Southern Vipers survive Sunrisers scare with nail-biting one-run win in Chelmsford

Georgia Elwiss was the hero for the defending champions, scoring 112 not out from 118 balls with the bat before bowling the final over of the match for the loss of just seven runs to win the match for the Vipers

Chelmsford: Southern Vipers 309-9, Sunrisers 308-6 - Southern Vipers won by one run

Scorecard

Georgia Elwiss’ century and clutch bowling edged Southern Vipers to a nerve-shattering one-run victory over Sunrisers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

England all-rounder Elwiss struck her first List A century since 2013 and her highest format score with a sublime 112 before defending eight from the final over to return one for 52.

Sunrisers, who are still yet to win in the format, smashed their highest score in the competition and had they been successful, their chase of 309 would have been the highest in English domestic cricket 309 on a belting Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford pitch.

Vipers are now confirmed a place in the eliminator, with victory over Northern Diamonds on Saturday enough to send them straight to the final.

Ella McCaughan got Vipers, who had been stuck in, off to a storming start with 23 off 12 balls before chipping to cover although Maia Bouchier entered and built a 45-run stand with Georgia Adams before chipping a full toss to deep midwicket.

Elwiss and Adams took very few risks in reaching 50s – Elwiss first off 63 balls and Adams off 73 deliveries, which included a pulled six – in quick succession, followed almost immediately by the 105-ball 100 partnership.

Adams ticked an edge behind without adding to 50 but that didn’t stop Elwiss’ rampage – with Gaby Lewis helping with a 44-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Naomi Dattani took two wickets in two balls – Lewis bowled by an in ducker and Emily Windsor was bounced – but Paige Scholfield restarted things again with 62 alongside Elwiss.

Elwiss skipped through the 80s with a couple of offside boundaries but laboured through the 90s with singles before three figures were completed in 108 balls.

Scholfield slapped to cover, Tara Norris was bowled, Carla Rudd was run out and Lauren Bell was stumped as Elwiss ended up unbeaten on 112.

An imposing chase seemed much easier as Cordelia Griffith and Grace Scrivens smoothly chipped 75 runs off with little worry.

Scrivens was bowled by Adams for an enterprising 30 but Griffith and Lissy Macleod took hold of the chase. Griffith on the back of two fifties in three innings reached the milestone again in 48 balls.

She and Macleod totted up 112, a record partnership for the Sunrisers, as a maiden victory looked in their grasp.

Even after Griffith was lbw to Lauren Bell nine short of a deserved century, Macleod was lbw to Elwiss for a sensational 79, Dattani was caught, Kelly Castle was stumped and Jo Gardner was caught, Sunrisers looked in control of the chase – as runs flowed around the odd wickets.

Fran Wilson was the catalyst for that hope with an unbeaten 65 off 51 balls but needing eight to win off the final, and then six off the final ball – the England batter could only sweep the final delivery for four.