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Bates Stars But Vipers Suffer Narrow Rain-Affected Loss
Bates Stars But Vipers Suffer Narrow Rain-Affected Loss
The opener hits another unbeaten half-century but her side slipped to a 4-run defeat against Surrey Stars at the The Ageas Bowl
Suzie Bates continued her fine form with the bat with another unbeaten half-century but Southern Vipers suffered a narrow four-run defeat to Surrey Stars in a rain-affected tie at the The Ageas Bowl.
Hayley Matthews (2-23) was the pick of the bowlers in an all-round, strong team performance as the Vipers restricted their opponents to 127-8 from their 20 overs.
In reply, Bates (50*) then hit her first half-century of the tournament, but the rain meant that Southern Vipers fell short of the Duckworth-Lewis target of 104.
Lizelle Lee (40) got the Stars off to a flying start, hitting frequent boundaries to propel their side up to 21-0 after two overs.
Danni Wyatt then produced a moment of brilliance on the boundary rope to dismiss Tammy Beaumont (0), but Lee continued to strike the ball well.
Tash Farrant (1-34) returned to dismiss the South African, but Nat Sciver guided the visitors beyond 50 in the fifth over as the strong start continued.
Just 18 runs followed off the next four overs, as the Vipers attack fought back, with Surrey poised on 69-2 at the end of the ninth over.
Matthews ended the partnership with another piece of smart fielding, running out Sciver (14) with a direct-hit as the visitors were reduced to 77-3 at the halfway stage.
Marizanne Kapp was still at the crease, and anchoring the innings, with the Stars progressing to 83-3 after 12 overs, despite finishing the powerplay in a strong position on 56-2.
Byrony Smith (5) was then dismissed by Arran Brindle (1-19) and Sophia Dunkley (1) was run out shortly after as Surrey Stars continued to struggle.
Suzie Bates (1-23) then returned to dismiss Kapp (42) after a smart catch from Carla Rudd behind the stumps and Matthews bowled Marsh (4) as Surrey collapsed from 106-4 to 117-7.
Mignon du Preez then run out White (5) for the third run out in the innings, as Southern Vipers restricted Surrey Stars to 127-8 from their 20 overs.
Suzie Bates and Hayley Matthews got off to a watchful start in reply, guiding their side to 16-0 after the opening four overs.
The momentum turned in the fifth over, when the pair smashed 14 runs from it as they took advantage of the fielding restrictions, finishing on 35 without loss at the end of the powerplay.
However, in the first over after they were lifted, Matthews (15) got a leading edge and was caught at point off the bowling on Alex Hartley.
Du Preez (2) and Wyatt (0) then fell in the same Laura Marsh over as the Vipers fell to 41-3 and in a precarious position at the end of the eighth over.
Bates and Arran Brindle led the recovery, frequently rotating the strike and punishing the bad ball as the hosts reached 54-3 at the half-way stage.
With a threat of rain in the air, the pair soon accelerated the innings, smashing 18 runs off the following two overs to move the Vipers up to 71-3.
However, Brindle (19) was trapped in front by Sciver before Georgia Adams (0) was ran out to reduce the hosts to 78-5 after 14 overs, still needing 50 more runs for victory.
The collapse continued when captain Charlotte Edwards (0) and Carla Rudd (0) fell in the same Sciver over, as the Vipers moved from 78-3 to 79-7.
The rain started to intensify, but the players remained in the outfield, much to the Vipers’ advantage as Bates moved to her half-century in a productive 16th over where 16 runs came off it.
Farrant (12*) also accelerated the innings, moving her side past into three figures, when the rain brought the end to the game with the Vipers on 100-7 in the 17th over.
