Southern Vipers’ 2022 season began in good old Sussex by the sea, as Thunder took the long trip south from Manchester to Hove.
A strong bowling performance from the Vipers bowlers, as Freya Kemp and Anya Shrubsole picked up their maiden wickets in orange and black, kept the visitors to 102 in their 20 overs.
Captain Georgia Adams, along with Maia Bouchier, set about knocking off their target.
Adams crashed five fours and the first six of the season on her way to 34, whilst Bouchier finished 48* as she swept Alex Hartley for her sixth boundary to win the match with 6.3 overs to spare.
Lightning then came over to The Ageas Bowl under the night skies, and Bouchier continued from where she left off at Hove.
She struck 41 off 34 balls, with two fours and two sixes, whilst Danni Wyatt smacked five boundaries in her 29 (19).
Then it was the turn of Lauren Bell, who picked up career best T20 figures for the Vipers, as her 3-12 decimated the Lightning top order.
She had Marie Kelly top edging a ball to Carla Rudd in the first over, before she swung one through the defences of Sarah Bryce.
Then she outsmarted England’s Tammy Beaumont, as a hooping inswinging yorker did for the advancing batter.
She could’ve had a fourth, had Rudd clung on to an edge from Teresa Graves’ first ball.
Charlie Dean then got in the act, as she picked up three wickets in the space of two overs, first trapping Bethan Ellis lbw, before Kathryn Bryce holed out to Maia Bouchier at long on, and Lucy Higham walked past one to leave Rudd to whip off the bails.
A close fought contest in the north east was up next for the Vipers, as they travelled to Chester-le-Street to take on Northern Diamonds.
The girls in orange and black were quick out the blocks, as they raced to 40 in the fifth over when Adams went for 24 off just 15 balls, but wickets kept coming, and it was Danni Wyatt who anchored the innings with a crucial 48, as the Vipers limped to 126 all out.
In reply, the Diamonds were similarly brisk, but a direct hit from Tara Norris started the fall of wickets.
Nancy Harman picked up her first wicket in a Vipers shirt, as Shrubsole, Elwiss, Adams and finally Kemp, got in on the act, as the Vipers won by just eleven runs.
The east midlands then beckoned, as the Vipers visited Trent Bridge, where Georgia Elwiss’ 3-28 helped peg back Lightning’s ‘lightning’ start to restrict them to 141 all out in the final over.
Then it was the turn of Danni Wyatt to light up Nottingham.
She blitzed her way to 76 off just 44 balls, with 11 fours and a six, as the Vipers romped to victory with five wickets and 20 balls to spare.
The Vipers then headed to the north west to take on Thunder under the lights at Old Trafford, and it was another stellar spell from Charlie Dean that stole the show.
She had Kate Cross caught by Wyatt in the deep, before she pinned Danielle Collins lbw and took a great caught and bowled, diving low to her left to dismiss Thunder’s captain Ellie Threlkeld.
Having been set a target of just 95, the Vipers could afford to ease off the throttle slightly – but not if you’re Danni Wyatt.
Ten runs came off the third over, including a six off the number one women’s IT20 bowler in the world, Sophie Ecclestone, but it was Georgia Elwiss who saw the Vipers home, with 38*, as she drove Laura Jackson for four to win the game, and secure a bonus point at the same time.
It was then to The Ageas Bowl for the final group match of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, where Northern Diamonds were hoping to upset the Vipers’ so far unbeaten record.
The visitors put up a defendable total of 141, thanks to 50 from Nat Sciver, and 48* from Hollie Armitage, with Dean once again being the pick of the bowlers with 2-24.
Danni Wyatt then went on an assault against the Diamonds bowlers, as she took a particular liking to Linsey Smith, as 13 runs came off the opening over.
Wyatt then smashed back to back boundaries off Rachel Slater in the second, before she did the same to Sciver the very next over.
The Vipers opener eventually fell for 35, but she had faced just 16 balls – half of which had flown to the boundary rope.
This onslaught allowed Adams to settle in to her stride, as she made 47, before McCaughan chipped Smith down the ground for four to win the game.
A familiar setting then played host to the final against Central Sparks – Northampton.
For the second year running, the Vipers were in a chase to win a trophy at Wantage Road, although this time around, there was less tension in the air.
Charlie Dean took 2-19 off her four overs, with the wickets of Joneses Eve and Amy, as the Sparks stumbled to 109-8.
Wyatt once again was quick out the blocks, smacking 20 off just 10, before an array of pulls and cuts from Maia Bouchier, who made 32, took the Vipers ever closer to their maiden Charlotte Edwards Cup.
A 19-year-old Ella McCaughan, facing up to the likes of England bowlers Issy Wong and Sarah Glenn, set about chipping away at the target, before she clipped a full ball on leg stump from the quick bowler to the boundary, and ‘Lottie’ was brought home.
Tickets for next summer’s Vipers action go on sale in February next year, while a Hampshire Cricket Membership entitles free admission to all Southern Vipers matches hosted at The Ageas Bowl
Memberships for 2023 are now on sale, from £180 for a standard membership, whilst junior and young adult memberships start at £25.
A Hampshire Cricket Membership provides the chance to be part of the Hampshire family and incorporates a whole host of exciting benefits for 2023.
To see more about Hampshire Cricket’s membership offerings, please visit the link below.
