Blaze convincingly beat Diamonds with their 5th successive win and look set to book their place on finals day. From the outset, commentators were concerned that Diamonds openers were ‘struggling to get the ball off the square,’ whereas Blaze openers ‘played really well,’ with ’super stuff’ from Scotland’s Sarah Bryce [67* runs not out (from 43 balls)] who played a match-winning innings for Blaze. Commentators Jonathan Doidge (BBC radio Leeds, for Yorkshire CCC) with Graham Hardcastle (Sports journalist.) Video highlights from ECB online (NV Play) with full match video from Yorkshire CCC – please see below. Weather was described as ‘cool with clear blue sky.
Diamonds’ Innings *Skipper Hollie Armitage [Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze] *International players Sterre Kalis (NL) & Chloe Tryon (Republic of South Africa) *Scotland international Katherine Fraser. *After 6 overs PowerPlay, Diamonds were 26/0. *Opener Leah Dobson 19(18) who was earlier dropped by Kathryn Bryce, was bowled with bales sent flying by Kirstie Gordon 33/1. *After 10 overs Diamonds were 56/1. *Diamonds Skipper Hollie Armitage 23(23) was caught at ‘deep-mid-wicket’ by Michaela Kirk, bowled by opposing skipper Kirstie Gordon. *Diamonds’ top-scorer Lauren Winfield-Hill 40(47) ‘tried to scoop to the off-side,’ when bowled by Sophie Munro. *After 16.4 overs, Diamonds were 102/3. *During the same over, Nadine deKlerk was on a ‘hat-trick’ when 2 wickets fell in successive balls. *Firstly, Bess Heath 19(12) was caught by Kirstie Gordon. *Next ball, Sterre Kalis who hit straight but ‘didn’t beat the ball’ (for speed), was ‘run-out’ for a ‘golden duck’ by Kirstie Gordon’s direct-hit at the stumps. *A carbon-copy event (2-wickets-in-2-balls) happened again when Nadine deKlerk clean-bowled with consecutive balls both Chloe Tryon 20(11) & Lizzie Scott (for another ‘golden duck’).*Best Blaze bowler was Nadine deKlerk (3/31.)
Blaze’s Innings *Skipper Kirstie Gordon. [Bess Heath keeping wicket for Diamonds] *Debutante Michaela Kirk. *International player Nadine deKlerk (Republic of South Africa.) *Scotland internationals Kathryn & Sarah Bryce. *Playing without England’s Tammy Beamont, Sarah Glenn or Nat Sciver-Brunt (red-ball training.) *Marie Kelly had her middle stump flattened by Lizzy Scott 19(17.) *After 6 overs PowerPlay, Blaze were ‘well in front’ 57/1 (vs 26/0) & 87/1 (vs 56/1) by mid-way. *Commentators added that Diamonds were ‘desperate for wickets’ to stop Blaze ‘walking away.’ *Next over, Georgie Boyce 15(14) was skittled by Chloe Tryon. *Commentators talked of a ‘fight-back’ when two wickets fell with consecutive balls. *Firstly, Kathryn Bryce 2(5) was bowled middle-and-leg, by Abi Glen. *Next ball, debutante Michaela Kirk 0(1) went for a ‘golden duck.’ *Thereafter, *Nadine deKlerk [21*not out(from 14)] and Sarah Bryce who carried her bat [67*not out (from 43)] saw Blaze home by a comfortable margin. *Diamonds best bowler was Abi Glen (2/23)
Match summary During the 1st PowerPlay, commentators spoke of Diamonds batters ‘struggling to get the ball off the square,’ faced by rotation of Blaze’s alternating bowling attack between ‘pace’ and ‘spin.’ Top-scorer Lauren Winfield-Hill had been especially cautious, having previously been Diamonds’ top-batter in the 50 overs game. Home team commentators added that Diamonds’ innings total was below their winning score at Edgbaston where they ‘posted 135 runs to beat Sparks by 3 runs.’ Commentators also mentioned Katie Levick (whom they’d anticipated would have a ‘key part to play,’) remained wicketless on this occasion. *By mid-way, Blaze were 30 runs ahead with 9 wickets in hand. Opener Sarah Bryce was said to have ‘batted really well’ for her 67*not out (top score.) Blaze were said to have ‘put in a professional performance’ and commentators understood why they were the only unbeaten team, worthy of a place in the final.
Match result: The Blaze Women 133/4 (target 130 from 20 overs) beat Northern Diamonds Women 129/7 by six wickets with 26 balls remaining
*Diamonds batting 129/7 (from 20 overs @ 6.5 runs-per-over): Lauren Winfield-Hill 40(47),Hollie Armitage 23(23), Bess Heath 19(12), Leah Dobson 19(18), Chloe Tryon 20(11); Blaze bowling: Nadine deKlerk 3/31, Kirstie Gordon 2/29, Sophie Munro 1/15; Fow: 1-33, 2-80, 3-100, 4-117, 5-117, 6-129, 7-129.
*Blaze batting 133/4 (from 15.4/20 overs @ 8.5 runs-per-over Sarah Bryce 67*not out (43), Nadine deKlerk 21*not out (14), Marie Kelly 19(17), Georgie Boyce 15(14); Diamonds bowling: Abi Glen 2/23, Lizzy Scott 1/26, Chloe Tryon 1/29. Fow: 1-28, 2-88, 3-96, 4-96.
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV Play on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#cdc38bf13-4f50-4dde-b543-741109226324_m9e4996c9-c1e7-4557-97de-46036bfa4922_~scorecard
*Full match video courtesy of Yorshire Cricket TV/Yorkshire CCC (starting from 53m42s/3h44m26s) via YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8rQCcSRjWc&t=8s
*Latest England and Wales Cricket Board tables at URL: https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/womens-t20/table
