Danni Wyatt leads Southern Vipers victory cruise after Paige Scholfield strikes

Danni Wyatt opened her Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy account with an effortless 66 as Southern Vipers thumped Sunrisers by seven wickets at Chelmsford.

Experienced England allrounder Wyatt dominated with seven boundaries during a 111 run-stand for the first wicket, which put the Vipers in complete control of their chase.

Medium-pacer Paige Scholfield had earlier helped restrict Sunrisers to 202, with Mady Villiers striking 64, before Scholfield's six saw Vipers over the line with just under 14 overs to spare.

Sunrisers had been left in a malaise when they were restricted to 30 for 3, having been put in by Georgia Adams. Scholfield was heavily in the early action as she caught Amara Carr at midwicket and ran out Katie Midwood, while England international Fran Wilson flicked to deep square leg.

Naomi Dattani, one of three Sunrisers on a permanent contract, helped build a recovery with homegrown Essex player Villiers, the pair putting on 98 in 20 overs.

When Dattani fell, lbw to Wyatt for 42, England international Villiers continued to keep the score ticking and reached a half-century off 72 balls. But the last Sunrisers wickets only saw 23 runs added, to set the visitors 203.

And that total never looked like it was causing the 2016 Kia Super League champions many problems as Wyatt and Adams scored freely.

for @Danni_Wyatt

Her knock's had everything so far pic.twitter.com/QvNhHrEIZY

— Southern Vipers (@VipersKSL) August 29, 2020

Wyatt, who had been dropped on 14 by keeper Amara Carr, demonstrated her impeccable timing, particularly on the off side, as she reached her half-century from 51 balls.

Wyatt and Adams both departed with six overs of each other but England Academy duo Maia Bouchier and Charlotte Dean took Vipers to within 23 of victory with a 40-run stand partnership, before the former was caught behind, with the points secured soon after.