Marie Kelly, Eve Jones spark upset win over Southern Vipers

Central Sparks upset Southern Vipers in their Charlotte Edwards Cup clash at Hove to win by six wickets after an opening partnership of 137 in 14.3 overs between Marie Kelly, who scored a brilliant unbeaten 100 off 53 balls, and captain Eve Jones, who made 51 from 47.

The Vipers were favourites after their own captain, Georgia Adams, had led the way with an unbeaten 88 in a total of 162 for 4. At that stage Jones must have regretted her decision to bowl first.

The Vipers had also gone into the game top of Group A with three wins out of three, including an eight-wicket win over Central Sparks at Edgbaston, having bowled out their hosts for 83 and scored the winning runs in just 13.1 overs.

The Vipers' impressive bowling attack had also taken 27 wickets out of 30 in their previous games. But here they were very much second best to Kelly and Jones. After Jones was out, sweeping, Central Sparks lost Milly Home, Gwenan Davies and Thea Brooks cheaply to set up the possibility of a tight finish.

But the outstanding Kelly settled the match when she hit the final ball of the 19th over, off Tara Norris, to square-leg for four.

Another dominating innings by Adams appeared to have set up victory for the Vipers. She already had 89 runs, including a half-century against South East Stars. But here she almost doubled her tally with 88 from 60 deliveries for a strike rate of 146.66.

She used her long levers and sweet timing to strike 16 fours - the rest of the team managed seven between them. She lost opening partner Maia Bouchier, who was caught behind off Hannah Baker for 13 at 35 in the fifth over.

The 50 came up off the first ball of the sixth over as Central Sparks struggled to contain the run-rate. Georgia Elwiss was dropped off a no-ball, a high full toss from Baker which she pulled to midwicket, and the ball dribbled over the rope for four. Then she pulled the following delivery in the same direction for the only six of the innings before she was run out by Kelly's fine throw.

Then Charlotte Dean was run out for a solid 31 and Paige Scholfield skied to point. Adams went on and on, but it wasn't to be enough as Vipers' bowling and fielding let them down.