Northern Diamonds vs Western Storm on May 19 at Leeds, (Headingley Stadium)
Commentators lauded Diamonds for their ‘massive score;’ setting a new record; and for their ‘all-round’ performance. Hollie Armitage [74 runs (from 36 balls)] played a ‘fine’ skipper’s innings, partnered by Lauren Winfield-Hill 98(56.) The pair added 139 for Diamonds’ 2nd wicket. Storm batters were level-pegging after 6 overs Power-play 66/2 (vs 68/1); and remained in contention until mid-way 98/3 (vs 89/1) England hopeful Danielle Gibson 52(30) made Storm’s top-score. Gibson also caught Diamonds’ top scorers Hollie Armitage and Lauren Winfield-Hill. Video highlights from ECB online (NV Play) with commentators Jonathan Doidge (Sports journalist), Jamie Raynor (BBC radio Leeds) with guest Jane Powell (Yorkshire CCC President.) Fine (floodlit) evening with no sign of rain.
Diamonds innings Skipper Hollie Armitage.*Debutante Grace Hall. *First sighting of Diamonds’ light-blue strip.*Jane Powell added that each shirt was printed with Yorks CCC affiliated (club) names (to date.) [Natasha Wraith keeping wicket for Storm:- gaffed by commentators as Katie Jones, corrected sometime later, upon noticing Wraith’s and Jones’ shirts.] *International players Chloe Tryon (Rep. South Africa) Sterre Kalis (NL) and Scotland’s Katherine Fraser. *During the 2nd over, Lauren Winfield-Hill top-edged Lauren Filer, falling short of Danielle Gibson. *After striking ’six,’ Leah Dobson 25(18) was ‘Yorked’ by Lauren Filer (1/30); skittling her off-stump. *After 6 overs Power-play, Diamonds were 68/1, reaching 89/1 by mid-way. *Commentator’s curse struck when Natasha Wraith (previously gaffed as Katie Jones) missed stumping Lauren Winfield-Hill (then on 49.) *43 runs were scored from the 13th & 15th overs. *After 100 balls (16.4overs) Diamonds were set to make a new record score: 196/1. *Lauren Winfield-Hill 98(56) was ‘agonisingly’ caught at ‘Cow corner,’ by Danielle Gibson from Chloe Skelton; during the 17th over. *Hollie Armitage 74(34) played a ‘fine’ skipper’s innings, chalking-up ‘fifty’ from 25 balls with 4 ’sixes’ and 5 ‘fours;’ hitting another two ’sixes.’ *With 10 balls remaining, skipper Armitage was caught by Danielle Gibson from Orla Prendergast (1/32.) *Bess Heath (who was dropped from a top-edge) and Chloe Tryon remained ’not out.’ *Commentators added that Lauren Winfield-Hill would feel ‘disappointed,’ missing her maiden ‘T20 ton,’ by just 2 runs.
Storm innings *Skipper Sophie Luff – first match since pre-season injured thumb. *Debutante Katie Jones. [Bess Heath keeping wicket for Diamonds] *International player Orla Prendergast (Rep. of Ireland.) *Openers Natasha Wraith and Danielle Gibson. *Debutante Grace Hall’s first over went for 12 runs (with 2 wides) later persevering to take 2 wickets and bag 2 catches. *Commentators added that Diamonds ‘overcame inexperience’ (with the ball.) *Second over, Grace Hall caught Natasha Wraith 16(9) from Lizzie Scott. *Lizzie Scott (2/27) took a second wicket when Orla Prendergast 14(7) snicked behind to keeper Bess Heath. *After 6 overs Power-play, Storm were level-pegging: 66/2 (vs 68/1) *Next over, spinner Katie Levick (2/25) trapped Fran Wilson 16(12) ‘leg before,’ missing a reverse-sweep. By mid-way (10ov.) Storm were still in contention at 98/3 (vs 89/1) *When skipper Luff 9(14) was caught by Grace Hall, from Katie Levick, Storm required 116 runs from 54 balls. *Relieving bowler Katie Levick, Grace Hall had Danielle Gibson 52(30) caught by Chloe Tryon. *Spirited resistance from batters Alex Griffiths and Lauren Filer lasted 5 overs, until dismissed 3 balls apart. *Both batters hit ’sixes.’ *Alex Griffiths 31(18) was clean-bowled by Abi Glen; and Lauren Filer 21(19) was caught by Chloe Tryon from Grace Hall (2/41.) *Finally Niamh Holland 11(5) was caught-and-bowled by Abi Glen (2/36.) *Storm closed 32 runs short, after 20 overs.
Match summary A ‘tremendous night’ for Diamonds said to be ‘dominant’ with the bat – chalking-up a ‘massive’ (record) score: boosted by two lucrative overs from which 43 runs were scored by Diamonds’ biggest hitters (Lauren Winfield-Hill and Hollie Armitage.) Storm faced a ‘ridiculous’ run-rate during the final overs, but did well to reduce their final deficit down to 32 runs. Commentators lauded debutante Grace Hall for taking 2 wickets (also taking 2 catches.) Jane Powell added that Diamonds held on to ‘4-out-of-5’ catches whereas Storm dropped some. Overall: a tremendous night for Diamonds ‘with bat-and-ball.’ For post-script, previously, the competition’s highest score was 186 – identical score to Storm’s losing total. [On that occasion NW Thunder beat Sunrisers at Old Trafford, during 2021.]
Match result: Northern Diamonds Women 218/3 beat Western Storm Women 186/8, by 32 runs
Diamonds batting: 218/3 (20/20 overs, 10.9 runs-per-over) Lauren Winfield-Hill 98(56), Hollie Armitage 74(36), Leigh Dobson 25(18); Storm bowling: Lauren Filer 1/30, Orla Prendergast 1/32, Chloe Skelton 1/35. Fow 1-58, 2-197, 3-202.
Storm batting: 186/8 (20/20 overs, 9.3 r-p-o) Danielle Gibson 52(30), Alex Griffiths 31(18), Laren Filer 21(19), Natasha Wraith 16(9), Fran Wilson 16(12), Orla Prendergast 14(7), Niamh Holland 11(5); Diamonds bowling: Katie Levick 2/25, Lizzy Scott 2/27, Abi Glen 2/36, Grace Hall 2/41. Fow 1-19, 2-35, 3-73, 4-103, 5-121, 6-164, 7-165, 8-184.
Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV Play on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#cdc38bf13-4f50-4dde-b543-741109226324_m14f5fb99-ddd4-41ed-a61c-f8798b91b8b2_~scorecard
Full video, starting from 11m58s/03h12m20s courtesy of Yorkshire CCC on YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck2o0xjhxYA
Diamonds awarded 4 points. Latest England and Wales Cricket Board tables at URL: https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/womens-t20/table
