Cricket

Central Sparks commenced their Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign with a resounding seven-wicket triumph over Sunrisers at New Road, Worcester. In a season-opening clash between the teams that finished at the bottom of the standings last season, Sparks showcased their resurgence with a dominant performance.Davina Perrin emerged as the star of the show for Sparks, crafting an unbeaten 79 off just 48 deliveries. Her innings, adorned with two sixes and 13 boundaries, propelled Sparks to a comfortable victory. Australian import Courtney Webb provided valuable support, contributing an unbeaten 36.Sunrisers, batting first, posted a modest total of 138 for 6. Alice MacLeod's 39-ball 54 served as the backbone of their innings, while Hannah Baker and Emily Arlott led the Sparks bowling attack with two wickets apiece.Sparks' chase got off to a shaky start as they lost both openers within the first 13 balls. However, Perrin's brilliance and Webb's steady presence at the crease turned the tide in their favor. The duo forged an unbroken 83-run partnership in 47 balls, guiding Sparks to victory with 36 balls to spare.Sunrisers, who endured a winless campaign in the Charlotte Edwards Cup last year, failed to make an impact with the ball. Mady Villiers claimed two wickets, but Sparks' batters remained unfazed, cruising to their target with ease.

Sunrisers' Flo Miller played a pivotal role in securing a thrilling three-wicket victory over defending champions Southern Vipers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Miller's unbeaten 47 from 59 balls proved crucial as Sunrisers chased down a challenging target of 212 at Radlett.Vipers, led by Georgia Elwiss' 53, posted a competitive total of 211 for 9. However, Sunrisers' bowlers, particularly Nic Hancock (3-45), kept the visitors in check throughout the innings.In response, Sunrisers faced an early setback, losing two wickets to run-outs. But Jodi Grewcock (56) and Amara Carr (42) steadied the ship with a 78-run partnership.Charli Knott's off-spin proved effective, dismissing Carr and Mady Villiers to leave Sunrisers in a precarious position at 138 for 6. However, Miller and Jo Gardner (20) combined for a crucial 60-run stand, bringing the target within reach.Despite Gardner's dismissal, Miller remained composed, hitting the winning run with three balls to spare. Her innings included a crucial boundary off Mary Taylor and a four from Hancock.Sunrisers' victory propelled them back to the top of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy table, while Vipers suffered their first defeat of the season.

South East Stars emerged victorious in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash against Sunrisers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, securing a commanding five-wicket victory at Northampton.Despite being omitted from the England squad for the upcoming Pakistan series, Sophia Dunkley responded with a scintillating 67 off 89 deliveries, anchoring the Stars' chase of 223. Brilliantly supported by Alice Davidson-Richards' destructive 50, the pair forged a formidable 105-run partnership for the second wicket.Skipper Bryony Smith laid the foundation with a 53-run opening stand alongside Tash Farrant, setting the tone for the Stars' pursuit. Dunkley, known for her aggressive style, showcased her versatility with exquisite timing and placement, keeping the scoreboard ticking.Sunrisers, who had won the toss and elected to bat, failed to capitalize on their advantage. Alexa Stonehouse, Davidson-Richards, and Kalea Moore each claimed two wickets, restricting Sunrisers to 222 for nine. Flo Miller top-scored with 30, but several batters made promising starts before succumbing to soft dismissals.In the Stars' innings, Smith played an aggressive hand, driving boundaries with ease. Farrant contributed 20 as an opener before being dismissed by Jodi Grewcock. Smith's departure brought Dunkley to the crease, who looked in fine touch from the outset.Davidson-Richards joined Dunkley in a destructive partnership, smashing boundaries and bringing up Stars' 100. However, she fell for 50, edging behind to Amara Carr. Phoebe Franklin stepped up to the plate, hitting boundaries and remaining calm under pressure.Despite Dunkley's dismissal with Stars on 205 for four, Franklin remained composed and guided her team to victory with 13 balls to spare.

Sunrisers' Grace Scrivens Shines with Century in Victory over Central SparksIn a thrilling encounter at Kidderminster, Sunrisers extended their impressive start to the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy season with a five-wicket triumph over Central Sparks. The victory was orchestrated by a magnificent century from Grace Scrivens, who guided her team to a comfortable chase of Sparks' 213 all out.Sparks' innings began disastrously as they lost both openers for ducks. Abi Freeborn's composed 93 provided the backbone of their total, but disciplined bowling from Kate Coppack (3-26) and Nicola Hancock (3-34) restricted them to a modest score.In response, Sunrisers' chase was anchored by Scrivens' masterful 118 not out off 123 deliveries. Her innings was a symphony of strokeplay, featuring 12 boundaries and a towering six. Scrivens' partnership with Cordelia Griffith (37) laid the foundation for the victory, and despite a brief Sparks resurgence, she remained resolute, guiding her team to victory with 10.2 overs to spare.Scrivens' performance was a testament to her current form and confidence. "I'm feeling nice at the moment and when you are feeling nice you have to cash in," she said. "I was just happy I did that today and helped get us over the line."Sparks captain Eve Jones acknowledged the challenges her team faced. "We bowled well up top to take some wickets and then bowled well through the middle too," she said. "Sometimes you can let things drift when you don't take wickets but we stuck at it really well and it was nice to restrict Freeborn to the mid-nineties when she was in and set."Sunrisers' victory consolidates their position among the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy frontrunners, while Sparks will need to regroup after a string of defeats.

