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Austin’s Power Not Enough to Break Bears’ Losing Streak
Meg Austin’s career-best 74 was not enough for Warwickshire as The Blaze successfully defended 151 for 7 to pick up a fourth win in five matches in the Vitality Blast women’s competition at Trent Bridge.
Austin, the 21-year-old opener, struck seven fours and three sixes in an impressive 51-ball knock but with Georgia Redmayne’s 22 the next highest score, the Bears were unable to break a sequence that now sees them with five losses from five, finishing on 140 for 5 to lose by 11 runs.
The Blaze’s Winning Score
Skipper Marie Kelly’s 29 from 22 balls helped The Blaze put early runs on the board and Emma Jones provided some mid-innings impetus with 32 from 22.
Spinners Georgia Davis (3 for 24) and Hannah Baker (2 for 19) inflicted significant damage in between as the home side lost five wickets for 26 but Lucy Higham (19 from 19) and Grace Ballinger (17 from 13) weighed in with extra runs at the death in what proved to be a winning score.
Austin’s Key Wicket
Ballinger then picked up two for 20 with the ball including the key wicket of Austin in the penultimate over.
Put in on a used pitch, The Blaze charged to 61 in the powerplay, losing only Kelly, who found the boundary five times before she was bowled by Mary Taylor. The Bears did not help themselves by conceding 13 in wides.
The Bears’ Collapse
Baker and Davis changed the picture with two wickets apiece in the next five overs as the home side, who had been 52 without loss, collapsed to 78 for 5.
Legspinner Baker bowled Tammy Beaumont on the sweep before Charli Knott, who had looked in good touch, was beaten by offspinner Davis, who dismissed Georgia Elwiss via a leading edge. Ella Claridge chipped one straight back to Baker.
The Blaze’s Victory
Jones and Higham made some amends, adding 50 off 37 balls for the sixth wicket, Jones leading the way with five boundaries before succumbing to a loopy slower ball from Taylor. Davis picked up a third when Higham lifted one to short fine leg but Ballinger biffed 17 off 13 balls to take the total past 150.
Abbey Freeborn was bowled by Elwiss as the Bears posted 37 for 1 from the powerplay overs and at 67 for 1 from 10 the visitors looked comfortable, Austin following up a six over deep midwicket off teenage left-arm spinner Maria Andrews with a maximum over wide long-on off Elwiss to go to 50 from 33 balls.
The Blaze made a breakthrough as Ballinger induced a thick edge to backward point to remove Redmayne for 22 but Austin cleared the rope for a third time – despite a brave effort on the boundary by Beaumont – to leave 42 required from the last five overs.
The Blaze attack responded well to the challenge, Charis Pavely falling to an excellent catch by Andrews.
The last two overs arrived with 20 required but the Bears’ chance probably went when Austin holed out to long-on before Phillips picked up a second by bowling Nat Wraith with the first ball of the final over.