Storm beaten in their Edwards Cup opener

» WESTERN Storm lost their first Charlotte Edwards Cup game by 20 runs to Central Sparks as Amy Jones and Abigail Freeborn registered impressive half centuries.

Both scored 52 and staged a thirdwicket stand of 91, while Ami Campbell smashed an unbeaten quickfire 30 from 17 balls as Sparks posted 156-4 from their 20 overs.

Storm looked to be in with a chance while Sophie Luff and Georgia Hennessy held sway in a secondwicket alliance of 57, but England pace bowler Issy Wong removed the former for 43 and claimed 2-28 from four overs to swing the contest in favour of the visitors.

Former England batter Fran Wilson finished on 22 not out, only for Storm to come up some way short on 136-6.

Having won the toss and elected to field, an eventful first over saw Dumbleton’s Danni Gibson serve up four wide balls down the leg side, conceded a straight-driven four to Jones and then atoned by inducing Sparks’ captain to chip to cover.

Wong departed in the next over, attempting to evade a Lauren Filer in-swinger, only to glove a catch behind with the score on 13.

Storm then allowed an opportunity to further tighten their grip on the game to quite literally slip through their fingers, Wilson dropping Freeborn on 10 at point off a cleverly-disguised slower ball from Hennessy.

Freeborn and Jones played with increasing freedom as Luff deployed six different bowlers but an alliance of 91 in 12 overs was followed by Campbell ‘s blistering knock.

In reply, Fi Morris and Hennessy hit a barrage of boundaries to propel Storm to 34 in 4.5 overs and afford the chase a flying start. But Sarah Glenn’s leg breaks slowed progress, Morris departing for 18.

At halfway, the hosts were wellplaced at 66-1, but Storm lost three wickets in six balls for the addition of four runs, Hennessy, Luff and Gibson falling.

Wilson and Nat Wraith had their work cut out and it proved too big an ask.