Source: ECB

Top Drawer ‘Diamonds’ All Set To Reach Qualifier

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Northern Diamonds Women’ vs ‘Western Storm W’ at Riverside, Chester-le-Street on 10 September (Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy – round 5)

With the best run-rate, second-placed ‘Diamonds’ must fancy their chances to reach the qualifier, as one of three teams who’ve chalked-up 4 wins and 1 loss. In a one-sided match, ‘Diamonds’ bowled out ‘Storm:’ six ‘Storm’ players ‘clean-bowled.’ ‘Diamonds’ reply lost 3 wickets to ‘leg before’ decisions, chasing down their target without any further loss. Both skippers (Sophie Luff for ‘Storm’ and Hollie Armitage for ‘Diamonds’) top-scored for their teams.

*‘Storm’ were 52/2 after 10 ov.; 95/2 at 100 balls (16.4 ov) and 110/4 by half-way.

*Five ‘Storm’ players (Danielle Gibson, Natasha Wraith and Bethan Gammon) suffered ducks as ‘Storm’ slipped from 110/4 to 112/6. Further down the batting order, Joleigh Roberts and Lauren Filer also went for ducks.

*Top scorer Sophie Luff (65 runs from 77 balls) played a skipper’s innings, until bowled by Linsey Smith’s final ball; at which point ‘Storm were ‘all out’ prematurely for 183 with 71 balls remaining.

*For ‘Diamonds’ Linsey Smith (5/34) was pick-of-the-bowlers: four-out-of-five wickets were clean-bowled.

*Opener Lauren Winfield-Hill (16) faced all 15 deliveries from Lauren Filer’s lengthy 1st over, including 5 ‘wides.’ By comparison, Georgia Hennessy’s 1st over included just 2 wides, but her 7th delivery trapped Winfield-Hill ‘leg before.’

*‘Diamonds’ were 56/1 after 10 ov.; 97/2 at 100 balls (16.4 ov) having just lost Sterre Kalis (32) ‘leg before’ to Stephanie Hutchins (2/27).

*‘Diamonds’ had lost Leah Dobson (16) also ‘leg before’ to Stephanie Hutchins just before half way.

*By then, (25 ov.) ‘Diamonds’ were at least 30 runs ahead on 146/3.

*Skipper Hollie Armitage (68*) played a skipper’s innings, scoring ‘fifty’ from 53 balls, just two balls beyond half-way. Armitage and Bess Heath (32*) made light work of the match-winning partnership, scoring one ‘four’ from each over until the target was reached.

Result: ‘Northern Diamonds -Women’ 184/3 beat Western Storm -W 183/10 by 7 wickets, with 113 balls remaining

‘Storm -W’ 183/10 (38.1/50 ov, 4.79 r-p-o) Sophie Luff 65 runs (from 77 balls), Alex Griffiths 36(38), Fi Morris 30(30) Chloe Skelton 30(51); ‘Diamonds’ bowling: Linsey Smith 5/34, Katie Levick 2/25, Beth Langston 2/30; Fow: 1-21, 2-44, 3-109, 4-110, 5-111, 6-112, 7-173, 8-175, 9-183, 10-183.

‘Diamonds -W’ 184/3 (31.1/50 overs, 5.9 runs-per-over) Hollie Armitage 68* runs (from 69 balls), Bess Heath 32*(33), Sterre Kalis 32(44), Leah Dobson 16(19), Lauren Winfield-Hill 16(23); ‘Storm’ bowling: Stephanie Hutchins 2/27, Georgia Hennessy 1/35; Fow: 1-38, 2-97, 3-130.