Central Sparks played host to The Blaze in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Edgbaston Stadium, as the final season of regional cricket commenced.
On a perfect day for cricket, Sparks, led by captain Eve Jones won the toss and elected to bat first. In what was a highly anticipated fixture, Jones opened the batting with Chloe Brewer. It was Brewer who scored quickly, hitting two quick boundaries, one, a delightful sweep shot off the bowling of Kirstie Gordon.
Sparks did lose their first wicket of the season when Grace Ballinger bowled Jones. This wicket was followed by the dismissal of Brewer and then young Davina Perrin. The story of the Sparks innings was Abbey Freeborn’s impressive knock which concluded with a half-century.
The number 27 for Lloyd Tennant’s side hit her 50 off 83 balls. A real anchoring display by Freeborn, whose time at the crease was followed by a quick-fire 32 (30) by Katie George.
This took the Sparks towards 200 and that was helped by late cameos from Issy Wong (13) and Ria Fackrell (12).
Needing 214 to win the opening game of the season, Blaze took to the middle with Marie Kelly and Teresa Graves. Graves was the first to go as she was caught by Fackrell off the bowling of Emily Arlott. Arlott had a superb spell, finishing with figures of (2-5) from her seven overs.
Sparks’ number 37 would bowl in tandem with Wong, who together restricted Blaze well in the early knockings of their innings. Arlott struck again, this time bowling former Spark Kelly for just (4).
A great start with the ball didn’t ever look like stopping, and eventually the bowling display, which was more than convincing, didn’t slow down.
Fellow seamers Wong and Bethan Ellis took a wicket each, until Hannah Baker came into the game and took a three-fer. With figures of (3-29), the leg-spinner dismantled the Blaze’s order, and the job was eventually finished off with wickets from Fackrell (1) and George (2).
A huge performance by Sparks, which clearly showed immense promise and togetherness.