Cricket

Southern Vipers, the reigning champions of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, secured a dominant bonus point victory over Western Storm at the 1st Central County Ground. The comprehensive win keeps the Vipers firmly in contention for a semi-final berth.Captain Georgia Adams led the Vipers' bowling attack with an impressive 3 for 17 from six overs. Seamer Mary Taylor also chipped in with three wickets, as Storm were dismissed for a mere 156 after being put into bat.In response, a masterful 65 not out from Georgia Elwiss and a solid 49 from Ella McCaughan guided the Vipers to victory within 30 overs.Storm's innings got off to a slow start, thanks to the disciplined bowling of Freyas Davies and Kemp. Davies, returning from successive stress fractures, claimed her first wicket in the fifth over.Storm skipper Sophie Luff and Emma Corney steadied the ship with a 40-run partnership before Taylor dismissed Corney for 20. Fran Wilson kept the scoreboard ticking over but was caught by Elwiss, while Luff was trapped lbw by Charli Knott.Nat Wraith attempted to counterattack but lacked support as wickets fell regularly at the other end. Amanda-Jade Wellington, Niamh Holland, and Alex Griffiths all departed cheaply.Wraith eventually fell for 31, and the Storm found themselves reeling at 148 for 8. The final two wickets fell in successive balls, as Chloe Skelton and Mollie Robbins were dismissed by Rhianna Southby and Taylor, respectively.The Vipers' reply began positively, with McCaughan and Knott scoring at a steady pace. However, McCaughan was dismissed for 20 in the eighth over, bringing Elwiss to the crease.Elwiss and McCaughan combined for a 73-run partnership, with McCaughan targeting wide deliveries and Elwiss favoring the off side. McCaughan was eventually trapped lbw for 49, but Elwiss continued to accelerate.Elwiss took three boundaries off Griffiths and another three off Wellington to bring the Vipers within striking distance of victory. Adams was dismissed for 10, but a boundary from Kemp sealed the bonus point win for the Vipers.

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.

Ellyse Perry, the Australian all-rounder, will lead Birmingham Phoenix in the upcoming Women's Hundred season. Perry was initially set to captain the team last year but was ruled out due to injury.Perry's return to Edgbaston is a significant boost for Phoenix, who finished bottom of the table in 2023. The 33-year-old is a highly experienced and decorated player, having represented Australia in over 300 international matches.In the recent Women's Premier League (WPL), Perry was the leading run-scorer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, amassing 347 runs at an average of 69.40. She also claimed seven wickets, showcasing her all-round abilities.Perry's leadership qualities have been evident in her role as captain of Sydney Sixers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). She became the first player to lead a team in 100 WBBL matches."I'm incredibly honored to be named Birmingham Phoenix captain," said Perry. "It's a wonderful club that means a lot to me. I'm looking forward to joining the whole playing squad and working towards a successful season."Meanwhile, defending champions Southern Brave have appointed Georgia Adams as their new captain following Anya Shrubsole's retirement. Adams, who led Southern Vipers to a domestic double last year, is excited to take on the role."It's a privilege to be taking over from Anya," said Adams. "I'm super excited to get going and really looking forward to leading a fantastic group of players and trying to defend the trophy."In the Men's Hundred, James Vince will continue to lead Southern Brave, having guided the team to victory in the inaugural season.

Southern Vipers emerged victorious in a thrilling three-wicket triumph over Thunder, extending their winning streak to three matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Nancy Harman played a pivotal role in the victory, guiding her team to the finish line in a tense chase.Thunder, batting first, struggled in the opening Powerplay, losing Shachi Pai early on. However, Seren Smale and Katie Mack steadied the innings with a 94-run partnership. Smale, in particular, showcased her class, reaching her third career fifty and narrowly missing out on a century after being run out on 99.Vipers' bowlers, led by Linsey Smith's economical spell, kept Thunder in check throughout the innings. Smith claimed three wickets for just 19 runs, while Alice Monaghan and Mary Taylor also chipped in with crucial wickets.In response, Vipers' chase got off to a shaky start as Ella McCaughan and Charli Knott departed cheaply. Georgia Adams and Georgia Elwiss then steadied the ship with a solid partnership, but Elwiss's dismissal and Emily Windsor's quick departure put Vipers under pressure.Adams, who reached her 15th half-century, played a crucial knock, but her dismissal left Vipers needing 72 runs with just 39 balls remaining. Harman, Southby, and Monaghan stepped up to the plate, guiding Vipers to victory with three wickets in hand.Harman, in her first appearance of the season, played a match-winning innings, scoring an unbeaten 24 and ensuring Vipers' unbeaten record against Thunder remains intact.