Cricket

Central Sparks emerged victorious in their clash against Southern Vipers in the Charlotte Edwards Cup at New Road, Worcester. Despite both teams already securing their spots in the Finals Day, Sparks showcased their bowling prowess, restricting Vipers to a mere 98 runs.With key bowlers Hannah Baker and Emily Arlott rested, Sparks' bowling attack proved equally formidable. Grace Potts, Katie George, Bethan Ellis, and Ria Fackrell each claimed two wickets, preventing any Vipers batter from reaching the 20-run mark. Rhianna Southby's 19 runs from number eight stood as the highest score for the visitors.In response, Sparks chased down the target with ease, reaching 99 for 5 with 31 balls to spare. Davina Perrin's assertive 26 from 17 balls set the tone for the chase, while Amy Jones' 26 from 29 guided the team to victory.Vipers' innings began promisingly, with Maia Bouchier hitting a six off Potts. However, the momentum shifted after Danni Wyatt's dismissal, and the innings spiraled downward. Sparks' disciplined bowling attack kept the Vipers batters in check, with only six fours and one six scored throughout the innings.Sparks' reply was equally impressive. Ami Campbell's early fours set the pace, and Perrin's aggressive approach kept the pressure on Vipers. Despite losing a few wickets, Jones' powerful shot into the Basil D'Oliveira Stand and Courtney Webb's steady contribution ensured Sparks' comfortable victory.

Central Sparks secured their Charlotte Edwards Cup qualification with a thrilling last-ball eight-wicket victory over Thunder at Edgbaston.Thunder, put in to bat, posted a competitive 146 for six, thanks to a superb maiden T20 half-century from 19-year-old Seren Smale. Smale, who came to the crease with Thunder in trouble at three for two, rescued her team with a polished innings of 88 not out from 61 balls, including nine fours. Grace Potts led the Sparks bowling attack with two for 18.Sparks' chase started slowly, but an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 128 between Abi Freeborn (71 not out from 57 balls) and Amy Jones (67 not out from 45 balls) powered them to victory. Jones struck the last two balls of the 20th over for four to seal the win and end Thunder's hopes of qualification.With Eve Jones ruled out by concussion, Georgia Davis captained Sparks and won the toss, opting to field. Both opening bowlers struck in their first over, with Fi Morris falling to Potts and Katie Mack to Charis Pavely, leaving Thunder reeling at three for two after two overs.Smale's dropped catch between wicketkeeper and slip proved costly for Sparks, as she and Emma Lamb (25 from 28 balls) added 61 in 51 balls. After Lamb's dismissal, Threlkeld joined Smale in a 58-run stand in 41 balls, with Smale reaching her half-century in 41 balls.Thunder started strongly with the ball, with Kate Cross dismissing Ami Campbell in the first over and Tara Norris conceding just a single in the second. However, Ecclestone's first ball was spun past Perrin, who was stumped by Threlkeld.Freeborn and Jones rebuilt methodically, keeping Sparks in the race. Freeborn reached 50 in 35 balls and Jones in 37, leaving 26 needed from the last three overs. Phoebe Graham's final over came down to ten off the last over, and five from the last two balls. Jones hoisted the first of those over mid-off for four and the second to the cover boundary to send Sparks through to Finals Day.

Southern Vipers' Charlie Dean orchestrated a remarkable comeback victory against Northern Diamonds in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a crucial win that bolsters their chances of reaching the finals day.Chasing a modest target of 146, Vipers found themselves in dire straits at 29 for 4. However, Dean, celebrating her 22nd birthday, played a scintillating knock of 64 off 38 deliveries, guiding her team to a five-wicket triumph.Dean's innings was a masterclass in aggressive batting, peppered with nine boundaries. She struck three consecutive fours off Katherine Fraser to reach her maiden Charlotte Edwards Cup fifty in just 29 balls. Her match-winning knock eclipsed her previous best of 60 for the region.Northern Diamonds had earlier posted a competitive 145 for 4, thanks to a classy 69 from Hollie Armitage. The birthday girl anchored the innings, sharing half-century partnerships with Sterre Kalis and Bess Heath.Despite the early wickets, Vipers' experienced lineup, featuring eight England internationals, struggled to gain momentum. Maia Bouchier and Charli Knott fell cheaply to Rachel Slater, while Erin Burns' spin proved troublesome for Georgia Adams and Freya Kemp.Danni Wyatt provided some stability with a 28-ball 28, but it was Dean's heroics that turned the tide. With Elwiss providing support, Dean took the game by the scruff of the neck, hitting the winning runs with seven balls to spare.Vipers' victory keeps them in contention for a place in the finals day, while Diamonds' hopes of qualifying are dashed. The defending champions now have five wins from six matches, while Diamonds remain winless after three games.

