September 5, 2024

Chloe Skelton’s Five-Wicket Haul Leads Western Storm to Victory

Western Storm’s victory dealt a significant blow to Sunrisers’ hopes of reaching the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy semi-finals. Western Storm posted a total of 180, thanks to Amanda-Jade Wellington’s unbeaten 45, with Chloe Skelton contributing a crucial five-wicket haul, finishing with 5 for 29. Sunrisers appeared on track to chase the target, with Alice Macleod’s season-best 48 and Cordelia Griffith’s 39. However, Skelton’s bowling turned the game around, dismissing Sunrisers for 150 and securing a 30-run win for Storm.

With this being Storm’s fourth win of the season, Sunrisers now face a must-win situation in their final match against Southern Vipers to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

Sunrisers’ Early Control Fades as Storm’s Spinners Turn the Tide

After winning the toss, Sunrisers chose to bowl first and quickly took control, though it took until the ninth over for Kate Coppack to claim the first wicket with a diving catch off Sophia Smale’s leading edge. Emma Corney and captain Sophie Luff steadied the innings, guiding Western Storm to 61 for 1. However, Sophie Munro’s introduction turned the tide. She bowled Corney for 29 and finished with figures of 3 for 42, sparking a collapse.

Luff was bowled by a slower delivery from Eva Gray that hit off stump, and Jodi Grewcock’s tight second spell earned her two wickets as Storm stumbled to 115 for 8. Chloe Skelton and Ellie Anderson then provided crucial support for Amanda-Jade Wellington’s counter-attack, adding 65 runs to the total. Wellington brought up Storm’s 150 with a boundary and followed up with a six, while a partnership of 41 with Anderson proved the highest of the innings. Abtaha Maqsood ended the innings in the 47th over, bowling Anderson, leaving Wellington five short of a fifty but boosting Storm’s morale.

That momentum carried into Sunrisers’ reply when Anderson dismissed both openers early. Jo Gardner was caught at midwicket, and Grace Scrivens was bowled. Skelton then had Jodi Grewcock caught behind, reducing Sunrisers to 44 for 3. Cordelia Griffith fought back, hitting Anderson for back-to-back boundaries to keep Sunrisers in the game.

Griffith and MacLeod helped Sunrisers recover by adding 46 runs from 58 balls. Griffith was well set on 39 but was dismissed when she hit Skelton straight to deep midwicket. MacLeod then took charge, confidently finding the boundary and taking the total past 100, hitting Wellington for a four and following up with back-to-back leg-side boundaries off Smale.

A half-century seemed certain for MacLeod, but she was stopped by a brilliant one-handed catch from Alex Griffiths at short cover, marking a turning point. Storm’s spinners capitalized, with Skelton taking three of the last four wickets, securing the win with 10.3 overs to spare.

Grace Ballinger and Tara Norris Shatter Thunder’s Hopes

The Blaze’s victory ended Lancashire Thunder’s chances of reaching the finals, despite Fi Morris taking a career-best 6 for 35. The Blaze posted 197, with Sarah Bryce scoring 34 and Kathryn Bryce adding 31, but Morris’s spin caused a collapse after she was introduced in the 30th over.

Grace Ballinger’s impressive 4 for 23 helped The Blaze take early control by removing Thunder’s top order. Despite a fighting unbeaten 53 from Tara Norris, Thunder were bowled out for 173 in the 46th over, giving The Blaze a crucial 24-run win and keeping their hopes alive in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

Blaze and Thunder Battle Through Key Moments, With Morris and Ballinger Shaping the Outcome

The Blaze got off to a solid start after being sent in to bat, with Sarah Bryce and Michaela Kirk putting together a 66-run partnership from 87 balls. However, both openers fell in quick succession—Bryce was caught at mid-off for 34 while attempting to hit debutant Darcey Carter over the top, and Kirk was bowled for 29 by Hannah Jones’ second delivery.

The Blaze faced more setbacks when Marie Kelly edged behind for 7 off the first ball of Phoebe Graham’s second spell, leaving them at 101 for 3 in the 24th over. Kathryn Bryce and Orla Prendergast steadied the innings with a 34-run partnership, but the introduction of Fi Morris changed the game. Morris took 3 wickets for just 6 runs in 17 balls, starting by dismissing Bryce for 31, caught at gully. Prendergast, who had made 29 off 34 balls, and Lucy Higham, who scored 4, both fell lbw to Morris while sweeping.

Hannah Jones claimed her competition-leading 22nd wicket when Kirstie Gordon drove to Eve Jones at extra cover for 4. Fi Morris then tore through The Blaze’s lower order, bowling Ella Claridge for 6, trapping Grace Ballinger lbw for 6, and getting Cassidy McCarthy caught for 8, as The Blaze collapsed, losing their last seven wickets for 62 runs.

Ballinger did the early damage for The Blaze with a brilliant spell of left-arm swing, taking 4 for 13. She dismissed Eve Jones for 0 at mid-off, Alice Clarke for 8 at cover, and bowled both Fi Morris (10) and Dani Collins (0) within three deliveries. However, Ballinger had to leave the field injured after seven overs. Orla Prendergast took over and struck with her sixth ball, dismissing Seren Smale for 13, caught at point, leaving Thunder struggling at 41 for 5 after 15 overs.

Thunder’s struggles continued as Ellie Threlkeld was caught for 10, Darcey Carter was bowled for 11, and Grace Johnson holed out for 27. Ballinger returned to see Groves trap Phoebe Graham lbw for 5, but a fighting last-wicket stand of 50 between Tara Norris (53* off 56 balls, including three sixes) and Hannah Jones (17) delayed The Blaze. However, Kathryn Bryce eventually ended the partnership, and The Blaze wrapped up victory with 26 balls to spare.