Charlotte Edwards Cup: Team of the tournament

The Cricketer looks back on the star performers from the inaugural Charlotte Edwards Cup

Eve Jones (Central Sparks)

Six matches, 276 runs, average 55.2, strike rate 108.66

The Lottie Cup’s golden bat. Eve Jones enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in form post-Hundred, scoring three consecutive half-centuries to rise to the top of the run standings. The 29-year-old made 51 (47 balls) against Southern Vipers and 71 (55 balls) against Lightning before finishing the season with a 68-ball 76 in a losing cause against South East Stars. She also masterminded Sparks’ second victory over Southern Vipers in 2021 and finished as her side’s second-highest wicket-taker, with four wickets in 16 overs. Very unlucky to miss out on Finals Day.

Emma Lamb (Thunder)

Four matches, 218 runs, average 72.66, strike rate 152.44, nine wickets, economy 5.07

Allrounder Emma Lamb only played four matches in the competition this season and still managed to place second in the overall batting standings as well as topping the charts with both bat and ball for Thunder. She started the season in exemplary form, scoring 58 runs (43 balls) and taking 4 for 13 against Northern Diamonds – an all-round performance which many players would struggle to better. However, against Sunrisers, she scored the first century in Charlotte Edwards Cup history, smashing 111 not out off 61 balls at Emirates Old Trafford, before taking 3 for 16 with the ball. She earned her England debut off the back of this form and was sorely missed by Thunder.

Bryony Smith (South East Stars)

Seven matches, 162 runs, average 23.14, strike rate 148.62, 14 wickets, economy 5.34

First in the overall wicket-taking charts, sixth in the run standings, the third-most fours (28) of the competition, and most importantly, a winner’s medal. South East Stars’ stand-in captain didn't put a foot wrong in her side’s title charge, excelling with both bat and ball. The pick of her bowling performances came in round one when she collected 4 for 15 against Lightning, but she saved her best with the bat for the final, thrashing 37 runs off just 25 balls to help her side to 81 for 2 after just 9.1 overs.

^{Bryony Smith with the Charlotte Edwards Cup}

Alice Capsey (South East Stars)

Six matches, 203 runs, average 40.6, strike rate 130.96, seven wickets, economy 5.83

Where to start? Like Jones, the teenager burst into life in the second half of the competition, scoring 139 runs and taking four wickets in her final three matches. Only Jones, Lamb and Southern Vipers skipper Georgia Adams scored more runs that the 17-year-old, who won player of the match honours for her unbeaten 40 (26 balls) in the final. Capsey has now won The Hundred and the Charlotte Edwards Cup in the space of three weeks and played a starring role in both triumphs.

Marie Kelly (Central Sparks)

Six matches, 170 runs, average 34, strike rate 127.81

Marie Kelly edges Georgia Adams (215 runs) thanks to her century against Southern Vipers. The Central Sparks opener scored 100 not out off 53 balls in round four, including 18 fours and one six, to inflict a first T20 defeat of the season on Southern Vipers and allow South East Stars to close the gap to first place. Kelly wasn’t the most consistent batter this season, scoring just 76 runs in her other five outings, but her century (only the second of the tournament) was one of the knocks of the season and changed the complexion of Group A.

Jenny Gunn (Northern Diamonds)

Eight matches, 97 runs, average 32.33, strike rate 96.03, 13 wickets, economy 5.78

If you want a player for the big occasion, look no further than Northern Diamonds allrounder Jenny Gunn. Against Western Storm, she scored a four off the final ball to seal a one-wicket win for her side. In Diamonds’ crucial round six clash with Thunder, she collected 4 for 15 with ball. And on Finals Day, she took 4 for 26 against Southern Vipers and scored a combined 44 runs off 30 balls across the two matches. Pure class from the former England international.

Abigail Freeborn (Lightning, wk)

Six matches, 161 runs, average 26.83, strike rate 99.38, five stumpings

Lightning’s leading run-scorer by 91 runs, Abigail Freeborn was largely responsible for her side’s improved performances in the second half of the Charlotte Edwards Cup. The 24-year-old scored 61, 32 and 27 in her side’s final three outings as well as completing five stumpings, four of which came against South East Stars, while playing as Sarah Bryce’s understudy. Solid stuff from Lighting’s second-choice keeper.

Linsey Smith (Northern Diamonds)

Eight matches, 10 wickets, economy 4.87

With best figures of 2 for 12, taken against Thunder in round six, Linsey Smith’s name doesn’t automatically leap off the page as a star performer. However, of players to bowl more than 15 overs in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, only Thunder’s Hannah Jones and Nicole Harvey (Western Storm) were more miserly with the ball than the Diamonds’ spinner. Her 10-wicket haul also places her joint-fourth overall in the bowling standings.

^{Thunder allrounder Emma Lamb}

Tara Norris (Southern Vipers)

Seven matches, 13 wickets, economy 6.69

One of the most overlooked players both in the tournament and indeed in her own side. Tara Norris has been pushed out of the limelight by Charlie Dean, Lauren Bell and Charlotte Taylor at various points over the past 12 months but emerges from the Charlotte Edwards Cup as her side’s leading wicket-taker. The pick of her performances? 4 for 14 and 3 for 26 against Lightning in rounds two and six. A dangerous pacer who just needs to lower her economy a touch.

Katie Levick (Northern Diamonds)

Eight matches, 10 wickets, economy 5.10

10 wickets for the ever-reliable Katie Levick whose spin bowling skills make her an asset in all white-ball cricket. She saved her best for the final, taking 2 for 19 from her four-over allocation – the only Diamonds bowler to concede less than a run a ball against South East Stars. Like teammate Linsey Smith, her performances often go under the radar.

Nicole Harvey (Western Storm)

Six matches, 12 wickets, economy 4.7

Joining Eve Jones in the 'players who were unlucky not to play at Finals Day' category is Western Storm’s Nicole Harvey. The spinner took eight wickets for the loss of just 50 runs in her side’s final three group matches and could scarcely have done more in their quest to qualify for the trophy showdown. Arguably the best first-change bowler in the competition and a deserved third place in the overall wicket-taking charts.