Western Storm 252 for six (Luff 76*, Ecclestone 3-16) beat Thunder 186 (Skelton 3-35, Smale 3-42) by 66 runs
Western Storm clinched their first win within the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy after defeating Thunder by 66 runs at Emirates Outdated Trafford.
England spinner Ecclestone took 3 wickets for 16 runs off her 10 overs, however three good partnerships rescued the Storm who added 162 runs from their last 30 overs to publish a difficult rating.
Western Storm struck an early blow because the Thunder set off in pursuit of 253 when Seren Smale reduce a brief supply from Lauren Filer to Dani Gibson at cowl for 9.
Emma Lamb and Katie Mack rebuilt with a optimistic 62-run partnership off 69 balls with Mack launching Amanda-Jade Wellington for consecutive sixes at the beginning of the leg spinner’s second over.
Wellington hit again with two massive wickets, bowling Mack for 28 and Lamb for 38 to have Thunder 85 for 3 at the beginning of the nineteenth over. That shortly turned 104 for six after 25 overs as three wickets fell for six runs in a disastrous spell for Thunder.
Off-spinner Skelton had Fi Morris caught behind for 16, then bowled Naomi Dattani first ball adopted by Alex Griffiths discovering an edge from Ecclestone that was effectively taken by wicketkeeper Nat Wraith standing up.
Skipper Ellie Threlkeld and Kate Cross rallied Thunder with a partnership of 69 off 83 balls. Cross hit a six off Skelton in making a affected person 36 till bowled by left-arm spinner Smale. Threlkeld departed for 32 when lbw sweeping at Skelton two balls later to go away the hosts 173 for 8 within the fortieth over.
Smale wrapped issues up with the wickets of Mahika Gaur and Phoebe Graham for 10 to seal a convincing victory.
Storm made a wonderful begin after being put in to bat with Griffiths and Smale posting a second consecutive fifty opening partnership within the face of some disciplined bowling by England duo Cross and Gaur.
Griffiths had accelerated the scoring however was bowled for twenty-four after aiming a wild slog at Ecclestone. That was the primary of three wickets to fall for 9 runs in 17 balls with Smale, who had been lucky to outlive a run out probability when on 4, bowled for 23 by Ecclestone after taking part in again and crushed by a turning supply, whereas Fran Wilson chipped Graham to Dattani at mid-on for 7.
Gibson hit three boundaries off her first seven deliveries however had no reply to a faster, turning supply from Ecclestone to be bowled for 16 with the fourth wicket falling on 80 on the finish of the nineteenth over.
Storm fought again splendidly from that time, with captain Luff and Wraith mounting a decided alliance of 70 throughout 17 overs to counter the management exerted by the Thunder spinners with Ecclestone to the fore.
Wraith hit the primary six of the match off Hannah Jones earlier than falling to an awesome catch by Ecclestone at mid-on off Graham for 38.
However Luff discovered nice help from Niamh Holland, who contributed a helpful 22 off 24 balls in a 46-run partnership, and Wellington who made a speedy unbeaten 31 off 19 balls over the closing overs.
Luff, who reached her fifty from 82 balls, turned the glue that held the innings collectively, initially consolidating after coming to the crease within the fifteenth over earlier than offering the late acceleration as Storm added 83 from the final ten overs to set a goal that proved to be greater than sufficient.
