At Leeds (Emerald Headingley Cricket Ground) Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy on July 9
Dani Hazell’s (pictured) Diamonds made it two wins from two, staging a cliff-hanger against Sunrisers:- a side that came so close to bagging their first ever fifty-overs win. Sunrisers’ Head Coach Laura Marsh looked set for a shock win with a higher run-rate as match advantage oscillated between each side. Diamonds wafer-thin win keeps them in second-place after two rounds of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint trophy. Both sides came well-prepared to play on a ‘spinners wicket.’ Diamonds’ spinners Linsey Smith and Emma Marlow each took three wickets. Also, spinners Hollie Armitage and Leigh Kasperek took two wickets each. For Sunrisers it was a similar success story, with England-capped Mady Villiers (4/36) and teenager Grace Scrivens (4/20) both bagging career-best ‘4-fers.’ Match was recorded by NV play with fixed cameras, but without commentary. Also via ESPN-cric-info social media. Weather was a glorious sunny day with blue sky – in contrast to bad weather that adversely affected first round matches.
Diamonds’ innings
*Diamonds without Nat Sciver, Katherine Brunt (for England duties) or Jenny Gunn. *Electing to bat, drama struck during the power play when five penalty ‘extras’ were awarded to Diamonds during Kate Coppack’s over when the ball struck a grounded fielder’s helmet lying in the wrong place (Law 28.3.) *As mentioned above, off-spinners Mady Villiers and Grace Scrivens bagged best career figures (to date) bagging four wickets each. *Openers Lauren Winfield-Hill (2) and Linsey Smith (1) went cheaply – both to wicket-keeper dismissals by Amara Carr from Mady Villiers’ spin. *Carr caught Winfield-Hill cleverly on-the-turn from Villiers’ third ball.*Carr also stumped Smith (1) overstepping during Villiers’ next over. *After 10 overs power play, Diamonds were 48/2. Diamonds chalked up ‘fifty’ with sixteen ‘extras.’
*Grace Scrivens bagged Diamonds’ next four wickets. Firstly, Dutch International Sterre Kalis 13(24) snicked a fine edge to Amara Carr. Secondly, skipper Hollie Armitage 47(60) went ‘leg before.’ *Diamonds’ 100 came-up in 23.4 overs. *After 100 balls (16.4 overs) Diamonds were 74/3; and 107/4 by mid-way. *Thirdly, Yvonne Graves was caught behind by Carr. *Fourthly Bess Heath (8) was caught at deep backward square by debutante Jess Olorenshaw. *Graves and Heath were dismissed five balls apart. *During the thirtieth over, Scotland’s Abtaha Maqsood’s leg-spin trapped Phoebe Turner (3) ‘leg before’ and Emma Marlow (1) snicked an edge to Carr from Jo Gardner’s off-spin. *Diamonds’ 150 clocked-up in 39.1 overs. *Tail-enders Katie Levick 28 (37); NZ’s Leigh Kasperek 31(59) and Rachel Slater 14*(27) banked 74 runs for the last two wickets. Sunrisers bowled-out Diamonds just shy of 200, with just one ball remaining.
Sunrisers’ Innings
*Sunrisers were playing Jess Olorenshaw in place of Scarlett Hughes. *For Diamonds, Lauren Winfield-Hill kept wicket in place of Bess Heath. *As before, Diamonds’ spinners took Sunrisers’ wickets. After ten overs power play, Sunrisers were 41 without loss (vs ) *Opener Cordelia Griffiths 29(44) was first to depart, caught wide of mid-on by Hollie Armitage from NZ’s Leigh Kasperek. *Emma Marlow took wickets either side of mid-way: firstly trapping Grace Scrivens 24(46) ‘leg before.’ *By mid-way Sunrisers were 80/2 (vs 107/4.) *Scrivens second wicket clean-bowled Mady Villiers 11(13.) *Diamonds’ skipper Hollie Armitage third ball of ‘leg spin’ had Amara Carr 9(18) going for a leg-side sweep that went aerial in a loop, caught by Winfield-Hill and sending Dutch International Sterre Kalis tumbing backwards, celebrating in disbelief at slip. *After 100 balls (16.4 overs) Sunrisers had two wickets advantage 68/1 (vs 74/3) ; *By mid-way, Sunrisers seemed well ahead on their run chase 103/3 (vs.74/3) *Drinks were taken on 110/4.
