Cricket

Western Storm's Chloe Skelton emerged as the hero at Radlett, propelling her team to a crucial 30-run victory over Sunrisers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Skelton's exceptional five-wicket haul (5-29) proved instrumental in dismantling the Sunrisers' batting lineup, dealing a significant blow to their semi-final aspirations.The visitors, Western Storm, were initially put on the back foot by Sunrisers' bowlers. However, Amanda-Jade Wellington's counter-attacking 45 not out, supported by Skelton's valuable contribution, lifted Storm to a competitive total of 180.Sunrisers' chase began promisingly, with Cordelia Griffith (39) and Alice Macleod (48) establishing a solid partnership. However, Skelton's introduction turned the tide in Storm's favor. Her off-spin wizardry proved too much for the home side, as she claimed five wickets, including the crucial scalp of Macleod.Macleod's dismissal, courtesy of a stunning one-handed catch by Alex Griffiths, proved to be a pivotal moment. Storm's spinners, led by Skelton, tightened their grip on the game, restricting Sunrisers' scoring and eventually securing the victory with 10.3 overs to spare.This triumph marked Western Storm's fourth win of the competition, while Sunrisers' hopes of reaching the knockout stage now hinge on their final fixture against Southern Vipers.

Northern Diamonds' Sterre Kalis and Phoebe Turner starred in a dominant performance against Lancashire Thunder, securing an 86-run victory and propelling their team to the top of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy standings.Kalis notched her maiden List A century, scoring a remarkable 100 runs off 94 deliveries. Her innings, coupled with a 58-run knock from Beth Langston, propelled the Diamonds to a formidable total of 290 for 6.Lancashire Thunder's chase got off to a promising start, with Alice Clarke and Emma Lamb putting on 38 runs in the opening five overs. However, Rachel Slater's double strike, dismissing both batters, halted their momentum.Eve Jones and Seren Smale steadied the Thunder's innings, but their 100-run partnership was broken by Turner, who bowled Smale for 48. Langston then struck twice in a double-wicket maiden, removing Jones and Ellie Threlkeld.Turner continued her impressive spell, claiming the remaining Thunder wickets to finish with a remarkable six for 20. Her performance sealed a five-point victory for the Diamonds, who now sit atop the table with 37 points.Earlier, Lauren Winfield-Hill and Emma Marlow had laid the foundation for the Diamonds' innings with a 95-run opening stand. However, the Thunder fought back, taking two wickets in quick succession.Kalis and Langston then combined for a crucial 111-run partnership, reviving the Diamonds' innings. Kalis reached her century before being dismissed, while Langston contributed a valuable 58.The Diamonds' total proved too much for the Thunder, who were bowled out for 204 despite Jones' 57 runs.

The Blaze, chasing a target of 246, secured a six-wicket victory over Sunrisers at Derby, keeping their hopes of qualifying for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy knock-out stage alive. All-rounder Kathryn Bryce played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 87 and claiming four wickets for 41 runs.England's Tammy Beaumont (59) and Sarah Bryce (41) provided a solid foundation for The Blaze's chase, putting on a 76-run opening partnership. Ella Claridge contributed an unbeaten 33 from 27 balls to help Bryce finish things off.For Sunrisers, Cordelia Griffith top-scored with 65, while Eva Gray (37) and Jodi Grewcock (36) made valuable contributions. However, Bryce's bowling prowess proved too much for Sunrisers, as she dismissed Griffith, Gray, and Amara Carr in quick succession.The result was a setback for Sunrisers, who remain in contention for a top-four finish and a semi-final berth. The Blaze, on the other hand, have gained momentum with six wins in their last eight completed matches.

