‘Southern Vipers Women’ vs ‘Northern Diamonds W’ at Northampton on 25 September (Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy – final) Skipper Adams’ 4-fer ‘Was Not Part Of The Plan’
Receiving the trophy for the second successive year, ‘Vipers’’ skipper Georgia Adams (4/35) told viewers that taking 4 ‘Diamonds’’ wickets ‘was not part of her team’s bowling plan.’ Receiving POTM, Emily Windsor mounted an unbeaten 78-run 8th wicket stand for ‘Vipers’ together with Tara Norris. Windsor had also taken the final catch to dismiss top-scorer Ami Campbell. After the match, commentators had been astonished to perceive that match advantage changed so many times.
Broadcast live on SKY Sports TV, Youtube, commentators included Adam Collins (NZ), Lydia Greenway, Tammy Beaumont, Katie George and Alice Davidson-Richards. Also broadcast via cricket social media (Valkerie Baynes for ESPN-cric-info.) ‘Vipers’ were without Charlie Dean and ‘Diamonds’ were without Lauren Winfield-Hill.’
*Commentating on a ‘replay’ of last year’s final, Collins’ said that ‘Vipers’ had scored 231 (Georgia Adams 80; Charlotte Taylor 6/34); vs ‘Diamonds’ who were 193 all out. Collins assured viewers that ‘Diamonds’ were well-placed to reverse the result, previously beating ‘Sparks’ in the eliminator, only a matter of days ago.
*Both teams had lost to 3rd placed ‘Sparks’ in the group stage of the competition.
*’Diamonds’ made a promising start reaching 34/0 after the power-play (10ov.) Building the first partnership, Linsey Smith and skipper Hollie Armitage added 35 runs.
*Armitage (16 runs from 32 balls) lost her middle stump to Paige Scholfield’s 1st ball.
*Commentator Adam Collins thought that the bowling change was a factor as Armitage ‘went back to a ball she should have come forward to.’
*Linsey Smith’s 2nd partnership with Sterre Kalis added 37 until Linsey Smith (31 from 65) was caught by Gaby Lewis, gifted to ‘extra cover’ from Georgia Adams’ bowling.
*One run later, Leah Dobson was clean bowled by Charlotte Taylor for a 4th ball duck.
*As Diamonds’ leading campaign run-scorer Kalis (18 from 33) was beefed-up by commentators (having played for NL when aged just 14.) Previously, Sterre Kalis had posted 272 runs across this year’s competition. Kalis was then trapped ‘leg before:’ gifting a second wicket for Adams (at 73/4).
*After 25 overs, ‘Diamonds’ were 81/4.
*’Diamonds’ suffered a middle-order collapse when 4 wickets fell across 3 overs, in the space of 13 balls.
*Firstly, Bess Heath (25 from 34) was ‘leg before’ to Tara Norris.
*Secondly, Jenny Gunn (2 from 6) was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Gaby Lewis from Adams’ bowling. Collins added that Gunn is veteran of two 50-over world cups: 2009 & 2017.)
*Thereafter, 2 more wickets fell for 2nd ball ducks: Beth Langston was ‘leg before’ to Adams; and Phebe Graham was clean-bowled by Charlotte Taylor.
*After 40 overs, ’Diamonds’ were 137/8.
*Top-scorer Ami Campbell was said to have ‘taken responsibility’ and ‘stood-up’ following the batting collapse. Commentators said Campbell played a similar role to the Eliminator, taking ‘a long time’ to reach ‘fifty,’ but ‘rallied well’ after Katie Levick was caught behind by Carla Rudd, from Tara Norris.
*After scoring ‘four’ from the first ball of Georgia Elwiss’ final death over, Ami Campbell (60 from 73) was caught at ‘long-off’ by POTM Emily Windsor. 39 runs were added for ‘Diamonds’ 10th wicket.
*Between innings, Tammy Beaumont recalled that Georgia Adams (having taken 4 wickets) was once taken by surprise at ‘Vipers’ when coach Charlotte Edwards booked her sessions as a ‘batter who also needed to bowl.’
*‘Vipers’ lost their opening pair, clean-bowled for ducks by Beth Langston. Skipper Georgia Adams lost her off-stump 2nd ball and Ella McCaughan had her leg-stump skittled, 6th ball. Maia Bouchier and Georgia Elwiss posted a 41-run partnership until both were removed by keeper Bess Heath.
*Bouchier (33 from 55) was stumped from Katie Levick and Elwiss (14 from 21) was caught behind from Phoebe Graham.
*Around mid-way (25 overs) both teams were level pegging: 82/4 (vs 81/4.) Jenny Gunn was brought back into the attack, taking 3 ‘Vipers’ wickets: firstly clean-bowling Ireland’s Gaby Lewis (24 from 53.)
*3 overs later, Gunn was suddenly on a ‘game-changing hat-trick.’ Paige Scholfield (9) was caught by skipper Armitage’s diving from ‘covers;’ followed by Carla Rudd (0) who was trapped ‘leg before’ for a golden duck.
*At 45 overs (155/7 vs 166/9).
*The match reached its climax as POTM Emily Windsor (47 from 97) and Tara Norris (40 from 44) staged an unbeaten match-winning 8th wicket stand (78). Commentator Adam Collins described the partnership as ‘a great escape’ that set-up a ‘grandstand finish down-to-the-wire’ (as ‘Vipers’ chased down their target while ‘Diamonds’ took no more wickets.)
*Concluding, Collins said it was a ‘thrilling final’ during what had been a ‘fantastic year’ for the women’s game. Katie George had never seen a match where the ‘momentum had swung back-and-forth’ so much. Alice Davidson-Richards added that it was good (for the women’s game) to see ‘ebb and flow, not knowing who’s going to win.’ Skipper Adams told viewers: ‘We’re putting on great games of cricket.’
Result: ‘Southern Vipers -Women’ 187/7 beat ‘Northern Diamonds -W’ 183/10 by 3 wickets (with 2 balls remaining)
‘Diamonds -W’ 183/10 (49.2/50 overs, 3.70 runs-per-over): Ami Campbell 60 runs (from 73 balls), Bess Heath 25 (34), Linsey Smith 31(65), Sterre Kalis 18(33), Hollie Armitage 16(32); ‘Vipers’ bowling: Georgia Adams 4/35, Charlotte Taylor 2/26, Tara Norris 2/36, Paige Scholfield 1/10, Georgia Elwiss 1/25; Fow: 1-35, 2-72, 3-73, 4-73, 5-112, 6-115, 7-115, 8-116, 9-144, 10-183; ‘Vipers -W:’ 187/7 (49.4/50 ov. 3.76 r-p-o), Emily Windsor 47*(97), Tara Norris 40*(44), Maia Bouchier 33(55), Gaby Lewis 24(53); Georgia Elwiss 14(21); ‘Diamonds’ bowling: Jenny Gunn 3/31, Beth Langston 2/40, Katie Levick 1/20, Phoebe Graham 1/38; Fow: 1-0, 2-6, 3-47, 4-62, 5-93, 6-109, 7-109;
Scorecard at: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2021-1252263/southern-vipers-vs-northern-diamonds-1252291/full-scorecard
Highlights (once uploaded) at: https://yorkshireccc.com/diamonds
Footnote: Last year, Charlotte Edwards told BBC 5LSX radio commentators that winning ‘Vipers’ were promised zipped duvet jackets (as seen sported by their favourite football coach). Who knows what victorious ‘Vipers’ were promised this year?
