Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy has been one of the most frequented tournaments for lovers of women’s cricket in recent times. As the tournament closes, it gets interesting for us to cast a glance at the tournament with the help of traditional, yet illustrious, cricketing numbers.
Batting Records
It was the Lightning that got the highest score by a side in a match. They got a whopping 303 runs in 50 overs against Sparks. SE Stars were a mere 11 runs short of 300 as they got 289 while facing Sunrisers. Vipers scored 288 on the back of some amazing play by the top order batters. Vipers lost one wicket and smashed 288 runs.
Batting was on its prime throughout the tournament. Adams from Southern Vipers got 500 runs to her tally and topped the list of highest run-scorers. Her highest was 154. The batting average was a staggering 83. Bryce from Lightning got 395 in six innings with an impressive average of 79. Luff from Storm got 339 runs in 6 matches. Her highest was 104. Her batting average was 67.8. Adams led the charge with her inning of 154 as the best outing for a better in the tournament. Following her closely was Bryce from Lightning. Bryce got 136 not out for her side. Jones comes next as she smashed 115 unbeaten for Sparks against Lightning.
Averages are often indicating consistency but Knight and Sciver steal the show here as they played two matches each and have an average of 158 and 108 respectively. Both played wonderfully for their sides and were not out in one of their outings. Adams from Vipers got runs throughout the tournament at an average of 83. She faced a huge 612 balls in 7 innings that she played.
There were a total of six centurions. Sciver played only two games but had a century in one of them. Bryce with 136 and Hennessy with 105 came next to the list. Jones from Central Sparks and Luff from Western Storm made runs in three figures too. Adams, as expected, is also featuring in the list of ton makers.
Bowling Records
In the bowling department, the top two out of three bowlers come from Southern Vipers. Taylor got an unbelievable 15 wickets in her 5 outings. K Bryce from Lightning got 14 grabs in her 6 matches as well. Norris from Vipers played 7 matches and got 12 crucial wickets for her side. Ecclestone from Thunder was the tightest bowler of the tournament. She was bowling with an average of 2.35. She got four wickets for her side apart from the vital pressure that she threw on the batting sides. Her teammate L Jackson cane in next as she bowled 16 overs in 3 matches with a wonderful economy of 2.68.
Brunt from Diamonds was impressive as well as she bowled with an economy of 2.94. Taylor, leading the tally for highest wicket-takers, got 6 wickets in an innings against Diamond. She gave only 34 runs in her complete quota of 10 overs. Brunt, for Diamonds, took five-wicket-haul against Sparks. She gave only 20 runs and got half of the batting unit inside. Morris from Storms got five wickets against Sunrisers. She bowled her complete allotted spell of 10 overs in the match for a mere 26 runs and three important maidens.
Fielding Records
Vipers left all other teams behind when it came to fielding. Bouchier and Scholfield got 10 catches each respectively while the next closest could only hold onto 5 chances. The tournament has been a big success as it seems to reduce the uncertainty in women’s game. English Cricket Board needs to assure all the stakeholders of their interests in women’s game and a serious consideration for the future.
A student who enjoys studying cricket more than anything else, keen to learn the insights of the women’s game.