Central Sparks' dominant performance against Southern Vipers has shaken up the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy standings. Sparks' seven-wicket victory at Worcester propelled them to the top of the table, while Vipers' lead has been significantly reduced.Vipers, depleted by international call-ups, struggled to post a competitive total. Georgia Elwiss' valiant 64* was a lone bright spot amidst a potent Sparks bowling attack. Emily Arlott and Charis Pavely wreaked havoc, claiming four wickets each.Sparks' chase was a clinical display of batting. Eve Jones (54) and Ami Campbell (48) laid the foundation with a 95-run opening partnership. Despite losing Campbell, Sparks cruised to victory with 64 balls to spare. Katie George's quickfire 38* sealed the deal.Vipers' struggles began with the loss of Rhianna Southby and Ella McCaughan to Arlott's incisive bowling. Georgia Adams and Emily Windsor also fell cheaply, leaving Elwiss to anchor the innings. However, Sparks' spinners proved too strong, with Hannah Baker, Pavely, and Georgia Davis chipping away at the Vipers' batting lineup.Sparks' victory highlights their potential, which has been hindered by inconsistent performances throughout the season. Vipers, on the other hand, face an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages.

The Blaze's impressive bowling performance propelled them to a crucial 20-run victory over Southern Vipers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, keeping their knockout stage hopes alive.Marie Kelly's gritty 40 anchored The Blaze's batting effort on a challenging pitch, while Ava Lee's career-best 4-51 on her 19th birthday proved instrumental in restricting Vipers.The Blaze's innings got off to a shaky start as Sarah Bryce and Georgie Boyce departed cheaply. Kathryn Bryce's six provided a brief respite, but Georgia Elwiss dismissed her to leave The Blaze struggling at 38-3.Kelly emerged as the lone beacon of stability, driving confidently and building partnerships with Prendergast (38) and Gordon (26). However, Vipers' spinners, led by Lee, kept chipping away, dismissing Kelly for 40 and claiming three more wickets in quick succession.Despite Boyce's return from injury, The Blaze's innings ended on 208, with Grace Ballinger contributing a valuable 24.Vipers' chase began promisingly with Rhianna Southby's composed opening stand. However, Prendergast's early strikes put Vipers on the back foot. Gordon's accurate spin bowling further stifled the chase, leading to Southby's run-out.Emily Windsor's patient 41 kept Vipers in contention, but Prendergast's return to the attack proved decisive. Windsor's dismissal triggered a collapse, with Vipers losing five wickets for 21 runs.Linsey Smith's chip to mid-off and Norgrove's stumping left Vipers needing 45 from the last 13 overs. However, Kathryn Bryce's dismissal of Lee sealed the victory for The Blaze.The win keeps The Blaze in the hunt for a knockout spot, while Vipers remain top of the table but missed out on an opportunity to secure their progression.

In a dominant display, Thunder thrashed South East Stars by a massive 120 runs in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Beckenham. England's Kate Cross played a pivotal role, claiming a List A best of 6 for 40, while Seren Smale and Fi Morris led Thunder's batting charge.Thunder opted to bat first on a sluggish Beckenham pitch and posted a formidable 250 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs. Smale anchored the innings with a top score of 76, while Morris contributed a valuable 54. Ryana MacDonald-Gay emerged as the Stars' most effective bowler, bagging three wickets for 42 runs, including a run out. Kalea Moore also chipped in with two wickets.However, it was Cross who wreaked havoc on the Stars' batting lineup. She dismissed key batters Bryony Smith and Alice Davidson-Richards in consecutive deliveries, leaving the Stars reeling at 12 for 2. Despite a valiant 54 from Kira Chathli, the Stars never truly threatened to chase down the target.Cross continued her demolition, claiming the wickets of Chloe Hill, Aylish Cranstone, and Phoebe Franklin. MacDonald-Gay and Paige Scholfield also fell prey to her devastating bowling, as the Stars were eventually dismissed for a paltry 130 in just 36.4 overs.Thunder's victory was a testament to their all-round performance. Smale and Morris provided a solid foundation with their substantial contributions, while Cross's exceptional bowling display proved decisive. The Stars, on the other hand, struggled to cope with Thunder's relentless pressure and were unable to mount a meaningful challenge.

