Report: Sparks v Thunder, Charlotte Edwards Cup

Central Sparks sealed their Charlotte Edwards Cup qualification with a thrilling last-ball eight-wicket victory over Thunder at Edgbaston.

Put in, Thunder totalled a solid 146 for six thanks to a high-class maiden T20 half-century by Seren Smale who struck 88 not out from 61 balls. The 19-year-old reached the crease with Thunder in a tangle at three for two but rescued them with a polished innings which included nine fours. Grace Potts led the Sparks bowling with two for 18.

Sparks then started slowly but from 22 for two were powered to victory by an unbroken third -wicket stand of 128 between Abi Freeborn (71, 57) and Amy Jones (67, 45). Jones struck the last two balls of the 20th over for four to kill off Thunder’s challenge both in this game and the quest for qualification.

With Eve Jones ruled out by concussion, Sparks were skippered by Georgia Davis who won the toss, chose to field and saw both opening bowlers strike in their first over. Fi Morris fell second bowl when she missed with a bizarre slog at Potts. Katie Mack left her leg stump exposed, sweeping at Charis Pavely to leave Thunder three for two after two overs. 

It should have been six for three when Smale edged Potts between wicketkeeper and slip but neither claimed the catch. They were heavily punished for their indecision. Smale and Emma Lamb (25, 28) added 61 in 51 balls and, after Lamb chipped Davis to mid off, Threlkeld joined the youngster in a stand of 58 in 41. The captain played very much the supporting role as Smale smoothed to her half-century in 41 balls. 

Throwing the bat late on, Threlkeld holed out off Katie George and Sophie Ecclestone was superbly caught by a diving Davina Perrin at backward point. Smale’s domination of the innings showed in the boundary count – she struck nine while her team-mates together hit just three.

Thunder started strongly with the ball as Kate Cross lured Ami Campbell into sending up a skier in the first over and Tara Norris conceded just a single from the second.

Ecclestone spun her first ball past Perrin to have her neatly stumped by Threlkeld but Freeborn and Jones rebuilt methodically. Neither were at their most fluent at first but they kept their side in the race, Freeborn passing 50 in 35 balls and Jones in 37, to leave 26 needed from the last three overs.

That came down to ten off the last over, bowled by Phoebe Graham and five from the last two balls. Jones hoisted the first of those over mid off for four and the second to the cover boundary to send Sparks through to Finals Day.

Sparks captain Georgia Davis said: “It was a bit nervy but the two girls did brilliantly. There were times when I thought ‘is this getting a bit tight?’ but they really showed their quality.

“We probably gave them a couple too many in the field. Our bowlers did well but it wasn’t our best fielding performance. It was a good pitch though, so I think they left a few out there.

“Then we lost a couple of early wickets and it always looked like it might be really tight. But Frebs went in and did such a good job and with Amy played it really well. What a partnership that was.

“It’s brilliant to be through and so nice to go into the last two games knowing they are not going to be nervy. Now we can relax a little bit but we still want to play well in the last two games to go into Finals Day nice and positive.””It’s brilliant to be through and so nice to go into the last two games knowing they are not going to be nervy. Now we can relax a little bit but we still want to play well in the last two games to go into Finals Day nice and positive.”