Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Claudie Cooper claimed a wicket and had a hand in two run outs today.
Yorkshire have ended their Vitality Blast North Group campaign with a superb eight wins from eight record, brushing Worcestershire Rapids aside by six wickets DLS at Visit Worcestershire New Road today.
The White Rose have warmed up for Saturday’s Finals Day at Northampton in ideal fashion, winning two games in three days this weekend.
At Finals Day, they will face Glamorgan, the second-placed finisher in the South Group, in the second semi-final at 2.30pm. Middlesex will play Leicestershire (11am) before a 6.45pm final.
After beating Leicestershire at Grace Road on Friday afternoon, by 12 runs, this one was far more straightforward as they bowled the Rapids out for 109 in 20 overs and then comfortably chased a revised target of 93 in 16 following rain.
Leg-spinner Olivia Thomas struck twice, as did fellow spinner Jeanie Lee and emerging seamer Amelia Love. There were also two run outs added to a wicket apiece for Jess Woolston and Claudie Cooper.
The latter played a part in both run outs, including a direct hit at the non-striker’s end from point. Ruby Davis’s 29 off 34 balls from number three was the only home score above 16.
Opener Erin Thomas top-scored in a chase completed in 12.5 overs with 35 off 27 balls and shared a second-wicket half-century stand with Rebecca Duckworth, who added 29.
Picture by John Mallett/Leicestershire CCC. Mystery EPP spinner Jeanie Lee, who debuted at Grace Road on Friday, took two wickets at New Road today.
Both sides had success in the powerplay, which ended with the Rapids on 38-2 having been inserted on an unsettled day weather wise in the West Midlands.
Woolston (1-28 from three overs) had Clare Boycott caught at mid-wicket with her first ball in the second over courtesy of a miscued pull before Cooper’s direct hit run out at the non-striker’s end from point accounted for the other opener, Ebony Tweats.
The hosts continued to play positively, though later it proved to be recklessly as they gave a number of wickets away.
Davis pulled Beth Langton for four and handsomely lofting Cooper’s off-spin down the ground for another as she moved into the twenties.
She later did similar to Thomas, lofting her over mid-off’s head.
But, fortunately for Yorkshire, they struck at the other end.
Seventeen-year-old Lee (2-11 from three overs) claimed her first wicket in her second game when she had Bryony Gillgrass lbw as she attempted to sweep a full ball.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Jess Woolston was back in the side today after missing out at Leicestershire. She struck with her first ball.
And when Olivia Thomas struck twice in her first over, including a wicket with her first ball, the Rapids fell to 55-5 in the 10th over. She had Gwen Davies caught and bowled with a full toss before getting wicketkeeper-batter Sophie Beech caught at cover.
Further trouble was around the corner for Worcestershire when Davis was bowled trying to scoop Lee – 67-6 in the 13th over.
And Poppy Davies fell with only six more runs added, caught at mid-off against Amelia Love’s seam in the 14th.
Cooper was next to strike when she pushed one through a bit quicker to Emily Churms and bowled her – 80-8 after 15 overs.
The Rapids were able to get up to and beyond 100, but their total was never realistically going to threaten the White Rose, who were on it with the ball and in the field.
Olivia Thomas, Cooper (1-21 from three overs) and wicketkeeper Maddie Ward all combined to run Amy Wheeler out as she aimed for two to long-on.
Following hesitation, she was caught short at the striker’s end following an initial Thomas (2-10 from three overs) throw to bowler Cooper, who relayed it onto Ward to do the rest.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Like Jess Woolston, Olivia Thomas also struck with her first ball at New Road today.
Love (2-21 from four overs) then wrapped things up with the final ball of the innings when she had Samadhi Samarakoon stumped by Ward, who was stood up.
Langston was the only one of the six bowlers used who didn’t strike, but she only went for 15 in her four overs.
Rain delayed the start of Yorkshire’s chase by 55 minutes, meaning a revision in their target.
Georgie Boyce then miscued a full toss from seamer Wheeler to mid-on in the opening over of the chase – 0-1 – but Erin Thomas and Rebecca Duckworth ensured it was only a minor blip.
Thomas pulled a couple of boundaries down the ground in the second over before Duckworth took three off Wheeler in the third as Yorkshire strengthened their grip.
Thomas crashed four fours off the seam of Churms as the score raced to 43-1 after four.
The pair shared 66 inside 10 overs for the second wicket before Thomas sliced the seamer of Caitlin Baker-Smith to backward point.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Opener Erin Thomas top-scored in a revised but successful pursuit.
Duckworth was bowled by the spin of Gillgrass as one of two wickets in the 11th over – 81-4 – with captain Ward also trapped lbw reverse sweeping to a ball which pitched a long way outside leg-stump.
Ami Campbell then hit the winning runs and finished 11 not out.
Yorkshire head coach Rich Pyrah said: “If you win eight games out of eight in any competition, it’s a great effort. So I’m pleased with that.
“I think, up to today, the last two games, we haven’t played very well. We’ve won games, which has been pleasing, but we haven’t been at our best. Today was a nice little bounce back. I thought we were better in all departments on a good pitch which carried a little bit.
“It’s what we asked for, to finish the group stage on a high with a good performance. We’ve done that, so the girls have been great.
“That doesn’t mean that we’re going to go to the Finals Day and win it. It’s going to be a different challenge, playing under a bit of extra pressure. It’s going to be great to see how we do. I’m really looking forward to it now.”
