DUBLIN – The Dragons mounted a dramatic fightback in each innings, however in the end fell brief by one wicket towards the defending champions, the Scorchers, within the Arachas.
Within the first innings the Scorchers had the Dragons at 91-9 within the first innings earlier than a final wicket partnership of 57 gave the facet in Crimson a breath of hope. Then within the second innings the Scorchers collapsed from 105-4 to 146-9 earlier than inching to victory by a single wicket thanks largely to Shauna Kavanagh’s unbeaten 45. Kavanagh seemed the most-assured batter on both facet on a pitch that provided a lot to the bowlers. Her Participant of the Match efficiency can be welcome information for worldwide head coach Ed Joyce as he heads right into a busy worldwide season.
For the Dragons, Orla Prendergast was again to her pacy greatest, bursting by way of Rachel Delaney’s defences within the first over of the run chase and disrupting the stumps in what has develop into a customary dismissal for the Irish worldwide. A pointy throw from backward level by Sarah Forbes caught Siúin Woods (14) brief, and the Dragons seemed buoyed with the Scorchers at 45-2 within the thirteenth over.
Anna Kerrison (25) and Sophie MacMahon (21) seemed snug on the crease earlier than each provided catching follow to the Dragons fielders – Kerrison an edge behind, and MacMahon a top-edged sweep shot that flew straight to high quality leg. Jenny Sparrow (4) was run out in an pointless sharp single, and Prendergast got here again on for a second spell with the ball to fortress Lara Maritz for 8, and abruptly the Dragons grew in depth with the Scorchers at 124-6.
The run fee required was by no means going to be the priority for the Scorchers, however holding wickets intact going to be the important thing. Kavanagh performed the anchor function, however noticed wickets tumble on the different finish because the Dragons smelt an unlikely win. Ultimately Aimee Maguire reduce a brief ball by Leah Paul for a single to report a nervy victory for the Scorchers.
Earlier within the day, after the Scorchers received the toss and selected to bowl first, an entertaining 57-run final wicket stand between Mollie Devine (27) and Kate McEvoy (23*) rescued the Dragons from a precarious place of 91-9, pushing the overall to a more-defendable 148 in 43 overs.
The quantity 10 and 11 batters performed with freedom and confidence, hanging three boundaries every and displaying their high and middle-order teammates methods to strategy an innings on this green-tinged wicket. Whereas McEvoy performed a number of fluent off-drives to the boundary, Devine seemed busy – capitalising on just a few free balls because the pair constructed their rear-guard stand.
The Scorchers’ Jane Maguire (3-20) began the early rot within the first over, eradicating Dragons captain Paul and Amy Hunter in consecutive balls – Paul feathering a catch down legside, and Hunter trapped in entrance by a ball that swung away from the bat. Prendergast (24) and Sarah Forbes (12) steadied the innings with a counter-attacking 36-run stand, however the pair fell inside 4 balls of one another to go away the Dragons 37-4 within the eleventh over.
Kavanagh then pulled off a exceptional run out to dismiss Alan Dalzell (0). After fumbling a large ball down legside, Kavanagh chased the ball down, ripped off her glove and threw the non-striker’s finish stumps down with Dalzell a metre brief.
Cara Murray (23) added middle-order runs, earlier than misjudging a run to cowl and was run out by throw from Maritz, earlier than Maritz was within the wickets herself. Bowling as an uncustomary fifth change bowler, the Balbriggan tempo bowler had been extracting inward motion and threatening to dislodge the bails on quite a few events earlier than she lastly obtained one on the right track, knocking again Kia McCartney’s off stump.
The tenth wicket stand saved the Dragons blushes, with the Scorchers bowling unit wanting more and more pissed off because the partnership progressed. Ultimately Devine mistimed an on-drive, and her top-edged shot was taken by a relieved Maritz at cowl.
For the Scorchers, Maguire’s 3-fer was reward for her incisive early swing bowling, however it was Rachel Delaney (2-19) and Maritz (1-19) that seemed probably the most harmful.
The outcome units up an enchanting Arachas Tremendous Collection, with the following match between the Dragons and Typhoons in Lisburn subsequent Sunday.
MATCH SUMMARY
Scorchers v Dragons, Tremendous 50 Cup, North County Cricket Membership, 8 Could 2022
Dragons: 148 (43 overs; M Devine 27, O Prendergast 24, Okay McEvoy 23; J Maguire 3-20)
Scorchers: 149-9 (35.2 overs; S Kavanagh 45*, A Kerrison 35; O Prendergast 2-13)
Scorchers received by 1 wicket
