Eve Jones’ 137* ensured a dramatic win for Central Sparks ;Jones’ century surpassed Emma Lamb’s 107 as the skipper sealed victory with two balls to spare.
A superb century from Central Sparks captain Eve Jones proved to be the match-winner as she sealed a stunning victory over Lancashire Thunder at Emirates Old Trafford in the Rachel Hayhoe Flint Trophy.’
Jones’ unbeaten 136 – the highest score by a woman at the ground – led her side to a thrilling three-wicket victory that still saw Sparks late in the last over, needing 11 runs to win.
Earlier Emma Lamb and fellow opener, Seren Smale, shared an opening partnership of 140 runs – the Thunder’s first century for the first wicket in the competition – as Lamb scored 107 and the hosts posted an impressive score of 284 for seven.
But the Sparks skipper was the hero of the moment, aided by a crucial knock of 40 from Australian batsman Courtney Webb, who hit the winning run in the final over to secure a stunning win.
Lamb and Smale looked to build on their opening stand of 89 in the previous win over the Blaze, with the pair setting the Sparks’ seamers with skill and confidence. The 100-run partnership came off just 125 balls, with Lamb bringing up his half-century off 51 balls, while Smale’s second consecutive 50 came off 78 balls.
It took until the 30th over for Sparks when Smalley was bowled by Hannah Baker for 67, bringing Australian batsman Katie McKay into the middle.
Mack has made a good impression at Emirates Old Trafford so far and as the Sparks bowlers began to work hard in the sun,
After a frantic 77 for the second wicket and Lamb eventually falling for 107 off 104 balls, Emily Arlott was caught by Bethan Ellis at deep midwicket.
Quick runs became the best of the day and after McKay was caught by Ria Fackrell to give Baker her second wicket, Fi Morris (29 off 19) and Naomi Datani (17 off 13) both helped the score. Off
Desperate for a big target, Jones put opening partner Karis Pavelli on first down, bowling a beauty from Kate Cross for 10, scoring at will on both sides of the ground and down the wicket.
Jones lost another partner when Abigail Freeborn hit a full toss to a diving Datani for 13 to leave the score at 63 for 2, but the skipper eventually found a foil to Chloe Breyer as the third wicket pair took Sparks to 81 on the right. Smale was caught by Brewer’s Tara Norris before scoring 26 runs.
Eve Jones’ 137* ensured a dramatic win for Central Sparks Jones lost another partner when Abigail Freeborn hit a full toss to a diving Datani for 13 to leave the score at 63 for 2, but the skipper eventually found a foil to Chloe Breyer as the third wicket pair took Sparks to 81 on the right. Smale was caught by Brewer’s Tara Norris before scoring 26 runs.
Eve Jones’ 137* ensured a dramatic win for Central Sparks.
If that made the hosts favorites again, Webb had other ideas, as Australian Jones joined the crease and produced a brilliant knock of 44 with three fours and a six.
The next wicket looked crucial and when the impressive Hannah Jones produced a superb delivery to bowl the advancing Webb, Jones was left with the difficult task of finding the boundary and dealing with the ever-increasing run rate.
Somehow, he does, with the help of an important cameo from Emily Arlott (15). Sparks went into the last over with crosses, Jones and Bethan Ellis still needing double figures for an unlikely win. ensured a dramatic win for Central Sparks
Two boundaries off the first two balls from Ellis eased the nerves and the winning run was left to Jones who secured a memorable win by a single point.