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.

South East Stars secured a 19-run victory over Sunrisers under the DLS method in a rain-affected match at The Oval. The Stars' impressive total of 153 for 4 was built around Georgia Redmayne's patient 38, while Emma Jones (36), Phoebe Franklin (23), and Bryony Smith (21) provided the fireworks.Sunrisers' chase was anchored by Grace Scrivens' stylish half-century (62*), but with only Jo Gardner (23) offering meaningful support, they fell short of the target. Dani Gregory's 2 for 21 and Tilly Corteen-Coleman's wicket with her first ball kept the Sunrisers in check.The match was reduced to 18 overs per side due to rain, which delayed the start until 3:50pm. Smith's aggressive start, including four boundaries in one over, set the tone for the Stars' innings. Franklin continued the momentum with four fours, before Villiers dismissed her.Jones then took over, hitting two mighty sixes to boost the Stars' total. Redmayne played a supporting role, while Alice Davidson-Richards added a quickfire 16.Sunrisers' chase began disastrously, losing three wickets for 19 runs. Scrivens responded with a six and a half-century, but Gregory's double strike and Gardner's dismissal left the visitors with too much to do.

India's women's cricket team captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, has expressed her support for the implementation of a points-based system in multi-format cricket series. She believes that such a system would enhance motivation and add significance to each match.In recent times, India has played multi-format home series against England and Australia without a points system. This will continue in the upcoming series against South Africa, which begins with ODIs on Sunday. However, Australia and England employ a points system in their women's multi-format Ashes series, ensuring that every match carries weight.Kaur emphasized the importance of a points system, particularly for Test matches. Unlike other formats, Tests lack a marquee championship like the World Cup to provide context. As a result, Tests often suffer from a lack of significance.India has recently achieved impressive victories in Tests against both England and Australia. However, the absence of a points system meant that India could not capitalize on these wins to secure an overall series victory.Kaur believes that a points-based system would address this issue. "I think it's totally a BCCI or ICC thing," she said. "But as players, if points are there, I think we are more pumped up. I think it will be more challenging and we will love to have them."The implementation of a points system in multi-format cricket series would not only enhance motivation but also provide a clearer indication of the overall winner. It would add context to each match and make the series more competitive and engaging for both players and fans.

As the men's T20 World Cup concludes, preparations for the women's ODI World Cup next year are underway. South Africa, currently third in the championship table, aims to secure automatic qualification and gain experience by playing hosts India.India, as hosts, automatically qualify for the World Cup, but their ODI form has been inconsistent. After sweeping Sri Lanka and England in 2022, they tied a series in Bangladesh and lost 3-0 to Australia at home. However, they have over a year to improve their consistency.South Africa, on the other hand, faces a crucial challenge. They need to win four of their remaining six matches to secure automatic qualification. If they win fewer games, they may still qualify but will rely on other results.South Africa embarks on this journey without former coach Hilton Moreeng, who resigned in May. Assistant coach Dillon du Preez has taken over as interim coach, with Baakier Abrahams and Bongani Ndaba joining the coaching staff.Tazmin Brits returns to the South African squad after recovering from a knee injury. She will partner Laura Wolvaardt, the leading run-scorer in ODIs this year, at the top of the order.India's squad includes Jemimah Rodrigues, who missed the Bangladesh series with a back niggle. Pooja Vastrakar's availability is uncertain due to an undisclosed injury. Arundhati Reddy may be the second seamer in support of Renuka Singh if Vastrakar is unavailable.Rain could impact the series, as showers have been frequent in Bengaluru. If play is severely interrupted, it would disappoint the local crowd, who have shown strong support for women's cricket.India will look to improve their performances after disappointing showings against Australia. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur will be under scrutiny, while youngsters Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh will aim to make an impact.

Sophia Dunkley has earned a recall to England's ODI squad for the upcoming home series against New Zealand, marking a significant turnaround after losing her place in the top order during the winter tour of New Zealand.Dunkley's return to the 50-over setup is a testament to her impressive performances for South East Stars in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, where she is the competition's leading run-scorer with 293 runs at an average of 97.66 and a strike rate of 83.00. She has also scored two half-centuries in the Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 competition.England Women's head coach Jon Lewis praised Dunkley's recent form, saying, "Her performance across the domestic game has been outstanding and she earned the right to be back in this squad through performance."Dunkley's recall comes after a challenging period where she failed to reach double figures in three T20I and one ODI innings in New Zealand. However, Lewis had challenged her to rediscover her best cricket and she has responded with a string of strong performances.Despite facing competition from the likes of Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Danni Wyatt, and Alice Capsey, Dunkley will be eager to regain a regular berth in the upper order. England's Nat Sciver-Brunt was the only stand-out performer in the ODIs against Pakistan, which England won 2-0.England's seam attack will be led by Kate Cross and Lauren Bell, with exciting quick Lauren Filer also included. The spin department will feature Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, and Charlie Dean.During their tour of New Zealand earlier this year, England won the T20I series 4-1 and the ODIs 2-1. England are yet to name their T20I squad for a five-match series with New Zealand immediately after the ODIs.

