Northern Diamonds v Southern Vipers at London North (Lord’s) on 25 September 2022 (10h30)
Billed by commentators as either ‘third-time-lucky’ either for Diamonds bagging their inaugural win, or Vipers, bagging a hat-trick of trophies. Before the match, a minute’s silence was held, followed by the national anthem; and an ECB statement was read out to mourn the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II. Match advantage oscillated between both evenly-matched teams. Receiving ‘player of the series’ POTS award after her ‘third brilliant final’ played against Diamonds, Vipers skipper Georgia Adams told commentator Kev James she was ‘absolutely gutted’ when missing out on bagging a ‘hat-trick-of-trophies.’ Adams added that Vipers hadn’t ended the season empty-handed, having previously won their first Charlotte Edwards Cup (in their Head coach’s name.) Receiving ‘player of the match’ POTM award for scoring 65 runs from 87 balls and taking two catches as keeper, Lauren Winfield-Hill said that Diamonds (as winners) had ‘come close’ (in two previous finals) against Vipers. Winfield-Hill remained puzzled as to why Vipers made such a cautious start.
Commentators added that Winfield-Hill finished as the tournament’s best batter, scoring 470 runs in the competition (average 48.33) Lauren Winfield-Hill added at the personal level that she’d made a fresh start this season having taken time out after finding herself ‘dropped’ from the England squad. Her comeback had made her ‘fall in love’ with cricket all over again. Previously the group-stage dress-rehearsal went to Diamonds, who were the only unbeaten team in this year’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for 50-overs. Broadcast by NV-Play, ESPN-cric-info and podcasts via social media. Commentators Simon Doull (NZ), Lydia Greenway and Dominic Cork (SKY Sports) Also Kevan ‘Kev’ James (BBC Radio Solent) who interviewed post-match, Georgia Adams (as above); and Charlie Dean (please see below.) Weather at Lord’s was cloudy with sunny spells, but a rain-free September’s day.
Diamonds Innings
Skipper Hollie Armitage (pictured). *Lizzie Scott was playing again for Beth Langston (injured.) *Returner Emma Marlow for Jessica Woolston. *Without Jenny Gunn, Natalie Sciver or Katherine Brunt. *Carla Rudd keeping wicket for Vipers. *Opening the power play, Tara Norris (USA International) was paired with Lauren Bell. *After seven overs, Paige Scholfield was paired with Charlie Dean. *Dean humorously threatened to ‘run-out’ Linsey Smith, making graphic reference to her own ‘Mankad’ dismissal (please see interview below.) *After ten overs Diamonds were 38/0. *Diamonds’ first wicket fell during the twentieth over, when Charlotte Taylor caught-and-bowled Linsey Smith 27(52.) *By mid-way Diamonds reached 104/1. *Breakthrough came for Vipers when Diamonds slumped from 114/1 to 119/5. *Replacing Lauren Bell, Paige Scholfield was on a ‘hat-trick’ after taking two quick wickets. *Firstly, clean-bowling both Hollie Armitage 14(35); and also Sterre Kalis (NL) for a golden duck. *Next over, Phoebe Turner went ‘leg before’ to Charlotte Taylor. *POTM Top-scorer Lauren Winfield-Hill 65(87) was ‘run out’ by Georgia Elwiss. *With ten overs remaining, England hopeful Bess Heath 44(60) went ‘leg before’ to Georgia Adams. *Skipper Adams bagged another three wickets during her ‘death’ over. *Firstly, Leigh Kasperek (NZ) was caught by Georgia Elwiss; secondly Lizzie Scott went ‘leg before’ for a golden duck; and finally Emma Marlow was ‘run out’ by Ella McCaughan from the penultimate innings ball. Mixed opinion between social media on who were ‘very much the favourites’ when lunch was taken.
