Alice Capsey, Bryony Smith fifties keep Stars on the up

Alice Capsey smashed her highest Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy score as South East Stars continued their perfect week to beat Lighting by 28 runs.

The 17-year-old Capsey crashed 78 off 73 balls to accompany Bryony Smith's 84 from 73 deliveries in a 105-run stand as Stars totted up 293 for 9 at The County Ground, Beckenham.

Despite Kathryn Bryce striking 87, Smith took 3 for 46 while Capsey and the impeccable Phoebe Franklin nabbed two wickets each to set up the victory.

The high-quality win keeps Stars in strong contention to progress from the group as they attempt to win the regional double, following their Charlotte Edwards Cup success at the weekend.

Smith happily chose to bat before producing a breath-taking innings on a pitch that offered bounce, and later significant spin. She quickly adjusted to the conditions, striking beautifully through the covers before laying into her favoured leg side.

Around her Alice Davidson-Richards and Kirstie White were both caught in the ring having gone through with their shots too early.

Smith, who scored her fifty in 41 balls, was joined by in-form Capsey and the pair flourished as run-scoring was free-flowing.

Smith was bizarrely caught behind after a tickle onto her thigh pad, but Aylish Cranstone continued the momentum with Capsey - who reached her maiden half-century of the season in 50 balls.

Capsey copied Smith's approach although used sweeps to good effect as the spin took hold.

Cranstone was also caught behind off Yvonne Graves as spin took over and squeezed the hosts - four wickets fell in seven overs - and Capsey was run out.

Phoebe Franklin and Grace Gibbs were both bowled by prodigious turn - Graves celebrating a career-best 3 for 43 and Kirstie Gordon returned 2 for 37 - and Kira Chathli was caught and bowled.

But the return of pace at the death boosted Stars, with Kalea Moore and Emma Jones adding a crucial 50 in quick time.

Lightning built a good foundation to their chase on partnerships - with 40, 46 and 77 shared between the first three wickets.

Sarah Bryce found the going similar to Smith earlier, sweetly collecting 45 off 37 balls, while Beth Harmer was bounced out.

The Bryce sisters kept the visitors above the rate, and when Sarah Bryce departed Abbie Freeborn tagged in.

Kathryn Bryce was the glue to the innings, never truly scoring rapidly but passed her half-century in 64 deliveries.

The introduction of Franklin stemmed the flow of runs however, and found the wicket of Freeborn - bowled with a brilliant off-cutter.

Theresa Graves and Ella Claridge were both bowled - by Capsey and Franklin - and Kathryn Bryce was run out as the rate glided out of reach.

Yvonne Graves, Grace Ballinger and Sophie Munro all departed late to keep Stars unbeaten since the Hundred break.