The Blaze continued their dominant run in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing an eighth consecutive victory with an eight-wicket triumph over Sunrisers at Lord's. Kathryn Bryce, the tournament's leading run-scorer, once again proved her prowess with an unbeaten 57 from 37 balls.Bryce's innings, her fourth half-century in six games, was the cornerstone of The Blaze's chase. She shared a crucial 100-run partnership with her younger sister Sarah, who contributed an unbeaten 54 from 35 deliveries. The Bryce sisters' partnership ensured The Blaze maintained their 100% record in the group stage, reaching their target with 29 balls to spare.Earlier, Sunrisers captain Grace Scrivens led her team's batting effort with a top score of 42 from 38 balls. However, The Blaze's bowlers kept the Sunrisers in check, restricting them to 137 for seven. Marie Kelly's direct hit from mid-off accounted for Scrivens, while Heather Graham claimed two wickets in three deliveries to stifle Sunrisers' momentum.The Blaze's chase got off to a shaky start when Tammy Beaumont was dismissed for a duck. However, Marie Kelly and Sarah Bryce steadied the innings with a 50-run partnership. Kelly's dismissal brought Kathryn Bryce to the crease, and she quickly asserted her dominance. Bryce reached her half-century in just 33 deliveries and continued to accelerate the scoring rate.Sarah Bryce also played a vital role, hitting two sixes in two balls off Eva Gray. She went on to post her first 50 of the tournament before sealing the victory with a square-cut boundary off Amu Surenkumar.The victory all but mathematically ends Sunrisers' hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals, while The Blaze remain firmly in contention for a top-two finish in the group stage.

Western Storm and Thunder's Charlotte Edwards Cup Hopes Drenched by RainHeavy rainfall in Cardiff has extinguished the hopes of Western Storm and Thunder in the Charlotte Edwards Cup. The two teams, both in need of victories to advance in the tournament, were left frustrated as their match at Sophia Gardens was abandoned without a single ball being bowled.The persistent downpour made it impossible to remove the covers, forcing umpires Anna Harris and Ant Harris to call off the game at 3:25 pm. With Glamorgan and Hampshire Hawks scheduled to play a Vitality Blast South Group fixture at 6:30 pm, there was no window of opportunity for the women's match to resume.Thunder, currently in fifth place, remain behind Southern Vipers and Central Sparks, who have a game in hand. Western Storm, languishing at the bottom of the table, are effectively out of contention for the knockout stages.Thunder will look to improve their fortunes when they face Central Sparks at Edgbaston on Saturday. Western Storm, meanwhile, will aim to secure their second win of the campaign against Northern Diamonds at Headingley on Sunday.The abandonment of the match highlights the challenges faced by outdoor sports in the face of inclement weather. With the Charlotte Edwards Cup reaching its crucial stages, teams will be hoping for more favorable conditions in the remaining fixtures.

In a thrilling encounter at Blackpool, Thunder emerged victorious over Sunrisers in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a five-wicket triumph in the final over.Thunder's chase began with a flurry of boundaries from Fi Morris, who struck a six and three fours before being run out for 25. However, the loss of Emma Lamb and Katie Mack, both run out, left Thunder in a precarious position at 43 for 2.Seren Smale steadied the innings with an unbeaten 39, her highest score in the competition. Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross contributed crucial runs in the latter stages, with Cross hitting a six and a four in the final over to seal the victory.Earlier, Sunrisers had posted a competitive 151 for 9, led by Lissy Macleod's 60. Mady Villiers and Jo Gardner provided early impetus, but spin proved to be Sunrisers' undoing. Morris and Ecclestone claimed two wickets each, while Eva Gray dismissed Ellie Threlkeld.Macleod and Amu Surenkumar revived Sunrisers' innings with a 60-run partnership, but a chaotic 18th over saw three wickets fall in three balls. Macleod and Surenkumar were both run out, while Gray was dismissed lbw by Ecclestone.Thunder's victory leaves them in fifth place in the standings, while Sunrisers face an uphill battle to qualify for the playoffs.

