In a fierce Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy encounter at Cheltenham, The Blaze defeated Western Storm by five wickets thanks to a stunning unbroken partnership of 105 runs between Lucy Higham and Ella Claridge.
The visitors, chasing a modest 218 to win, got off to a terrific start in their chase thanks to opener Sarah Bryce’s hard-hitting 61 off of 54 balls. However, The Blaze’s collapse to 115 for 5 cast doubt on the result, and with 7.3 overs left, they were ultimately dependent on their sixth-wicket combination of Higham and Claridge, who scored unbroken runs of 62 and 43, respectively, to secure the victory.
Storm was brought in on a level field, and Fran Wilson had previously top-scored with 67 and combined 62 for the third wicket with Sophie Luff. However, Luff’s dismissal—brought for 31 by Kathryn Bryce—started a collapse that saw the home team go from 133 for 2 to 217 all out in 16.2 overs, with only 84 runs coming from their final eight wickets. As the Storm was out of the game in 47 overs, Bryce ended with 4 for 20 from 8.5 overs.
Currently rooted at the bottom of the standings, Storm has lost its previous five 50-over games. Over the course of the upcoming week, they will travel to play Central Sparks and leaders Southern Vipers in tough matchups. After winning their fourth game of the season, the Blaze are still in fifth position and will be feeling good going into their away game against the Northern Diamonds, who are vying for the championship, on Sunday.
Despite losing the toss and having to bat in low cloud, Storm nonetheless got off to a respectable start, with Corney and Smale gaining comfort and steadiness in their opening partnership of 57, which gave the innings a strong basis.
As Storm fell to 71 for 2, legspinner Josie Groves held a catch off her own bowling to send back Smale for 32. Kirstie Gordon terminated the partnership, bowled Corney as she was slog-sweeping for 23.
Then, when the sun came out and the batting conditions improved, Wilson and Luff formed an alliance marked by rapid running and aggressive purpose, reaching 50 for the third wicket in 13.2 overs. However, uncertainty finally brought an end to their promising stand, when Luff guided a ball from Gordon to backward point and went on a run, only to be dismissed by Wilson and run out for a 41-ball 31 thanks to Bryce’s throw.
With a will to atone, Wilson reached her second fifty runs in as many games at the Festival with 53 balls. She then added 35 runs in five overs with Nat Wraith to give the innings fresh life. The Blaze struck back again as Cassidy McCarthy’s quick pace took care of Wraith, who was caught and bowled for a 21-ball 20.
As the innings started to fall apart, Wilson was 67 from 68 balls when, looking for her ninth boundary, she drove at a length ball from Heather Graham and found long-on. Meanwhile, Amanda-Jade Wellington was bowled by Grace Ballinger without scoring. Then, in the span of seven balls, Kathryn Bryce eliminated Ellie Anderson, Issy Wong, Alex Griffiths, and Niamh Holland from the Chapel End by herself.
With the ball, Storm needed a strong start, and they made some early gains when England player Tammy Beaumont was bowled for six by Wong. However, Sarah Bryce took charge after that, scoring 47 runs alongside her older brother for the second wicket as The Blaze finished the 10-over powerplay at 75 for 2. Extremely confident right from the start, the 24-year-old Scot quickly reached a 36-ball 50 that featured seven fours and a six, forcing Storm to play catch-up.
The home team persevered through the storm, and Griffiths at least stopped the run flow by bowling Marie Kelly. Heather Graham was next removed by Skelton, who then claimed the vital wicket of Bryce, who was bowled as the visitors stumbled to 115 for 5. Bryce had played back to a full delivery.
With 103 runs needed, Claridge and Higham tried to steady the innings. Initially, the sixth wicket combination took minimal risks to counter the threat given by Wellington’s legbreaks and Wong’s quick speed. Their desire to push limits developed as their duo gained prominence; Higham in particular played with more fluidity as the finish line approached.
In the 39th over, Higham hit a 60-ball fifty, sweeping Smale for her sixth boundary to reach that mark and guarantee victory.
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