Sparks lose third game in a row as Thunder had too much at New Road.
Despite a battling performance, the total of 155 posted by Thunder was too much for the Sparks to overcome, as Lloyd Tennant’s side fall short at home in Worcestershire.
After winning the toss and choosing to field first, the omen's looked good as the Sparks have been a solid bowling unit for the majority of the season so far.
Without the injured duo of Grace Potts and Emily Arlott, nor Issy Wong and Amy Jones due to international duty, a senior debut called. It was the chance for Worcestershire’s own Ellie Anderson to start for the Sparks.
Anderson bowled the second over following Katie George, who set the Sparks on their way.
The wickets for Sparks were few and far between. Thunder’s Emma Lamb was hitting the ball with ease at times, as she got the visitors off to a good start.
Lamb was partnered by Liberty Heap, who was dismissed by George after a superb catch by Bethan Ellis, who was making her second start of the campaign thus far, following an impressive debut against The Blaze.
Lamb was eventually sent packing, but that wasn't until Thunder had scored 118 runs, which came at a time when the home side most needed a wicket.
Georgia Davis and Erin Burns got in on the act and supplied further wickets for Sparks, but the hosts could only get to six, as Thunder finished on 155 - setting Sparks 156 to win.
Captain Eve Jones and Ellis opened the batting, but Jones couldn’t make the impact she has in previous games as she was caught behind off a ball from Mahika Gaur off the first ball of Sparks' innings.
Just like the first game at New Road in 2023, where Sparks were victorious over the Northern Diamonds, 16-year-old Davina Perrin scored some runs again. She posted 33 runs back in April, and went out for (28) today.
Burns was nine runs off a half-century as she served up a quality showing with the bat. Once she was dismissed for (41), the wickets came quick and Sparks couldn’t get going.
There was some positive signs, especially in the field. However, Tennant’s side lacked that cutting edge with the bat. Some good character was shown though as they battled hard and took it to the final few overs before the game was out of sight.
The Sparks go again against the Southern Vipers at Edgbaston, in the hope of really kick-starting their Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign.