Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy team of the week: Who makes our round four XI?

The Cricketer looks at the star performers from round four of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy action…

Georgia Adams (Southern Vipers)

77 v Western Storm

Somewhat surprisingly, it’s taken Georgia Adams four matches to record her first half-century of the season. However, when she finally did have the opportunity to raise her bat after scoring just 37 runs in three innings, she made it count, enjoying 57-run and 97-run partnerships with Danni Wyatt and Maia Bouchier before departing for 77. Her knock included 10 fours and was scored at a strike rate of 76.23 – oh, and she oversaw Vipers’ return to winning ways with a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Storm. A good day at the office.

Eve Jones (Central Sparks)

100* v North West Thunder

Her team lost for the first time in 2021 and Eve Jones admitted after the match she’d rather have the win than any personal milestones, but deep down she must be thrilled with her performance against North West Thunder. Standing firm as her side slipped to 17 for 3, Sparks’ captain carried her bat and brought up her unbeaten century off the first ball of the final over to finish on 100 not out. Her knock included 14 fours and one six and represents a reassuring return to form for the skipper.

Michaela Kirk (Lightning)

57 v Sunrisers

Finally, a taste of what Michaela Kirk has to offer with the bat! Promoted to the top of the order in Tammy Beaumont’s absence, Lightning’s new signing let her bat do the talking, scoring a brisk 57 (66 balls) and punishing Sunrisers’ bowling with nine boundaries. She’s taken her time to adapt to English conditions but may have found a happy home as an opener (for Lightning that is, player congestion forces her down to three in this XI).

1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ FOR JONES! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

An amazing century off 148 balls in some tough conditions with wickets falling around her.

One over to go, Sparks 202/9 💥

📺 Livestream 👉 https://t.co/N9wEkH0ao2#SparksWillFly💥 pic.twitter.com/CobXhqzcyv

— Central Sparks (@CentralSparks) June 12, 2021

Sterre Kalis (Northern Diamonds)

76 v South East Stars

Last season, Sterre Kalis scored three ducks in her opening three matches before finishing the season with three half-centuries. Once again, it’s taken her a while to get off the mark but with Sciver and Winfield-Hill away on England duty, the Dutch international took centre stage. 76 runs from 106 deliveries and only 24 of them from boundaries - solid running.

Kirstie White (South East Stars)

73 v Northern Diamonds

In the absence of run-machine Sophia Dunkley, Kirstie White stepped up and plugged the gap with ease. In her previous three innings, she batted between five and seven but made four her own against Diamonds, top-scoring for her side with 73 runs from 90 deliveries, nine boundaries, and a strike rate of 81.11. She was given an opportunity with Dunkley missing and took it.    

Naomi Dattani (Sunrisers)

65 v Lightning

If Naomi Dattani were a cyclist, she would be the kind of domestique who drags her ailing team leader up the mountain only to peel away and watch him lose the race. The 27-year-old walked to the middle with Sunrisers once again in trouble on 30 for 3 and immediately steadied the ship with a 60-run fourth-wicket partnership with Cordelia Griffiths. She added a further 87 runs with Kelly Castle (herself unlucky not to make the XI) before departing in the 41st over with a half-century to her name and the scoreboard showing 177 for 5. Unfortunately, her teammates could only add a further 29 runs, a total which would ultimately prove too small, but her innings showed resilience and should be studied closely by Sunrisers’ top-order batters.

Jenny Gunn (Northern Diamonds)

50 & 2-45 v South East Stars

Jenny Gunn is yet to have a bad week in the 2021 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Last week, it was her bowling (a fine 3 for 10 against Sunrisers); this week she shone with the bat, scoring a perfect 50 (70 balls) as part of a 90-run stand with Sterre Kalis. She also chipped in with two wickets, including removing opener Alice Davidson-Richards, and now has 107 runs and six wickets in four appearances.

Laura Jackson (North West Thunder)

3-35 & 30 v Central Sparks

In her first appearance of the season, Laura Jackson made a strong appeal for a more permanent slot in the XI with a fine allround performance against Sparks. With the ball, she pinned Poppy Davies lbw for a golden duck before removing dangerous lower-order pair Issy Wong and Ria Fackrell to firmly put the brakes on Sparks’ scoring. With the bat, she scored 30 runs from 55 deliveries, enjoying good stands with Ellie Threlkeld and Laura Marshall to help Thunder chase down victory with 12 balls remaining.

RHFT | LIGHTNING VS SUNRISERS | 5️⃣0️⃣

50 for Datts! 👏

📺https://t.co/gQnxlY0Sn3

Match Centre ⬇️ #RiseUp🌅🧡

— Sunrisers Cricket (@Sunriserscrick) June 12, 2021

Beth Langston (Northern Diamonds)

59* v South East Stars

In round one, it was Sarah Glenn and Anya Shrubsole scoring the big runs from lower down the order. In round four, Beth Langston took up the mantle, blasting an unbeaten 59 runs from just 53 balls to see Diamonds home with four balls to spare. Her finest moment? Smashing Freya Davies for three fours in the 46th over to rescue her side from needing 41 runs off 30 balls to 28 from 24. A fine performance.  

Teresa Graves (Lightning)

4-39 v Sunrisers

One of only two players to retain her place from round three (the other being Jenny Gunn), 2021 is beginning to look like a breakthrough season for Teresa Graves. The 22-year-old picked up the wicket of Cordelia Griffiths (33) in the 24th over before masterminding a Sunrisers collapse with three quick wickets in the final 10 overs. Graves removed Joanne Gardner, Gayatri Gole and Kelly Castle as Sunrisers slipped from 177 for 5 to 187 for 8 in the space of three overs.

Charlotte Dean (Southern Vipers)

3-27 v Western Storm

At the opposite end of the order to her captain, Charlotte Dean produced yet another solid bowling performance in Vipers orange. The 20-year-old removed three of Storm’s top four and wasn’t hit for a single boundary on her way to figures of 3 for 27 from 10 overs. She now has a competition-leading 10 wickets in four appearances at an average of 13.8.