Central Sparks’ Eve Jones produced a scintillating century as they crushed Western Storm by 145 runs in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Jones’ 130 and Abi Freeborn’s unbeaten 89 propelled Sparks to a mammoth 297 for 3, their highest-ever total in the competition.
Jones, in her 50th appearance, dominated the innings with 18 fours and a six. She shared a 189-run stand with Freeborn, who struck 12 boundaries in her 89-ball knock. Sparks’ total eclipsed their previous best of 296 against Loughborough Lightning in 2021.
Western Storm’s chase was derailed by Sparks’ spinners. Georgia Davis claimed a career-best 6 for 23, while Hannah Baker and Chris Pavely took 1 for 34 and 2 for 15 respectively. Sophia Smale’s 53 was the only significant contribution for Storm, who were dismissed for a disappointing 152 in 33 overs.
Jones’ innings was a masterclass in batting. She punished loose deliveries and dominated the bowling attack. Her 130 came off 163 balls, and she was unfortunate to miss out on a career-best score. Freeborn provided excellent support, rotating the strike and finding the boundary regularly.
Sparks’ victory was a testament to their dominance in all aspects of the game. Their batting was relentless, their bowling was incisive, and their fielding was sharp. Western Storm, on the other hand, had a day to forget. Their bowling was wayward, their fielding was sloppy, and their batting lacked application.
