In what was the first domestic game back since the curtain was drawn on The Hundred, Central Sparks returned to action with a dominant win at Taunton against Western Storm.
It was certainly a day for batters, on a ground for batters in the South West. Not only was it the Sparks duo of Eve Jones & Abbey Freeborn who had great days at the office - Storm's Sophia Smale (53) did too.
Losing the toss, Sparks, led still by Darren Franklin in interim charge were put into bat first by Storm captain Sophie Luff.
That, a decision which would end up being rued by the hosts after Sparks went on to make their highest ever total in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, thanks to Eve Jones (130) & Abbey Freeborn (89).
Sparks were 39 without loss before the first wicket of Ami Campbell fell, and after being bowled, Davina Perrin on her 50th appearance for Sparks was dismissed for a quick-fire (20).
The Sparks batters seemed to be getting the rub of the green and once captain Jones got into her stride, there seemed to be no stopping them.
The crucial partnership of Jones and Freeborn spearheaded the West Midlands side to the eventual huge total, but some of the shots that were played depicted the talent and skill that Sparks do posses.
Jones' lovely strokes of the bat and Freeborn's timely sweep shots caused the hosts all kinds of problems and it was only Sparks loanee Ellie Anderson who looked like denting the away team's top order.
Hitting them sweetly, Jones and Freeborn stuck at the task and it was a pleasure to watch. As Jones reached her century, Sparks were 195/2, already securing a big margain. Then, when Sparks' number 27 surpassed a half century, it looked like Sparks were on course.
Freeborn couldn't quite reach 100, but in tandem with Jones, a fantastic stand which ended when the latter was caught for (130). The Sparks wicket-keeper would finish on 89 off (94), a terrific knock which complemented the captain's.
Both Jones & Freeborn are two of three players to ever score a century in this competiton for Sparks, with Amy Jones the other.
With Storm's bowling attack failing to put pressure on to Darren Franklin's side, Sparks would give the home team 298 to chase to win the encounter in West Country.
It was a Sparks fielding innings dominated by spin as each of Georgia Davis (career best), Charis Pavely and Hannah Baker were in the wickets. After a long spell of just the one, and in the time Smale made her half century, Sparks finally grabbed the illusive wicket of Smale, along with the dismissals of Luff and Fran Wilson.
The spin dominant display entered the fray at 17.1, and by the 25th over the game was all but done after Pavely (2-15) & Davis (6-23) more than disrupted Storm's chase!
Overall a fantastic performance with both bat and ball for Sparks, something that has been brewing but hasn't always been seen in this competition so far in 2024.
No shortcomings and a win by a large margain over Storm, writing the wrongs of the most recent match between the two sides.
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