The Sparks were back in action today against Sunrisers for their first home game of the Charlotte Edwards Cup at the glorious Edgbaston Stadium. Sparks lost the toss and were put in to bat first. Eve Jones and Issy Wong opened but Wong departed early for 5. This didn’t stop the Sparks as in came Amy Jones who hit a massive 80 from 49 balls including six 4s and six 6s – the most sixes in a Charlotte Edwards Cup innings. At the end of the powerplay, Sparks were 27/1 but finished the innings on 153/5 after strong partnerships with Amy Jones including Eve Jones who scored 27 from 31, and Abbey Freeborn who hit 27 from 22 to help the side elevate the total.
Sparks took the key wickets of openers Grace Scrivens and Cordelia Griffith in quick succession – the first caught by Issy Wong off the bowling of Emily Arlott and Sarah Glenn got Griffith LBW. Emily Arlott picked up another wicket in the 9th over as Jo Gardener nudged the ball into the gloves of Amy Jones leaving Sunrisers 60/3. Grace Potts picked up her first wicket in the 13th over, bowling Sunrisers captain Kelly Castle for 12. Hannah Baker came back into the attack and Mia Rogers was stumped by Amy Jones for 0 leaving Sunrisers 89/5 with just over 5 overs to go and continued this to dismiss Scarlett Hughes for 1 later in the game finishing her bowling with figures of 2/20. In the last few overs, Grace Potts took the vital wicket of Naomi Dattani to send Sunrisers 8 wickets down. Sunrisers finished on 129/8, Central Sparks winning by a comfortable 24 runs. Sarah Glenn finished with impressive figures of 2/14 including a maiden over and similarly Hannah Baker, 2/20.
Our next game is back here at Edgbaston stadium against the South East Stars in a doubleheader starting with Bears v Durham at 2:30pm. Tickets are available here: https://tickets.edgbaston.com/selection/event/seat?perfId=101586910701