*Linsey Smith returned after eight overs, to take three wickets. *Firstly, Umpire instantly gave Jo Gardner 17(23) ‘leg before.’ *Secondly skipper Kelly Castle 5(6) was caught at ‘slip’ by Sterre Kalis turning toward Winfield-Hill who stood firm. *Thirdly, top-scorer Naomi Dattani 41(58) was bowled, while missing a lavish swing *Kalis took a second easier catch at chest height, lobbed by Katherine Speed 3(8) from Leigh Kasperek as the bowler. *Once Sunrisers’ biggest hitters Kelly Castle and Naomi Dattani departed within three balls of each other, perceived match advantage swung back toward Diamonds.
*Debutante Jess Olorenshaw proved to be a useful addition to the side. Olorenshaw played a run-a-ball cameo 25(26) until her bales were skittled by Emma Marlow, reverting to bowling over-the-wicket. *Katie Levick and Emma Marlow bowled with field settings that covered boundary gaps, but allowed ‘ones’ and ‘twos.’ *Once Abatha Maqsood went ‘leg before’ to Hollie Armitage, Diamonds snatched their second consecutive win by just six runs.
Summary
Ultimately it was Diamonds four spinners who held their nerve to bag two wins from two. Winning performances came from Katie Levick who took 3/25 and made 28 runs (from 37 balls.) Also, NZ’s Leigh Kasperek who put in a comparable 2/16 and made 31(from 59.) Crucially, as Diamonds three tail-enders, Levick, Kasperek and Slater banked 74 runs for Diamonds’ last two wickets. Separately, Hollie Armitage hit a skippers innings made top-score 47(60); also taking two wicket and one catch. Turning to Sunrisers, it’s debatable whether conceding a five-extra penalty cost them the match. Only four Sunrisers batters mustered more than twenty runs including debutante Jess Olorenshaw.
Result: Northern Diamonds Women 194/10 (49.5/50 overs) beat Sunrisers Women 188/10 (45.2/50 overs) by 6 runs with 28 balls remaining
Diamonds batting: 194/10 (49.5/50 overs, 3.89 runs-per-over): Hollie Armitage 47(59), Leigh Kasperek 31(59), Katie Levick 28(37), Yvonne Graves 15(34), Rachel Stater 14*(27), Sterre Kalis 13(24), Kirsty White 15(10); Sunrisers bowling: Grace Scrivens 4/20, Mady Villiers 4/36, Abatha Maqsood 1/26, Jo Gardner 1/32; Fow 1-4, 2-17, 3-56, 4-93, 5-109, 6-110, 7-115, 8-120, 9-161, 10-194.
Sunrisers batting 188/10 (45.2/50 overs, 4.14 runs-per-over): Naomi Dattani 41(58), Cordelia Griffiths 29(44), JG Olorenshaw 25(26), Grace Scrivens 24(46), Joanne Gardner 17(23); Diamonds bowling: Linsey Smith 3/34, Emma Marlow 3/36, Hollie Armitage 2/16, Leigh Kasperek 2/42. Fow 1-44, 2-72, 3-84, 4-110, 5-140, 6-150, 7-151, 8-163, 9-178, 10-188.
Scorecard and statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2022-1297659/northern-diamonds-vs-sunrisers-1297932/full-scorecard
Match highlights via NV Play with recorded live stream 03h57m03s from 08:40 at URL:https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#mb8f7c9bf-9bf0-4919-85bd-df89070fdd7c
