Sophie MacMahon, Anna Kerrison headline Scorchers' easy win

Scorchers registered a thumping eight-wicket win over Typhoons in the second match of Cricket Ireland's Super Series at the Pembroke Cricket Club Ground in Dublin on Sunday (August 9). Riding on Sophie MacMahon's unconquered half-century and even contributions from the openers, Scorchers were able to overhaul Typhoons' 182-run target with a little over 14 overs to spare.



Skipper Gaby Lewis and Leah Paul set the tone for the Scorchers with a rapid opening stand. Lewis found her feet early climbing in to some pretty poor bowling at the start of the innings. The tall right-hander was severe on anything short, playing a couple of powerful pull shots before crashing two full-tosses to the fence. She hit a total of eight boundaries in her knock of 40 that allowed Scorchers to take control of the game. By the time she was dismissed - caught behind off Laura Delany - Scorchers had collected 83 runs in just 15.3 overs.



Following the skipper's dismissal, Paul and MacMahon joined forces and solidified their team's position. While the former held one end up, turning over the strike with deft touches and well judged runs, the latter played the role of the aggressor. They stitched together an important 49-run stand for the second wicket before Paul was run out for 42.



ALSO READ: Allround Laura Delany takes Typhoons over the line



MacMahon then took control of the chase, finding the boundary 11 times on her way to an unbeaten 66. Her run-a-ball knock consisted of some elegant drives, and strong hits down the ground. She was quick on the pull shot and also took a liking to the sweep against the spin of Celeste Raack.



She shared an unbroken 51-run stand with Shauna Kavanagh (11*) to make sure the Scorchers got over the line in 35.4 overs.



Earlier in the day, Scorchers struggled to find their rhythm with the ball, having elected to bowl in slightly overcast conditions. Louise McCarthy began proceedings with six wides before her opening partner Hannah Little also struggled with her lines. The pair's wayward opening spell allowed Typhoons to race out of the blocks, reaching 50 in just six overs - courtesy five wides down the leg-side from MacMahon.



Opener Rachel Delaney was particularly aggressive, finding the boundary quite regularly with a few fierce cut shots. However, once MacMahon bowled Rebecca Stockell with an inswinger, to end the 65-run opening stand, Scorchers began to fight their way back.

📸 Great action already today from @pembrokecricket for the #Super50 match. Play willl resume at 2:22pm

👉Live Scorecard: https://t.co/2cUjr3JLRY

👀Live Stream: https://t.co/qltcfPdDPE



🧡🆚💙 https://t.co/N56i1yXIqy #Super50 pic.twitter.com/NwsObPnrf1



— Ireland Women’s Cricket Team (@IrishWomensCric) August 9, 2020

Delany, Typhoons' hero in the previous game was the next to go, brilliantly caught by Kavanagh behind the stumps off the bowling of McCarthy.



While Delaney continued to bat aggressively, stepping down the track to find the straight boundary and also hitting powerfully through mid-wicket, Scorchers managed to keep her partner, Orla Prendergast, relatively quiet. She brought up a well deserved half-century off just 53 balls, before being dismissed by Anna Kerrison for 64 off just 66 balls.



Her dismissal began a procession, as Typhoons collapsed from 119 for 3 in 21 overs, to 181 all out in 42.2 overs. Kerrison picked up four wickets with her off-spin, while Little returned after a disappointed opening spell, to chip in with two wickets.



Brief scores: Typhoons 181 in 42.2 overs (Rachel Delaney 64; Anna Kerrison 4-17, Hannah Little 2-21) lost to Scorchers 183/2 in 35.4 overs (Sophie MacMahon 66*, Leah Paul 42) by eight wickets.