Amy Jones hits second century of the season in Central Sparks win

The England wicketkeeper scored 114 against Northern Diamonds in round one and followed it up with an unbeaten 163 against Central Sparks

Edgbaston: Central Sparks 295-7, Western Storm 254-9 - Central Sparks won by 41 runs

Scorecard

Central Sparks defeated Western Storm by 41 runs thanks to a magnificent innings by Amy Jones, who posted the highest score in the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy to date.

Jones finished not out on 163, her second successive century, to guide her team into a winning position, despite a good bowling performance from Storm.

With Sparks reaching 295 for 7, it proved one step too far for Storm, with Ria Fackrell taking 4 for 34, despite an unbroken partnership of 102 between Heather Knight and Lauren Parfitt who both scored half-centuries.

Storm took early wickets to restrict Sparks to 44 for 3 after 13 overs. Lauren Filer took two wickets in her first spell, with Eve Jones caught for five and Marie Kelly caught for seven, and Gwenan Davies run out for 15.

However, from then on Sparks looked comfortable in their innings, as Jones played freely with excellent support from the middle order. Milly Home and Jones made a partnership of 80 before Home was caught for 18, bringing Steph Butler to the crease. She and Jones put on a partnership of 68, before Heather Knight bowled Butler for 27.

Jones, carrying on her excellent form from her century in Sparks’ victory against Diamonds in round one, brough up her century off 83 balls, including 11 fours and three sixes.

The final ten overs saw Sparksreach 295 for 7, with Jones finishing 163* from 114 balls and two wickets of Glenn and Fackrell falling, caught for seven and 11 respectively.

Western Storm did get off to an fluid start however, with openers Knight and Parfitt reaching 102 without loss, before Sarah Glenn got the much-needed breakthrough, bowling Knight for 59.

Parfitt then brought up her half-century from 80 balls but Sparks began to take command, picking up five wickets for 35 runs and restricting Storm's middle-order. Fackrell was the star bowler, picking up three wickets.

Parfitt was first to fall, bowled for 91, followed by Luff out lbw to Liz Russell for 27 and Hennesey stumped for four off Fackrell’s bowling. Wraith was then bowled by Glenn for two, with Gibson the third of Fackrell’s wickets, caught for 18.

Left needing 88 from the final ten overs, wickets continued to fall for Storm, with Emily Arlott taking two wickets in two balls. Shrubsole was caught for 13, and Morris dismissed in the same fashion for 21, with Fackrell claiming her fourth wicket, Gibbons caught for one. The remaining runs proved too much for Storm, as the visitors faced defeat.