Southern Vipers’ decisive seven-wicket bonus point win over South East Stars, secured by Freya Davies’ flawless four-for, cemented their position atop the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy standings.
The last time Davies had taken four wickets in an innings in 50-over cricket was a six-for for Sussex Women in 2018. The former Stars fast bowler had not collected four wickets in an innings since grabbing four for 23 in an England T20 match against New Zealand in March 2021.
Nevertheless, she showed remarkable pace to take 4 for 14 at Falkland Cricket Club, limiting Stars to 120. Local players Ava Lee and Charli Knott each claimed two wickets.
In her penultimate outing, Knott ensured that the pursuit was simple with a graceful 57, as the holders Vipers tastefully exacted revenge for their Charlotte Edwards Cup semifinal loss to Stars.
Vipers decided to bowl first, and they mercilessly cut through the Stars’ batting after a weather delay reduced the overs to 46 each side.
The first breakthrough came from Mary Taylor when she found Tash Farrant edging a drive behind to Megan Sturge, who was taking wickets for the first time since Rhianna Southby had injured her finger.
Davies, however, posed a greater threat when she outwitted Bryony Smith, Alexa Stonehouse, and Kalea Moore to reduce the visitors to 22 for 4.
A often unplayable opening seven-over run of 3 for 10 had two particularly nasty balls: the one to bowl Smith and the one that Moore gloved behind.
After putting up 35, Alice Davidson-Richards and Bethan Miles somewhat salvaged the situation, but another collapse of 25 for four stopped Stars.
This time, Knott’s astute offbreaks undid Miles and Aylish Cranstone, and the Australian turned Elastigirl to spectacularly capture Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones in the leg-side deep. It was the Vipers’ spin that prevailed.
Playing on the field she started on for Falkland at Under-11s, Lee took two wickets in an over as the England Under-19s spinner trapped Davidson-Richards behind.
Prior to Hill being run out at the non-striker’s end and Dani Gregory being Sturge’s third and Davies’ fourth victim, Chloe Hill and Ryana Macdonald Gay kept things together with a patient 34-run partnership for the ninth wicket.
Vipers responded with utmost firmness. Vipers, headed by Knott, had equaled the six boundaries that Stars had scored in their entire innings in just 14 overs.
The fact that Farrant had to leave the field due to what appeared to be a hamstring injury in the first over did not help Stars either.
Within eight overs, Knott and Ella McCaughan shared 46 runs for the first wicket until Moore’s huge turning blow outwitted the latter.
Following a 43-run partnership with Knott, Emily Windsor and Georgia Adams fell, but Knott skillfully removed breadth to achieve a 56-ball fifty, her third half-century and sixth score above 40 for the Vipers.
Given how easily the Vipers reached the goal in just 23 overs, it seemed only fitting that Knott would cut the last runs.
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