The Blaze, last year's Charlotte Edwards Cup runners-up, have secured their place in the Finals Day once again after defeating Northern Diamonds by 13 runs at Headingley. This victory marks their seventh consecutive win in the ongoing campaign.Blaze, who defended a target of 160, are the undisputed leaders of the table. However, they faced a challenge from Diamonds, who have struggled this season with six losses in seven games. Despite their valiant effort, Diamonds' hopes of qualifying for the showpiece day at Derby on June 22 now hang in the balance.Kathryn Bryce and Tammy Beaumont, both international players, played pivotal roles in Blaze's victory. Bryce scored an impressive 54 off 39 balls, while Beaumont contributed 45 off 33. Bess Heath, England's fringe wicketkeeper-batter, fought back for Diamonds with a blistering 59 off 32. However, the hosts' momentum was halted as they collapsed from 94 for 2 in the 12th over to 146 all out in the 20th.Sarah Glenn, England's legspinner, claimed 3 for 32, while Bryce added two wickets with her seamers. After the early dismissal of Teresa Graves, Bryce and Beaumont formed a formidable second-wicket partnership of 78, propelling Blaze to a strong position.Despite Beaumont's departure, Diamonds showed resilience. Allrounder Erin Burns assisted offspinner Katherine Fraser in removing Sarah Bryce and Heather Graham. Bryce, who had reached a dynamic fifty off 34 balls, was dismissed by legspinner Katie Levick. Ella Claridge was also bowled, leaving Blaze at 139 for 6.Grace Ballinger's dismissal of Lauren Winfield-Hill and Glenn's bowling of Hollie Armitage left Diamonds at a precarious 18 for 2 in the third over. However, Heath's aggressive batting, including five boundaries in her first 11 balls, gave Diamonds hope.The tide turned once again as Stere Kalis was caught behind off Glenn and Heath was caught at deep cover off Bryce. Four wickets fell for 26 runs, leaving Diamonds at 120 for 6 in the 15th over. Glenn and Bryce claimed further wickets to seal Blaze's victory.

In a thrilling Charlotte Edwards Cup encounter at Canterbury, the Central Sparks emerged victorious over the South East Stars by three wickets, thanks to a hat-trick and match-winning knock from Emily Arlott.Arlott's exceptional bowling performance, which yielded figures of 4-21, and Katie George's 2-31 restricted the Stars to a modest total of 122 for 8. Sophia Dunkley top-scored for the Stars with a gritty 58 from 49 deliveries.The Sparks' chase got off to a shaky start as 16-year-old spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman dismissed both openers in the third over. However, skipper Eve Jones (43) and Courtney Webb (31) steadied the innings with a crucial 59-run partnership.Corteen-Coleman's impressive spell continued as she claimed the wicket of Webb, but Jones remained resolute. With the Sparks needing eight runs from the final over, Arlott stepped up to the plate. She dispatched Tash Farrant's first two deliveries for boundaries, sealing the victory with four balls to spare.The match held special significance for the Stars, as it marked their final scheduled appearance at the Spitfire Ground with six Kent-raised players in their ranks. The crowd of 1,277 witnessed a captivating contest that showcased the depth of women's cricket in England.

In a thrilling Charlotte Edwards Cup encounter at Bristol's Seat Unique Stadium, Southern Vipers emerged victorious over Western Storm by 19 runs, thanks to a superb all-round performance from Georgia Adams.Adams, the Vipers captain, led the charge with a 40-ball 55, including six fours and a six. She formed a crucial 55-run partnership with Charli Knott (37) to help the Vipers post a competitive 137-9 after losing the toss.Western Storm's chase got off to a shaky start as they lost Nat Wraith and Fran Wilson in quick succession to Linsey Smith's slow left-arm bowling. However, Heather Knight, the England captain, kept Storm in the hunt with a brilliant 69 from 56 balls.But Adams proved to be a thorn in Storm's side, claiming Knight's wicket in the penultimate over. She finished with figures of 2 for 23, while fellow spinner Charlie Dean took 3 for 24.Lauren Filer produced her best performance of the season for Storm, taking 3 for 8 in four overs. Amanda Jade Wellington also impressed with figures of 3 for 17, but it was the Vipers' spinners who ultimately made the difference.Knott, Dean, and Smith all played crucial roles in restricting Storm's scoring, keeping the defending champions on course for a place in the knockout stages.