. She couldn’t have wished for a greater associate than Wilson, the previous England worldwide bringing all of her huge expertise to bear on a tough state of affairs.

Especially spectacular within the circumstances, Prendergast performed an innings stuffed with calculated threat, punishing something wanting a size to attain ostensibly in boundaries whereas the fielding restrictions have been in place after which demonstrating a willingness to take the aerial route when confronted by spin. Warming to her job, the 20-year-old went to 50 within the grand method, hoisting Morris over sq. leg for six, attaining that landmark by way of 49 balls with seven fours.

Prepared to play a supporting function and conscious of the extra accountability positioned upon her by the injury-enforced absence of Sophie Luff, Wilson batted with a level of warning, compiling steadily reasonably than succumbing to any urge to take unwarranted dangers. Her 50 comprised 71 balls and included a modest two fours, at which level the unbroken third-wicket stand was already value 144.

Threlkeld tried a ultimate roll of the cube, recalling Gaur, however the younger Emirates bowler was not practically as efficient with a smooth ball, and Prendergast and Wilson started to chill out because the required charge dropped to beneath 4 an over.

Nevertheless, Prendergast maintained her focus and poise to register three figures for the primary time in senior girls’s cricket, turning Hartley all the way down to deep wonderful leg and operating three to deliver dwelling supporters to their ft in appreciation. Her second 50 spanned 49 balls in an even-paced innings. By the time she was out, bowled by Dattani within the thirty eighth over, Storm have been virtually dwelling and dry.