SOUTHERN Vipers defeated Central Sparks by seven wickets in a heavily rain-affected Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy opener at Portland Road, writes Brian Halford.

After frequent interruptions by the weather, Vipers chased down a revised D/L target of 70 in 10 overs as they reached 75 for three with just two balls to spare.

On a relentlessly damp afternoon in Birmingham, calculators were to the fore as both innings were truncated by heavy showers.

The Sparks batted first and closed on 163 for seven from 36 overs - an innings of two halves after they reached 103 for three from 24 before a two-hour rain break. They resumed with 12 more overs to have a thrash but added just 60 more against disciplined bowling led by Georgia Elwiss (8-0-29-1)

Chasing an initial D/L target of 176 from 36, the Vipers were 24 for one when rain returned. That trimmed the target to 70 from ten and Danni Wyatt paved with chase to perfection with an unbeaten 36 from 24 balls (four fours, one six).

Put in, the Sparks, depleted by the absence of Emily Arlott, still recovering from COVID, and recent England debutant Issy Wong, were given a solid platform by openers Eve Jones and Davina Perrin who added 65 in 17 overs. Fifteen-year-old Perrin, a Staffordshire product, impressed for 22 (48 balls) before lifting Charlotte Taylor to mid on.

Paige Schofield soon had Thea Brookes caught behind before Jones's promising innings 39 (70 balls) ended in wasteful fashion when Ami Campbell called for a second run and Jones's desperate dive for home narrowly failed.

Three balls later the rain arrived and, after the resumption, Vipers bowled accurately to deny Sparks the boundaries they needed to beef up their total.

Vipers' reply suffered an early blow when Georgia Adams was trapped lbw by the third ball of the innings, from Grace Potts. Wyatt was quickly into her stride, striking three boundaries despite the wet outfield before rain returned at 24 for one after three.

The final chapter of a complex plot saw Vipers resume at 5.20pm needing another 46 from seven overs. Wyatt and Maia Bouchier added a measured 62 from 47 balls and though Bouchier fell lbw to Sarah Glenn in the penultimate over, Vipers needed just five from the last, from Hannah Baker.

A handsome straight four from 17-year-old Freya Kemp from the second ball relieved the pressure. Kemp was bowled by the next but Georgia Elwiss settled the match by lifting her first ball for a huge six.