Ryana MacDonald-Gay's outstanding performance continued as she took 4 for 18, contributing to the South East Stars' 71-run (D/L) victory over Central Sparks in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy match at Beckenham.
The Maidstone-born seamer has now taken 12 wickets in three matches, with a particularly effective spell helping to finish off the Sparks after Paige Scholfield and Tash Farrant had provided the Stars with a strong platform with 65 and 54 runs respectively.
Sparks' Hannah Baker claimed five wickets in four balls to finish with career-best figures of 5 for 45 as the hosts faltered from 230 for 3 to 268 all out. The total proved to be beyond Sparks, who never seriously recovered from losing four wickets for two runs, having been on 56 for 2. The match was eventually concluded with the score at 119 for 6 when play was abandoned.
The Stars elected to bat in challenging conditions, and the Sparks initially faced difficulties in the field, allowing a series of scoring opportunities as the openers amassed a partnership of 103 runs.
Farrant, acting as captain in the absence of Bryony Smith, was caught at cover by Ami Campbell off Wong when on 10. The next delivery, from Grace Potts, did not carry to slip. She was dropped again, at cover, off Potts when on 29 by Ria Fackrell.
Kalea Moore was dropped by Campbell off Katie George when on 25. When Campbell finally secured Moore, it was off a free hit.
Farrant drove Fackrell through cover for four runs, reaching her third half-century in as many games this season. The partnership was finally broken when Moore called Farrant for a single and Campbell ran her out from midwicket.
In the following over, the 23rd, Fackrell had Moore caught at cover by Eve Jones for her highest List A score of 42.
Sophia Dunkley achieved 18 points when Campbell was unable to retain possession of a powerful shot, but she was subsequently caught behind by Abbey Freeborn off Bethan Ellis.
Scholfield successfully pulled Ellis for four runs through cow corner, reaching 50. However, she was given a life when she skyed the next ball, only for Ellis to stumble as she was about to take the catch.
At that juncture, the Stars appeared poised to amass a total exceeding 300. Baker then compelled the Sparks to re-engage in the contest.
Phoebe Franklin scored 10 runs, caught by Eve Jones at cover. Scholfield was taken on the long on boundary by Fackrell, and Alice Davidson-Richards was caught at cover by Davina Perrin for five runs.
Baker then delivered a crucial wicket, bowling Aylish Cranstone for 16. With the final ball of her spell, she had Ryana MacDonald-Gay caught for a duck.
Potts was duly dismissed when Bethan Miles was caught at slip by Perrin, having edged the ball.
Issy Wong concluded the innings with two balls remaining, dismissing Danni Gregory off her pads for 1.
Eve Jones and Chloe Brewer contributed 35 runs for the first wicket for the Sparks. The Sparks subsequently faltered after the latter was dismissed for eight runs, caught by Cranstone at mid-on.
MacDonald-Gay then dismissed Davina Perrin for just three runs, before bowling a double-wicket maiden in the 18th over. First, she dismissed Jones for 29, the result of a superb diving catch by Cranstone at point. She then had Campbell caught by Kalea Moore at square leg.
MacDonald-Gay then successfully caught Abi Freeborn at point for three, resulting in Davidson-Richards being dismissed. She was unable to claim a fifth wicket when Wong was dropped by Franklin at mid-wicket.
Wong and Ellis demonstrated resilience, with the former hitting MacDonald-Gay for a six back over her head as they amassed a partnership of 61 for the seventh wicket. With 20 overs remaining, the players were forced to suspend play due to inclement weather at 5 p.m. Wong was unbeaten on 34, while Ellis was 18 not out. With the rain becoming torrential and no realistic prospect of a resumption, play was abandoned.