Charlotte Edwards Cup Round-Up: 2-3 July

The second weekend of the inaugural Charlotte Edwards Cup saw the competition make its debut at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence with South East Stars’ five-wicket victory over Central Sparks, with six Horses featuring for the Stars.

Kent all-rounder Grace Gibbs made sure the Stars maintained their 100 per cent record as her 33 finished off a five-wicket victory over the Sparks.

Sparks, having been put in, had been restricted to 117, despite Eve Jones’ 49, thanks to Alice Capsey’s impeccable three for 13 and Bryony Smith’s frugal two for nine.

But Gibbs’ smart running mixed with the odd power-strike made sure the Stars romped home to victory with 22 balls to spare.

Smith appeared to want the game finished in a hurry with three powerfully struck boundaries off three of the first four balls of the chase.

But the Stars captain departed in the following over trying to clear Emily Arlott at mid-off, before Kent’s Alice Davidson-Richards was bowled and Alice Capsey LBW in the same Georgia Davis over.

After a cagey period, Kent’s Phoebe Franklin and Gibbs broke the back of the chase with a 44-run partnership. The former swept back-to-back fours off Davis, before her Kent team-mate whacked Baker over long-on for six.

Franklin fell for an 18-ball 26 flicked to deep square leg but Gibbs was undeterred as she clubbed another maximum into the legside.

Kent’s Susie Rowe fell leg before to Davis – who claimed three for 21 – but Gibbs swept to the boundary to make it back-to-back wins.

Earlier, Jones, who scored a century and fifty in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy earlier in the summer, led the innings but wickets fell around her at regular intervals – typified with no partnerships reaching 30.

Marie Kelly was caught at point in the second over and Milly Home, after three quick boundaries, was LBW to a Capsey doosra.

At 42 for two at the end of the Powerplay there appeared to be a solid platform to set a decent total but Gwenan Davies, Thea Brookes and Chloe Hill fell in consecutive overs.

Steph Butler was leg before after an enterprising 15 before Jones turned on the style with a paddle-sweep and hook down to fine leg.

Three wickets fell on 115 to stunt any hopes of a punchy finally. Arlott pulled straight to mid-off, Issy Wong pulled Smith to deep mid-wicket – during a wicket maiden – and Jones was run out attempting to pinch a quick single to take her to fifty.

Capsey rounded off for impressive three overs by having Hannah Baker caught behind, ending with career-best figures.

Grace Scrivens and Mia Rogers’ Sunrisers suffered and eight-wicket defeat and a Sarah Taylor masterclass with an impeccable 43 not out as Northern Diamonds got off the mark in the CEC.