Sophie Luff kicks up a Hurricane with career-best 157 no longer out

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Sunrisers don’t have any resolution to match-defining knock

Western Hurricane 313 for 4 (Luff 157*, Griffiths 56) beat Sunrisers 277 (Griffith 49, Scrivens 46) by way of 36 runs

In-form Sophie Luff scored a super career-best 157 no longer out to propel Western Hurricane to a 36-run overcome Sunrisers in an entertaining Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy contest at Bristol.

Handing over a well timed message to the England selectors, Taunton-born Luff confronted 142 balls, accumulated 22 fours and shared in a match-winning fourth-wicket stand of 119 with Alex Griffiths, who registered 56, as Hurricane accumulated 313 for 4 after profitable the toss. The pick out of the bowlers, Mady Villiers claimed 2 for 39 from 10 overs to derive credit score in what was once differently an uncomfortable enjoy for the Sunrisers assault.

Cordelia Griffith top-scored with 49 and Grace Scrivens made 46 in a gap stand of 90 as Sunrisers made a tight fist of chasing, however neither was once in a position to move on and put up a truly significant rating and Hurricane trade bowlers Nicole Harvey and Georgia Hennessy helped the house facet wrest again regulate, returning figures of two for 46 and a couple of for 45 respectively, whilst Nat Wraith finished a trio of stumpings.

Wanting to attain 60 from the ultimate 10 overs to sign up their first win within the event, Sunrisers in the long run got here up quick, pushed aside for 277 inside of 45 overs to finish the 50-over marketing campaign with out a win in seven makes an attempt.

Their self assurance boosted by way of victory over Lightning ultimate day out, Hurricane got here into the season finale with momentum and elected to bat first on a gradual floor. Even though Lauren Parfitt’s loss of life, pinned lbw by way of Kate Coppack with out scoring, recommended differently, it proved a legitimate choice, Fi Morris buying and selling nearly completely in obstacles in garnering 30 from 36 balls to provide the hosts lift-off.

The appearance of Villiers and spin halted Morris in her tracks, Sonali Patel keeping a catch at deep backward sq. to scale back Hurricane to 51 for two. Regardless of. Having survived a stern exam by the hands of Coppack, Luff temporarily re-established Hurricane’s grip at the sport, operating exhausting between the wickets to lift 50 by means of 77 balls and dominating a partnership of 69 in 17 overs for the 3rd wicket with Hennessy.

Sunrisers skipper Kelly Citadel generated past due swing to snare Hennessy lbw for 25 with the rating on 120 within the twenty ninth over, just for Griffiths to then be offering her captain exceptional toughen in a modern fourth-wicket alliance of 119 in 16 overs, which successfully carried the sport past the guests.

Luff’s 2nd 50 occupied a trifling 37 balls as she discovered acceleration to sign up her first hundred of the summer time by means of 114 deliveries, whilst Griffiths went to 50 from 56 balls with 5 fours to extend the drive on warring parties rendered ragged within the box.

Griffiths holed out to Fran Wilson at the sq. leg boundary off Villiers, however there was once no preventing 27-year-old Luff, who required an additional 25 balls to transport from 100 to 150 prior to setting out her helmet and punching the air in birthday celebration at achieving that exact milestone for the primary time in Hurricane colors.

Taking advantage of the platform equipped by way of her skipper, Dani Gibson followed a high-risk technique on the loss of life, weighing in with a brace of sixes and a 4 to complete unbeaten on 23 from 10 balls. Having held sway for 3 hours in an innings spanning 47 overs and embellished by way of 22 obstacles, Luff was once nonetheless there on the finish as Hurricane posted an impressive general within the September sunshine.

Undaunted, Sunrisers mustered a spirited reaction, Griffith and Scrivens profiting from some wayward bowling to level an enterprising opening stand of 90 in 13 overs. Griffith was once only one run in need of a part century when she was once cramped for area and introduced a go back catch to Hennessy, whilst Scrivens, grew to become a brief supply from Harvey across the nook and was once held by way of Claire Nicholas at quick high-quality leg for 46.

Wicketkeeper Nat Wraith demonstrated dexterous glove-work to take away the previous Hurricane pairing of Alice Macleod and Naomi Dattani, whilst Harvey claimed the important thing wicket of England global Fran Wilson, bowled round her legs for a run-a-ball 34. Wanting an additional 89 from 15 overs to finish a first-ever victory over Hurricane in 50-over suits, Sunrisers slipped to 226 for six when Wraith finished a 3rd stumping.
Villiers and Citadel gave the guests renewed hope in a seventh-wicket stand of 40, but if they departed in successive overs for 37 and 20 respectively, the sport was once all however up.

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