Sun 19 May, 10:30
Report: Sparks v Sunrisers, Charlotte Edwards Cup
Central Sparks launched their Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign with an emphatic victory as they defeated Sunrisers by seven wickets at New Road, Worcester.
In a season-opener between the teams that finished in the bottom two slots last season, Sparks started in style this time round thanks principally to a dazzling unbeaten 79 from just 48 balls by Davina Perrin.
Sunrisers batted first and were lifted to 138 for six by Alice MacLeod’s 39-ball 54 against an attack led by Hannah Baker (two for 21) and Emily Arlott (two for 23).
It looked a slightly under par total and so it proved as Perrin, who hit two sixes and 13 fours, and Australian overseas player Courtney Webb (27 not out, 15 balls) made short work of the chase with an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 83 in 47 balls. Mady Villiers took two for 36 but Sparks cruised to 142 for three with 36 balls remaining.
Put in on a glorious day at New Road, Sunrisers were given a bright start by Joanne Gardner (30, 25 balls) who dominated an opening stand of 40 in 35 balls with Grace Scrivens but then both fell in three balls. Scrivens hesitated over a very tight single and was beaten by Perrin’s throw and Gardner was bamboozled by the flight of Baker’s first delivery and bowled. When Arlott bowled Villiers through a slog and Baker also bowled Cordelia Griffith, Sunrisers had slumped from 40 without loss to 50 for four in 19 balls.
MacLeod and Jodi Grewcock batted with composure to add 50 in six overs and the former ensured her side had something to bowl at before missing an attempted sweep at Arlott and falling lbw to the penultimate ball of the innings.
Sunrisers, who lost all seven games in the Charlotte Edwards Cup last year, needed to strike early with the ball and they did. They removed both openers in the first 13 balls as Ami Campbell hammered Eva Gray to point and Abi Freeborn was lbw through a failed sweep at Villiers.
When Sparks skipper Eve Jones chipped Villiers to mid off, it was 59 for three and the visitors still had a chink of hope but Perrin’s cleanly-hit onslaught, with measured and positive support from Webb, soon extinguished it and Sparks eased to victory.
Sparks batter Davina Perrin said: “It was very nice to start the T20 comp on a high. We just need to carry this momentum on into the next couple of games. I was pleased with the way I played. It was really nice batting out there with Webby. She has got heaps of experience and also great chat out in the middle so that always helps.
“If you look at the team performance today, everyone went out there and played fearless cricket and played how we are capable of. Now it’s just a question of carrying that on, playing that expressive cricket and showing how good we are as a team.”
