‘Northern Diamonds Women’ vs ‘Central Sparks W’ at Scarborough on 22 September (Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy – Semi-Final Eliminator)
History often repeats itself. Firstly, ‘Diamonds’ knocked ‘Sparks’ out of last year’s semi-final eliminator, to play ‘Vipers in the final.’ Secondly, less than a month ago, ‘SE Stars’ knocked out ‘Sparks’ from of this year’s ‘Charlotte Edwards’ 20-overs eliminator. Today, Ami Campbell and Sterre Kalis swept ‘Diamonds’ to victory by 6 wickets with more than 100 balls to spare. As semi-final winners, ‘Diamonds’ will travel down to the East Midlands (Northampton) to play ‘Vipers’ in a re-match of last season’s 50-overs Rachael Heyhoe Flint trophy final.
*‘Diamonds’’ opening bowling pair (Beth Langston and Rachel Slater) bowled 6 overs each. ‘Sparks’ reached 36/3 after 10 ov. power-play. Critically, commentators pointed out that 16 ‘wides’ were gifted during the power-play.
*Opener Marie Kelly (0) went for a 3rd ball duck, ‘leg before’ to Beth Langston. Davina Perrin (1) was out to Rachel Slater’s 3rd ball.
*Skipper Eve Jones was caught by Sterre Kalis from Slater’s second-to-last power-play ball. *With their biggest hitters back inside the hutch, it fell to Gwenan Davies to anchor ‘Sparks’ innings.
*’Diamonds’’ second bowling pair (Linsey Smith and Phoebe Graham) also bowled 12 overs between them. *After 100 balls (16.4 ov.) ‘Sparks’ were 64/4, having lost Thea Brookes (11); also caught by Sterre Kalis from Linsey Smith. Two balls later, Smith struck again, dismissing Issy Wong (0) ‘leg before’ for a first-ball duck.
*By mid-way, ‘Sparks’ had been ground down to 87/5.
*Replacing bowler Phoebe Graham, Katie Levick was paired with Beth Langston.
*Langston trapped Gwenan Davies (42) ‘leg before.’
*Levick also took a wicket: Chloe Hill (14) caught by Ami Campbell. ‘Sparks’ Bowlers-turned batters Ria Fackrell (42*) and Emily Arlott (29*) grafted a defendable score. ‘Sparks’ innings closed on 175/7.
*For ‘Diamonds, skipper Hollie Armitage hit Issy Wong’s costly 1st over for 3 ’fours.’ Immediately after replacing Wong, Armitage (25) was caught by Emily Arlott from bowler Georgia Davis.
*As the paired bowler, Arlott carried on opposite Davis, taking 2 wickets during the same over. Rachel Hopkins was caught behind and Leah Dobson was clean-bowled by Davis.
*‘Diamonds’ were a nose ahead 43/3 after 10 ov. power-play (vs 36/3). Critically, commentators pointed out there had been several dropped catches with little consequence to the outcome of the game.
*Pausing for drinks at mid-way (25 ov.), ‘Diamonds’ were 125/3 (vs 87/5)
*Ami Campbell and Sterre Kalis played a match-winning partnership, adding 83 runs (in 62 minutes.) Earlier, Campbell’s ‘fifty’ was chalked-up after 24.2 overs.
*After the resumption, Campbell and Kalis received applause for their 100 run partnership (147/3): Campbell 68* runs from 66 balls and Kalis 30* runs from 58 balls. On 151/3 (28.3ov) Campbell was dropped for a 3rd time. After 30 overs, the pair progressed to 158/3 (vs 99/6). by which time the required-run-rate had fallen to 1 run-per-over.
*When ‘Diamonds’ top-scorer Ami Campbell (76 runs from 78 balls) was caught in the deep, just 18 runs were needed to win.
*15 balls later, Sterre Kalis (41) partnered by England Academy hopeful Bess Heath (5) swept ‘Diamonds’’ across the line by a wide margin, with more than 100 balls to spare.
Result: ‘Northern Diamonds- Women’ 176/4 beat ‘Central Sparks W’ 175/7 by 6 wickets (and with 103 balls remaining)
‘Sparks -W’ 175/7 (50 ov, 3.5runs-per-over); Gwenan Davis 42(70), Ria Fackrell 42*(80), Emily Arlott 29*(39), Chloe Hill 14(56), Thea Brookes 11(23); ‘Diamonds’ bowling: Linsey Smith 2/25, Beth Langston 2/29, Rachel Slater 2/39, Katie Levick 1/25; Fow: 1-1, 2-2, 3-35, 4-67, 5-68, 6-98, 7-101; ’Diamonds -W’ 176/4 (32.5/50ov, 5.36 r-p-o); Ami Campbell 76(78), Sterre Kalis 41(68), Hollie Armitage 25(16), Rachel Hopkins 11(23) Bess Heath 6*(7); ‘Sparks’ bowling: Emily Arlott 2/35, Georgia Davis 1/35, Marie Kelly 1/9; Fow: 1-33, 2-42, 3-42, 4-158;
Scorecard at: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2021-1252263/northern-diamonds-vs-central-sparks-1252292/full-scorecard
Highlights (once uploaded via ‘youtube’) at: https://yorkshireccc.com/diamonds
RHF Trophy final: ‘Northern Diamonds’ vs ‘Southern Vipers’ at Northampton on 25th September
Footnote: Weather was exceptionally mild for September – sunny with a steady breeze rippling across the black fabric side-screens.
