Central Sparks 213 for 9 (Freeborn 53, Ballinger 3-47) beat The Blaze 135 (de Klerk 43, Baker 3-29) by 78 runs
Central Sparks ended their 50-over hoodoo in opposition to the Blaze with an emphatic 78-run victory on the opening day of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy season at Edgbaston. Eve Jones’ aspect had by no means crushed Blaze within the 50-over format however took benefit of the guests’ lengthy absentee listing on account of damage and worldwide commitments to start out the season in fashion.
Sparks’ innings began slowly within the face of a positive new-ball burst from de Klerk who conceded simply 4 runs in her first 4 overs. When Jones tried to shed the shackles, she was bowled attempting to flick Ballinger to leg.
Chloe Brewer greeted the left-arm spin of Kirstie Gordon with a crisp reverse sweep for 4 however paid a excessive worth for attempting to repeat the shot to a ball which was too far up, falling lbw. Munro maintained the stress for Blaze with a gap spell of 7-1-18-1 which included the elimination of Davina Perrin, bowled off stump.
Former Warwickshire allrounder Marie Kelly drifted a magnificence previous Ami Campbell to have her stumped however Freeborn superior to a composed 82-ball half-century earlier than lacking a swipe at Munro and perishing, stumped by Ella Claridge. Katie George offered some late impetus with a 30-ball 32 with 5 fours earlier than she was yorked by de Klerk.
Sparks began beautifully with the ball as Arlott and Issy Wong each conceded simply two from their first two overs. Arlott opened with 5-3-4-2 after eradicating Teresa Graves, caught at mid-on, and Kelly, bowled behind her legs. Wong beat Munro for tempo to win an lbw determination and when Claridge missed a slog at Bethan Ellis and was bowled, Blaze had been 39 for 4 within the 18th over.
De Klerk and Daisy Mullan, making her debut on a five-match mortgage from Thunder, halted the slide and added 51 in 77 balls earlier than the introduction of Baker ended the revival. The spinner eliminated each in 5 balls, every time defeating an tried lower as Mullan nicked to the wicketkeeper and de Klerk was bowled center stump.
Baker added a 3rd wicket when Michaela Kirk ladled to deep midwicket the place George, having shelled two earlier possibilities, this time held on.