Durham Cricket has secured a significant signing ahead of their inaugural season as a Tier 1 women's team in 2025. Former England international and highly regarded head coach Dani Hazell has returned to Chester-le-Street on a three-year deal.Hazell, who represented England in 141 matches between 2009 and 2018, including two World Cups and three Ashes victories, will continue her role as head coach of the Northern Superchargers while leading Durham's women's team.Having started her playing career at Durham's academy, Hazell was a natural target for the club as they aim to establish themselves as a leading force in women's cricket in the north of England. Her appointment could potentially entice other Leeds-based Northern Diamonds players to join Durham, rather than waiting for Yorkshire to achieve Tier 1 status in 2026."It was evident from the outset that Dani was the ideal person to guide Durham into this new chapter and establish a legacy as a professional women's team," said Marcus North, Durham's director of cricket. "Her intimate knowledge of the club, having played for us and contributed to our women's and girls' pathway, is invaluable.""Dani's reputation as a successful head coach with the Northern Diamonds and Northern Superchargers is well-established. Her winning mentality as both a player and coach is a valuable asset for Durham. I am eager to collaborate with her as we embark on this exciting chapter for Durham Cricket."Hazell, 36, took over as Northern Diamonds' head coach in 2019, leading the team to victory in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in 2022. Under her guidance, the Northern Superchargers reached the final of the women's Hundred in 2023. She has also played a pivotal role in developing the Diamonds academy."I am thrilled to accept the position of head coach," said Hazell. "This is a transformative chapter for Durham Cricket and the entire region, and I am honored to be a part of this historic era for the club.""I share the club's aspirations and standards for continuous growth and progress, particularly at this pivotal moment for women's and girls' cricket. After our initial discussions, I recognized that this was the right opportunity for me to return to my home club, and I am eager to embrace the challenges ahead."Tim Bostock, Durham's chief executive, added: "We are delighted that Dani has agreed to lead our women's team. Her global expertise in the game is crucial, but her familiarity with Durham cricket is equally important. We believe she is the ideal fit for Durham Cricket."

New Zealand Women's cricket team has announced its 17-member squad for the 2024-25 season, with the return of batter Lauren Down and the inclusion of wicketkeeper-batter Polly Inglis.Down, who has played 28 ODIs and 13 T20Is for New Zealand, declined a contract offer last season due to maternity leave. However, she has been recalled to the ODI squad for the upcoming tour of England and has now accepted a central contract.Inglis, on the other hand, has earned her maiden central contract after impressing for New Zealand A and in the NZC Women's One Day Competition. She scored 103 runs in three one-dayers against England A and was the second-highest run-scorer in the domestic 50-over tournament.New Zealand Women's head coach Ben Sawyer expressed confidence in the squad, stating that it comprises players who can contribute significantly over the next 12 months. He emphasized the importance of considering the 2025 ODI World Cup in the selection process.Among the players who held central contracts in 2023-24, wicketkeeper-batter Bernadine Bezuidenhout has retired from international cricket, while batter Kate Anderson has not been offered a contract.The 2024-25 contracting period begins on August 1, and the players have until June 17 to accept their offers.

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.

South East Stars continued their dominance in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a comfortable six-wicket victory over Sunrisers at Lord's. Paige Scholfield, the South African-born allrounder, extended her impressive form with an unbeaten 50, guiding her team to victory.Sunrisers struggled to establish a solid foundation, losing wickets at regular intervals. Skipper Grace Scrivens and Alice Macleod departed early, while Jo Gardner's brief stay at the crease ended with a dismissal to Alexa Stonehouse. Mady Villiers provided some resistance with a quickfire 14, but her departure left Sunrisers reeling at 27 for 4.Flo Miller emerged as the lone bright spot for Sunrisers, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 39. However, her efforts were not enough to prevent the team from being restricted to a modest 116 for 8. Emma Jones and Stonehouse were the standout bowlers for South East Stars, claiming two wickets each.In response, South East Stars made light work of the chase. Sophia Dunkley and skipper Alice Capsey got the innings off to a brisk start, before both fell to the bowling of Jodi Grewcock. However, Scholfield took control of the chase, playing with authority and composure. She reached her half-century with the winning hit, her eighth boundary of the innings.Despite a brief scare when Emma Jones was dropped, South East Stars cruised to victory, with Scholfield and Phoebe Franklin guiding them home. The win extends South East Stars' unbeaten run in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, solidifying their position as one of the favorites for the title.