Yesterday saw the final of the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy, between Vipers, in their fourth final out of four (2 won, one lost going into yesterday) and the newly formed Blaze (a move from Loughborough to Nottingham and a name change). Vipers won the toss, and with cloud cover around which was expected to dissipate later in the day they decided to out Blaze into bat. Blaze skipper Kirstie Gordon claimed in response that she would have chosen to bat first anyway but my own suspicion is that not even she actually believed that, never mind anyone else.
THE BLAZE INNINGS
Batting was as difficult in the early stages as had been expected, and only the efforts of veteran opener Tammy Beaumont who fought her way to 76 before getting out trying to up the scoring rate at the death prevented Blaze fron sinking without trace. As it was only two other batters, both lower order players, topped 20 for the Blaze (extras, assisted by some indiscipline on the part of the Vipers bowlers, also did so). A late flurry took Blaze to exactly 200 from their rain-reduced 48 overs. Left arm spinner Linsey Smith was the pcik of the bowlers with 3-30 from her 10 overs.
THE VIPERS RESPONSE
The Vipers lost two very early wickets, before two Georgias, Adams and Elwiss, put on 96 together for the third wicket. Then young leg spinner Josie Groves claimed both set batters and Charlie Dean to reduce Vipers to 109-5. That brought Freya Kemp in to join Emily Windsor with 92 still required. Windsor and Kemp batted superbly, first averting the danger of a collapse, and then as the got settled in mounting an assault on a target that had never got remotely challenging in terms of required run rate. Windsor completed a fine half century, and then, living up to her billing
as ‘the finisher’ she made the winning hit, her ninth boundary in a final score of 57*. Kemp, busy but never flustered at the crease, had scored 32* (35) at the other end. Vipers were home by five wickets with 7.4 overs to spare, a comfortable victory, and yet another trophy as coach for Charlotte Edwards, whose second cricketing career is showing signs of outshining even her amazing playing career. This was Edwards’ third domestic trophy of 2023 alone, since she had coached Vipers to success and in the competition that bears her own name and had also been coach of the team that won The Hundred. The “keepers must be top line batters” brigade would do well to note that this trophy was lifted a team whose keeper, Rhianna Southby, was not required to bat, and who was officially scheduled to come in at number nine (she was impeccable behind the stumps for the record).
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
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