South East Stars 126 for six (Davidson-Richards 43, Prendergast 2-12) beat Western Storm 121 (Luff 43*, Davies 2-14)

South East Stars produced a disciplined efficiency within the discipline to beat Western Storm by six runs in a close-fought Charlotte Edwards Cup contest at Taunton's Cooper Associates Ground.

Needing to bounce again after being comfortably overwhelmed by Southern Vipers 48 hours earlier, Storm suffered a 3rd defeat in 4 outings and at the moment are adrift of the highest 4, whereas Stars registered their second win in 5 video games to maintain alive their hopes of progressing.

If Storm had been trying to make a quick begin to calm any nerves, they had been made to suppose once more as they slipped to 37 for 4 in 6.1 overs, Franklin and Ryana MacDonald-Gay eradicating openers Nat Wraith and Dani Gibson for 12 apiece and Davies bowling Fran Wilson for 1. When Paige Scholfield had England captain Heather Knight caught on the wicket for 11, Stars will need to have fancied their probabilities of defending a modest complete in opposition to opponents who've proved vulnerable to batting collapses in latest instances.

So usually Storm's saviour in these conditions, Luff instantly set about repairing the harm, working the ball into gaps and working properly between the wickets to maneuver rapidly into double figures. Having initially performed a supporting position, Prendergast hoisted Scholfield over midwicket for an enormous six after which edged for 4 later in the identical over to afford the innings much-needed impetus.

These two had added 35 for the fifth wicket when Prendergast fluffed her traces, slapping a Gregory full toss straight to midwicket and falling for 17 within the twelfth over. Gregory made additional in-roads in her subsequent over, Alex Griffiths dancing down the observe and being comprehensively stumped as Storm lurched to 78 for six

Now within the firm of Niamh Holland and with the asking fee above eight an over, Luff represented Storm's final lifelike probability. But she was at risk of working out of companions. Holland was run out by Davidson-Richards for 7, Lauren Filer nicked behind off Davies and Sophia Smale was bowled by Franklin, at which level Storm required an additional 17 runs from 11 balls with one wicket standing.

With 12 wanted off the final over, former Storm bowler Davies held her nerve as Chloe Skelton was run out to settle a decent end in favour of the guests.

Storm had earlier received the toss, elected to bat and made simply their greatest begin of the season with the ball, decreasing Stars to 14 for 3 inside 4 overs. Ireland worldwide Prendergast made the preliminary breakthrough, bowling Stars skipper Bryony Smith with a ball that sneaked between bat and pad, and 11 for 1 grew to become 11 for two when fellow opener Scholfield mistimed a pull shot and supplied an easy catch to mid-on as Filer struck along with her first supply from the River End.

Called into the aspect as a alternative for the injured Sophia Dunkley, Aylish Cranstone additionally got here and went rapidly, trying to drive Prendergast and succeeding solely in sending a forefront looping to mid-on, the place Sophia Smale took a tumbling catch.

Charged with the duty of repairing the harm, England gamers Davidson-Richards and Alice Capsey actually confronted an uphill job as Stars struggled to 26 for 3 on the conclusion of a powerplay that did not yield a single boundary.

Realising the necessity to take drastic motion, Capsey drove Filer for the primary boundary of the innings within the seventh over, eluding additional cowl by inches. But her luck ran out within the subsequent over, offspinner Chloe Skelton inducing her to slice to level the place Fran Wilson held a positive catch. Capsey had gone for 12 and Stars had been beneath duress at 31 for 4.

It fell to Franklin to muster significant help for Davidson-Richards and the fifth-wicket pair blossomed within the face of spin, discovering the boundary just a little extra usually and pushing the sphere again in a restorative partnership that reached 50 through 45 balls.

Adopting the position of aggressor-in-chief, Davidson-Richards plundered 10 runs from one Knight over and the stand was value 52 when Franklin lastly succumbed, chipping Griffiths meekly to mid-on and departing for 17. Looking to speed up, Davidson-Richards adopted her again to the pavilion quickly afterwards, pinned lbw by the wily Gibson with the rating on 95 within the seventeenth over.

Thereafter, Stars had been indebted to Farrant, the England worldwide demonstrating her ingenuity in plundering six fours and scoring at two runs a ball in a forthright innings that served to make a sport of it.