Spirit storms into Semis followed by Nicola Carey’s 84 in just 28 Balls

Match no.13 of the ongoing 02 edition of the FairBreak Invitational had defending champions Tornadoes take the field against the team in-form, Spirit at the Kowloon Cricket Ground. The game witnessed the former batting first post an above-par score that the Spirit chased down with absolute ease, courtesy of their skipper breathing fire.

Spirit storms into Semis followed by Nicola Carey's 84 in just 28 Balls. PC: FairBreak / Twitter
Spirit storms into Semis followed by Nicola Carey’s 84 in just 28 Balls. PC: FairBreak / Twitter

1st innings: Tornadoes – 150/4 (20.0)

The side batting first had a good start as openers Sterre Kalis and Dane van Niekerk batted well in the powerplay but off the last ball, Dane on 28(14) departed bringing an end to a 44-run opening stand. Sterre in the middle was joined by Stafanie Taylor and the pair stitched a healthy partnership but failed to carry on the game aggressively. In the 16th over, with the pressure to accelerate mounting, Sterre departed on 37(45) and while Taylore managed to find late boundaries, Andrea-Mae Zepeda to failed to fetch quick runs and departed on 6(13).

With Stafanie Taylor finishing unbeaten on 61(48), Tornadoes with a much-needed boost finished on 150/4 at the end of 20 overs. Sophia Dunkley led the Spirit’s wicket chart with a couple to her name (2/20) and had Shizuka Miyaji (1/18) and Nicola Carey (1/32) follow with a wicket each.

2nd innings: Spirit – 155/4 (15.4)

The side in reply had a poor start as Sophia and Bismah Maroof departed cheaply on respective scores of 2(5) and 1(5) with 9 on board in the 3rd over. Natthakan Chantham in the 8th over walked back retired hurt on 22(20), and Nicola Carey then joined Kerry-Anne Tomlinson. While Kerry-Anne struggled to accelerate, Nicola Carey got underway aggressively. Kerry’s struggle when came to an end on 16(23), Naruemol Chaiwai walked in but departed cheaply for 6(7). Natthakan returned to join Nicola Carey who switched gears striking boundaries and maximums, while the former rotated strike to partner Carey.

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The pair of Nicola and Natthakan finished unbeaten on respective scores of 84*(28) and 35*(29) and chased the score down in 15.4 overs of play with 6 wickets in hand. Tornadoes in the wickets column had Aliya Riaz feature with a couple against her name (2/15 off 3) and Chanida Sutthiruang and Sita Rana Magar followed with a wicket each.

Result: Spirit won by 6 wickets

Heroic from Nicola Carey and nothing magical for her side, Spirit who register yet another clinical win as they eye finishing the tournament on a high. Again, a day where the Tornadoes wouldn’t have expected seeing what they did but such has been their season this time around that ends without a win for the defending champions.

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