Central Sparks' Eve Jones produced a scintillating century as they crushed Western Storm by 145 runs in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Jones' 130 and Abi Freeborn's unbeaten 89 propelled Sparks to a mammoth 297 for 3, their highest-ever total in the competition.Jones, in her 50th appearance, dominated the innings with 18 fours and a six. She shared a 189-run stand with Freeborn, who struck 12 boundaries in her 89-ball knock. Sparks' total eclipsed their previous best of 296 against Loughborough Lightning in 2021.Western Storm's chase was derailed by Sparks' spinners. Georgia Davis claimed a career-best 6 for 23, while Hannah Baker and Chris Pavely took 1 for 34 and 2 for 15 respectively. Sophia Smale's 53 was the only significant contribution for Storm, who were dismissed for a disappointing 152 in 33 overs.Jones' innings was a masterclass in batting. She punished loose deliveries and dominated the bowling attack. Her 130 came off 163 balls, and she was unfortunate to miss out on a career-best score. Freeborn provided excellent support, rotating the strike and finding the boundary regularly.Sparks' victory was a testament to their dominance in all aspects of the game. Their batting was relentless, their bowling was incisive, and their fielding was sharp. Western Storm, on the other hand, had a day to forget. Their bowling was wayward, their fielding was sloppy, and their batting lacked application.

Western Storm emerged victorious in a dominant display against Central Sparks in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, securing a resounding 182-run victory that propelled them up the standings and relegated their opponents to the bottom.Storm's innings was ignited by a scintillating 83 from Amanda-Jade Wellington, who struck 14 boundaries and two maximums in a blistering 53-ball knock. Her partnership with captain Sophie Luff (60) yielded an impressive 102 runs, guiding Storm to a formidable total of 284 all out in 49.5 overs.Katie George emerged as the standout bowler for Sparks, claiming 5 for 50, including a remarkable caught and bowled dismissal. However, Storm's batting depth proved too much to handle, with Wellington and Luff leading the charge.Sparks' reply began disastrously, losing wickets to the first two deliveries from Issy Wong, who is on loan to Storm. The collapse continued as they stumbled to 102 all out, with only Davina Perrin (42) offering any resistance. Chloe Skelton and Wong shared six wickets between them, dismantling Sparks' batting lineup.Storm's openers, Emma Corney and Sophia Smale, had earlier laid a solid foundation with a 92-run partnership. However, Sparks fought back with three wickets in quick succession, including the dismissals of Luff and Natasha Wraith.Wellington's half-century, which included a towering six over midwicket, injected momentum into Storm's innings. Luff's departure to a stunning catch by George did not deter Wellington, who continued her assault until she was dismissed in bizarre fashion, with the ball lodging in the wicketkeeper's visor.Sparks' chase was doomed from the outset, with Wong claiming two wickets in the first two balls. Perrin's valiant effort was in vain as the rest of the batting lineup crumbled. Skelton's late burst of 3 for 6 sealed the victory for Storm, leaving Sparks languishing at the bottom of the table.

Southern Vipers' relentless bowling attack, spearheaded by Freya Davies' exceptional four-wicket haul, propelled them to a dominant seven-wicket victory over South East Stars in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Davies, a former Stars fast bowler, unleashed her blistering pace to dismantle the Stars' batting lineup, restricting them to a meager 120 runs. Her incisive swing bamboozled Bryony Smith, Alexa Stonehouse, and Kalea Moore, leaving the Stars reeling at 22 for 4.Alice Davidson-Richards and Bethan Miles attempted to salvage the innings with a 35-run partnership, but Vipers' spin duo of Charli Knott and Ava Lee proved too formidable. Knott's clever offbreaks accounted for Miles and Aylish Cranstone, while Lee's guile deceived Davidson-Richards.Chloe Hill and Ryana Macdonald Gay provided some resistance with a 34-run stand, but Hill's unfortunate run-out and Dani Gregory's dismissal to Davies sealed the Stars' fate.In contrast to the Stars' struggles, Vipers' chase was a clinical display of batting prowess. Knott, in her penultimate appearance for the team, anchored the innings with a classy 57, guiding Vipers to the target in just 23 overs.Ella McCaughan and Georgia Adams contributed valuable runs, but it was Knott's elegant strokeplay that stole the show. Her ability to dispatch width with ease earned her a well-deserved half-century, her third for Vipers this season.The victory not only cemented Vipers' position at the top of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy table but also avenged their Charlotte Edwards Cup semi-final defeat to Stars.