Vipers Innings
Skipper Georgia Adams. *With Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean, Lauren Bell, Chloe Hill but without Freya Kemp, Danni Wyatt, Alice Monaghan, Finty Trussler or Mary Taylor. Lauren Winfield-Hill keeping wicket for Diamonds. *Vipers replied with a below-par power play score. *Two wickets went cheaply during the power play: Ella McCaughan was caught by keeper Lauren Winfield-Hill from Linsey Smith; and Georgia Elwiss was clean-bowled by Lizzie Scott (1/10.) *After ten overs power play, Vipers were 18/2 (vs 38/0.) *Vipers got ‘back in the game’ with a third-wicket partnership between Maia Bouchier and Georgia Adams that added 91 runs. *By mid-way Vipers reached 98/2 (vs 104/1.) Paired with Emma Marlow, then Linsey Smith, Holly Armitage had Maia Bouchier 48(73) caught short of ‘fifty’ by Linsey Smith. *After 30 overs, Emily Windsor 12(20);was caught behind – a second catch by Lauren Winfield-Hill, from Hollie Armitage (2/46.) *Tight bowling between the thirtieth and fortieth overs kept Vipers needing to score at a run-a-ball. *Charlie Dean 32(43) was caught by Bess Heath from Leigh Kasperek (1/40.) *Disaster struck when Vipers needed to score 20 runs from the last 13 balls. Firstly, POTS Georgia Adams 70(96) was stumped by POTM Lauren Winfield-Hill from Katie Levick. *Two balls later, Paige Scholfield 15(23) was clean-bowled by Linsey Smith (2/24.) Dreams of a ‘hat-trick-of-trophies’ evaporated during Katie Levick’s (2/44) death over. Second ball, Chloe Hill was caught by Emma Marlow. Finally, Lauren Bell 5(2) struck ‘four’ but was ‘run out’ two balls later, leaving Charlotte Taylor hitting ‘two’ but needing to hit ‘four’ to tie, from the last ball. Tara Norris and Charlotte Taylor remained ‘not out.’
Summary
Northern Diamonds won their inaugural Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, defeating defending champions Southern Vipers when playing their third consecutive final (between the same teams.) With a ‘cliff-hanger’ ending, the match result could have gone either way until the very last ball. During post-match interviews for BBC Radio Solent, Georgia Adams told Kev James that her third trophy ‘wasn’t to be,’ although Vipers have already got one ‘in the cabinet’ (for 20 overs.) Adams commended the ‘brilliant youngsters’ coming into women’s cricket, especially Bess Heath (whom Adams snared ‘leg before.’) Adams also mentioned Emily Windsor, who’d ‘shown what she can do.’ Separately, Kev James asked Charlie Dean about her so-called ‘Mankad’ incident (the day before) when playing for England; when India’s Deepti Sharma controversially bagged India’s third ODI win.
Diamonds win the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Result: Northern Diamonds Women 215/9 beat Vipers Women 213/9 (target 216) by 2 runs
Diamonds’ batting: 215/6 (@4.30 runs-per-over from 50 overs); Lauren Winfield-Hill 65(87), Bess Heath 44(60), Leah Dobson 34(50) Hollie Armitage 14(35); Vipers bowling: Georgia Adams 3/34, Paige Scholfield 2/36, Charlotte Taylor 2/37; Fow 1-83, 2-114, 3-114, 4-115, 5-119, 6-204, 7-212, 8-212, 9-214; Vipers’ batting 213/9 (@4.26 runs-per-over from 50 overs; target 216 from 50 overs); Georgia Adams 70(96); Maia Bouchier 48(73), Charlie Dean 32(43), Paige Scholfield 15(23), Emily Windsor 12(20); Diamonds bowling: Linsey Smith 2/24, Katie Levick 2/44, Hollie Armitage 2/46, Lizzie Scott 1/10, Leigh Kasperek 1/40; Fow 1-7, 2-17, 3-98, 4-114, 5-163, 6-196, 7-200, 8-205, 9-211.
Scorecard & statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2022-1297659/northern-diamonds-vs-southern-vipers-final-1297956/full-scorecard & https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/34703
Match highlights, courtesy of Yorkshire Cricket TV via NV-Play on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#ma60fbe4f-bfca-4642-9316-7956c667e284
Match free-to-air (Full coverage starts from Diamonds’ score 53/0; 05h51m40s) via YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQBN9fC4Ifg
Post match interviews courtesy of Radio Solent with (A) Georgia Adams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqNa_kawXJM & (B) Charlie Dean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyXHeaAqy1A
