Surrey Surges Past Lancashire in Vitality Blast Opener
Surrey eased to a six-wicket win in their Vitality Blast opener against Lancashire Thunder at the Kia Oval, with Bryony Smith returning to form in style. Smith, who has struggled for runs in the One-Day Cup, struck three sixes and 10 fours in a swashbuckling 71 from 35 balls.
Smith Leads the Charge
Alice Davidson-Richards provided great support with an unbeaten 47 as the hosts chased down a target of 186 with seven balls to spare. Earlier, Eve Jones was the mainstay of Lancashire’s 185-7 with 56 from 31, while former Australian skipper Meg Lanning made 40 from 22 on debut.
Ryana MacDonald-Gay, despite going wicketless on her return from a serious back injury, was the pick of the host’s attack with 0-23. Jones targeted the straight boundary, striking three of four back over Dani Gregory’s head as the game’s opening over yielded 22.
Lancashire’s Blistering Start
Kalea Moore’s spin was treated with similar disdain, and even the miserly MacDonald-Gay was flat-batted for four in Lancashire’s blistering start. When Gregory returned post-powerplay, Jones slog-swept her over cow corner for 6 to race to 50 in 26 balls as the visitors reached 94-0 at halfway.
Darcey Carter (35), who’d lent staunch support in the opening stand of 97, was out soon afterwards, and thereafter it was left to Lanning to provide the impetus, sweeping Moore for six and crunching five fours. Surrey’s ground fielding stood up well to the onslaught with some superb boundary stops and two stunning run-outs.
Surrey’s Reply
Surrey’s reply began equally belligerently, with skipper Smith collecting a trio of fours from Tara Norris’ opening salvo. Kira Chathli sent one from Kate Cross over the ropes, before clouting one from Grace Potts into the hands of mid-on. New batter Davidson-Richards and Smith both cleared the ropes prior to the end of the powerplay.
Smith moved to 50 in 27 balls as the 50 partnership came up off 22 and smote two further maximums from the spin of Carter. She chanced her arm once too often to perish to a catch at deep midwicket off Potts, and when overseas ace Laura Harris came and went in the following over, Surrey were 119-3.
Ellie Threlkeld though missed a chance to stump Spence, and although she fell for 31 late on, Davidson-Richards sealed the win with a six. The hosts’ victory marked a strong start to their Vitality Blast campaign, with Smith’s impressive performance setting the tone for the season ahead.