Sunrisers' Mady Villiers' spin wizardry proved too much for The Blaze as they cruised to a seven-wicket victory in a rain-shortened encounter at Chelmsford.The former England white-ball international spun her magic, claiming 3 for 18 from nine overs, as The Blaze, missing several key players, were dismissed for a paltry 87 in a game reduced to 42 overs per side.England U19 Jodi Grewcock complemented Villiers' efforts with 1 for 7 from eight overs, leaving The Blaze reeling at 52 for 6 after losing four wickets for four runs. Australian seamer Nicola Hancock then polished off the tail with 3 for 20.Sunrisers faced some early setbacks in their chase, but skipper Grace Scrivens' unbeaten 46 guided them to victory in the 21st over. Villiers fittingly sealed the win with the winning runs.The match was delayed due to overnight and morning rain, and the overcast conditions and grassy pitch favored the bowlers. Scrivens' decision to field first proved astute as The Blaze struggled to cope with the spin duo of Villiers and Grewcock.Marie Kelly, who was dropped early on, was dismissed by Hancock, while Teresa Graves fell to Kate Coppack. Daisy Mullan and Nadine de Klerk briefly threatened a fightback, but Villiers and Grewcock's introduction proved decisive.Villiers trapped de Klerk in front and bowled Mullan, while Grewcock dismissed Ella Claridge. Sarah Glenn's wicket gave Villiers her third scalp, and The Blaze's recovery hopes were dashed as Hancock and Coppack cleaned up the tail.Sunrisers, who had been bowled out for 150 in a heavy defeat to Thunder three days earlier, initially struggled in their chase. Ariana Dowse was dismissed by Grace Ballinger, and Cordelia Griffith was run out in a mix-up with Scrivens.However, Scrivens and Grewcock steadied the ship with a 40-run stand, and although Grewcock departed before the end, Sunrisers cruised to victory, with Villiers hitting the winning runs.

Lancashire Thunder's Katie Mack and Fi Morris orchestrated a dominant victory over Sunrisers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, securing a commanding 142-run triumph at Emirates Old Trafford.Mack's scintillating century and a record-breaking 191-run partnership with Morris propelled Thunder to a formidable total of 292 for 5. Despite losing early wickets, the duo's exceptional batting prowess and aggressive running between the wickets proved unstoppable.Mack's innings showcased her versatility, with an array of ramps, sweeps, and late cuts. Morris, on the other hand, displayed her power and finesse, frequently stepping down the pitch to meet the spinners' deliveries. Their partnership surpassed 100 runs, setting a new record for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Morris' dismissal for 89 by Kate Coppack failed to dampen Thunder's momentum. Mack reached her century with a trademark late cut, before being stumped for 100. Ellie Threlkeld and Sophie Ecclestone extended the score to 285, with Ecclestone contributing a breezy 24.Sunrisers faced an insurmountable task in chasing down the target. Kate Cross's economical spell of 5 overs for 8 runs and the wicket of Ariana Dowse set the tone. Grace Scrivens' struggles and the dismissals of Cordelia Griffith and Mady Villiers further hindered their progress.Grewcock provided a glimmer of hope with a resilient 38, but her dismissal by Hannah Jones and the subsequent fall of Florence Miller left Sunrisers reeling. Ecclestone claimed her third wicket with the dismissal of Nicola Hancock, while Cross wrapped up the tail, dismissing Joanne Gardner and Coppack without scoring.Thunder's victory was a testament to the brilliance of Mack and Morris, who laid the foundation for their team's success. Sunrisers, on the other hand, will need to regroup and find a way to overcome their batting woes in their upcoming matches.

Sunrisers' Jodi Grewcock and Nicola Hancock led a dominant bowling performance to secure an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Western Storm in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy opener at Cardiff's Sophia Gardens.Hancock's incisive new-ball spell (3-15) and Grewcock's economical legbreaks (3-28) restricted Storm to a paltry 114 in 30.4 overs. Mady Villiers (2-36) and Esmae MacGregor (1-10) also contributed to the disciplined bowling display.Nat Wraith's valiant 42 was a lone bright spot for Storm, who suffered their fifth consecutive defeat in the 50-over competition.In response, Sunrisers skipper Grace Scrivens (63*) led by example, anchoring a composed chase alongside Cordelia Griffith (28). The pair shared a 59-run partnership for the second wicket, guiding their team to victory with 16.2 overs to spare.Sunrisers' triumph extends their winning streak from last season to five matches, while Storm's struggles continue. The visitors will seek redemption against Thunder at Sale, while Storm face a tough test against Northern Diamonds at Headingley.