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

The Cricketer looks at the star performers from the final round of Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy group stage action

Sarah Bryce (Lightning)

90 v Central Sparks

She might be Edinburgh born but she’s an East Midlander at heart, once again saving her best performance of the season for Central Sparks. In 2020, she scored 136 not out from 133 deliveries and while she didn’t reach three figures at Loughborough, her 104-ball 90 ensured she ended the season on a high. Bryce’s knock formed part of a 207-run second-wicket stand with elder sister Kathryn – the highest partnership of the tournament – and ended the Scotland international’s wait for a domestic half-century in 2021.

Marie Kelly (Central Sparks)

62 v Lightning

The hardest position to fill in the XI. Several players put forward strong evidence for selection, including Eve Jones (60 off 88), Georgia Adams (67 off 94) and Alex Griffiths (55 off 60). However, Kelly’s 69-ball 62 (nine fours) edges them all. She dominated Sparks’ 119-run opening stand, batting explosively from the start of the innings, and has now scored 144 runs in her past three 50-over outings for Sparks – a timely return to form.  

Kathryn Bryce (Lightning)

162 v Central Sparks

162 runs from 156 balls, including 21 fours and two sixes; a strike rate of 103.84; the highest partnership (207 runs) in Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy history; the second highest score of the 2021 season… what more needs to be said about Kathryn Bryce’s daddy hundred against Central Sparks? Just one thing – she started steadily, sharing the workload with sister Sarah, but ended with a bang, scoring 38 runs off 14 balls as she and Sonia Odedra added 63 runs in five overs. Another player who will be happy to end the season on a high.

^{Kathryn Bryce (pictured batting against Thunder earlier in the season)}

Sophie Luff (Western Storm)

157 not out v Sunrisers

Joining Bryce senior in the monster knock category in round seven is Sophie Luff. The Western Storm skipper, who has carried her team through the 50-over competition in the absence of Heather Knight, smashed an unbeaten 157 from 142 balls – around 50 per cent of Storm’s total score. After passing 50 in each of her past three outings for Storm, it’s no surprise Luff is at the top of the batting charts and it’s unlikely anyone will catch her 417-run haul.

Georgia Elwiss (Southern Vipers)

84 not out v Northern Diamonds

Another week, another big contribution from Georgia Elwiss. In round six, it was an unbeaten century and a death bowling masterclass; in round seven, an explosive half-century to lift her side to the top of the table and secure a spot in the final. Elwiss scored 84 not out from 77 balls, including nine fours, to take the game away from Diamonds. In the first innings, she took 1 for 43 with the ball, bowling Hollie Armitage in the 14th over.

Ellie Threlkeld (Thunder)

70 not out v South East Stars

Finally, Ellie Threlkeld has shown what she is capable of with the bat. Prior to Saturday’s fixture, Thunder’s wicketkeeper had scored just 57 runs in six innings. However, in the absence of Emma Lamb, she took the initiative with the bat, playing her way to a measured 70 not out off 92 balls. She’s always been dynamite behind the stumps, this season she’s started to show her class in front of them. A promising sign.

Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds)

71 not out v Southern Vipers

Bess Heath is proving herself to be something of a wrecking ball in Diamonds’ middle order. Despite playing just three matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy due to injury, the 20-year-old is Diamonds’ second-highest run-scorer, with 181 runs, including two half-centuries, at a strike rate of 121.47. And against Vipers she was at it again, blasting an unbeaten 71 from 51 balls – including 44 off 27 in a 77-run partnership with Linsey Smith – to catapult her side beyond 240. Her dismissal in the 47th over probably saved Vipers.

Mady Villiers (Sunrisers)

37 & 2-39 v Western Storm

Another player who has impressed despite having a limited role for her team this season. With the ball, Mady Villiers was comfortably Sunrisers’ best bowler, removing opener Fi Morris and an in-form Alex Griffiths and conceding just 39 runs from her 10 overs. However, what clinched her spot in this XI was her batting. Villiers smacked 37 runs from just 34 balls at number six, enjoying productive stands with Amara Carr and Kelly Castle, and if she’d stayed in, Sunrisers might just have grabbed that elusive first 50-over victory.  

^{Ellie Threlkeld}

Danielle Gregory (South East Stars)

2-23 v Thunder

The bright light on a dull day for the Stars. Danielle Gregory took 2 for 23 from her 10 overs, removed middle-order duo Nat Brown and Laura Marshall for sub-20 knocks, bowled a huge 45 dot balls and was hit for just one boundary across the innings. She was instrumental in restricting Thunder to a very chaseable 185 and can consider herself unlucky to be on the losing side. Honourable mentions to Southern Vipers bowler Lauren Bell (2 for 29) and Northern Diamonds’ Beth Langston (0 for 26).

Alex Hartley (Thunder)

2-17 v South East Stars

A tidy performance to end Alex Hartley’s season on a high. Thunder’s skipper conceded just 17 runs from her 10 overs, bowling 50 dot balls and two maidens, and removed Kalea Moore and the highly dangerous Alice Capsey, the latter for just nine runs. The only blot on her scorecard? A solitary four from the bat of Kira Chathli at the end of the 24th over.

Hannah Jones (Thunder)

5-33 v South East Stars

Against South East Stars, Hannah Jones became just the fifth player to take a five-for in this season’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, joining Tash Farrant, Em Arlott, Linsey Smith and Issy Wong – quite illustrious company! The young spinner decimated Stars’ middle order and tail, ensuring they lost five wickets for 55 runs as they collapsed to 130 all out. Jones finishes her season as Thunder’s leading wicket-taker, with 14 dismissals, and is currently second in the competition’s overall standings.