Dominant Heather Knight Leads Western Storm to 11 Runs Victory Over Sunrisers
Heather Knight displayed remarkable batting ability in an exciting game, leading Western Storm to an 11-run victory over Sunrisers.
In addition to securing the victory, her outstanding effort consigned Sunrisers to the Charlotte Edwards Cup wooden spoon. Let’s take a closer look at the game highlights and Knight’s incredible performances.
Sunrisers 131 for 9 (Grewcock 40) lost to Western Storm 142 for 7 (Knight 66, Corney 46, Munro 4-23) by 11 runs.
Heather Knight put herself in form ahead of England’s series against New Zealand, scoring 66 to send Sunrisers to the Charlotte Edwards Cup wooden spoon.
Before the White Ferns travel for three ODIs and five T20s starting next Wednesday, England captain Knight put the disappointing Pakistan T20Is behind her with her second consecutive fifty and average 52 in the competition.
Storm was on course for 142 for seven because to her 74-run partnership with Emma Corney, 20, who hit a CEC-high 46. Sophie Munro, on loan from Blaze, finished with four for 23.
Sunrisers finished the tournament one point and one position ahead of Storm, despite Grace Scrivens and Jo Gardner’s quick start. Sunrisers lost by 11 runs, completing the event in last place for the fourth consecutive year. Storm decided to bat, and he swiftly scored runs at the other end by using Corney as a conduit for Dani Gibson and then Knight.
Gibson made excellent use of her feet, hitting three boundaries and then top-edging for a short fine. The visitors scored a respectable 44 for one during the powerplay.
Corney was scoring runs at one end with confidence, while Knight demonstrated her skill and expertise by putting on 74 runs for the second wicket.
raised in Devon Corney easily surpassed her previous CEC best of 40 runs, but when she slapped to backward point, she was four runs short of a maiden fifty. It sparked a Storm collapse, which saw them lose six wickets for 41 runs in the final six overs.
Also Read: Grace Scrivens Leads Sunrisers to Thrilling Last-Ball Victory in Charlotte Edwards Cup 2024
Fran Wilson was run out by a superb direct hit from the boundary from Gardner, Sophie Luff chipped to mid-off, Kate Coppack beautifully pouched Amanda Jade Wellington at short third before Nat Wraith skied one. However, Knight maintained a respectable scoring rate the entire way, slog-sweeping the only six of the innings while hitting back-to-back fifties in just 34 balls.
Storm reached 142 for seven when she was stumped off the last ball, giving Munro the fourth of her remarkable haul. Mady Villiers responded by holeing out to deep square in the fourth over, but Sunrisers were hammered ahead of the rate by Grace Scrivens and Gardner.
However, the pair stumbled and were never able to get back up after falling within six balls of one another on either side of the powerplay. Before succumbing to the final ball of the powerplay, Scrivens had maintained her rhythm from the 42 against Blaze and the undefeated 62 against Stars to smash a fast-paced 26. Meanwhile, Gardner hit Gibson for three straight fours.
However, Lissy MacLeod was caught and bowled first ball by Chloe Skelton after both made easy catches. Sunrisers never recovered as Amara Carr swept to short fine, Flo Miller was bowled, and Amu Surenkumar found deep midwicket.
Storm secured their second victory of the tournament without any more worries, but Jodi Grewcock held strong with 40, one of two run outs in the final over.
