Recent Match Report – Sparks vs Sunrisers Group B 2022

Central sparks 146 for 5 (E Jones 69, Wong 35) beat Sunrise 143 for 6 (Gardner 41, Carr 37*) by three runs

The result cements Sparks’ place at the top of the table heading into the day of the final which will also be played at Northampton on June 11.

Jones took Sparks past 50 late in the power play with a big long-playing six against Mady Villiers, one of two highs in her six-limit innings. In addition to hitting aerially over the infield and punching through the covers with authority, she also timed the ball beautifully and showed great placement.

She was dropped at 65 and offered a tough chance to be caught and played just before she reached her half century, but otherwise looked smooth.

Wong started aggressively before being caught well by a Villiers dive off Scotland’s Abtaha Maqsood for 35. Grace Scrivens then took the place of Amy Jones when the England keeper attempted a cut attempt behind . Abi Freeborn hit a run-a-ball 14 before being caught by Sunrisers skipper Kelly Caste with the visitors on 124 for 3.

Eve Jones was deprived of the shot late in the innings and fell trying to retrieve Naomi Dattani on the first pitch of the final. Dattani then netted a second wicket in two runs when she kicked Ami Campbell unscored.

In response, the Sunrisers lost Villiers caught behind chasing a stump outside the opening above Wong. Scrivens, however, looked smooth, driving smoothly through coverage for a pair of fours against Liz Russell’s second and firing Wong for a big six behind the square.

The Sunrisers’ challenge seemed over when they lost four wickets for 16 in five overs. First, Scrivens drilled to Russell’s deep midwicket on the 27th, then Kelly was squared by Arlott and offered a simple grab from the leading edge. Mia Rogers was exhausted by sharp work from Hannah Baker and Arlott. Dattani, who had taken advantage of her luck, surviving two lost takes, was trapped lbw by Baker for 17 years.

Carr and Gardner refused to give up the fight, taking the Sunrisers to the brink of what would have been their first win of the season. Both showed plenty of intent from the start, with Gardner unleashing her arms against Baker hitting her for three straight boundaries and later hitting her to the ground for six to leave the Sunrisers needing 22 on the final two overs – but This was not the case.