Northern Diamonds vs Southern Vipers on 4 June 2023 (11h00) at Leeds (Headingley Stadium)
Commentators set-the-scene for the ‘North-South Derby,’ adding that this was a must-win match for Diamonds to potentially qualify for 3rd place, with aspirations to play the semi-final. Also that both teams had suffered set-back with previous 5th-round defeats. Vipers were assured of finishing the group stage in 2nd place provided they won this match. Ecstatic Vipers’ player-bowling coach (and former England international) Anya Shrubsole took a ‘4-fer’ (4/18). Vipers skipper Georgia Adams (pictured, far-left) scored a match-winning 42*not out; bowled 1/34; and took one catch. After the match, Diamonds skipper Hollie Armitage said that her side ‘bowled well,’ under-performed ‘with-the-bat,’ and needed (to win) the next game. Commentators were Jonathan Doidge, (Sports journalist, BBC radio Leeds); Jamie Raynor (BBC radio Leeds); Kevan ‘Kev’ James (BBC radio Solent); & Richard Graves (Broadcaster interviewing Hollie Armitage); with guest Dr Jane Powell (President, Yorks CCC.) Video highlights from ECB online (NV play); edited from Yorkshire CCC TV coverage:- the match played as a ‘double-header’ (please see below.) Weather at Headingley was warm with clear blue sky.
Vipers’ innings: *Skipper Georgia Adams *[Bess Heath keeping wicket for Diamonds] *Kev James reported that Vipers had made 4 changes. Anya Shrubsole, Maia Bouchier, Freya Kemp & Mary Taylor replaced England’s Lauren Bell, Charlie Dean & Danni Wyatt; also Alice Monaghan.*International player Nicole Faltum (from the Australian Women’s Big Bash League) *Losing 3 wickets during their PowerPlay, Ella McCaughan 8(6) was caught by Grace Hall from Chloe Tryon (1/33.) *Nicole Faltum 4(4) was caught by Katherine Fraser from Lizzie Scott (1/20.) *Maia Bouchier 24(16) was caught at ‘cover’ by Hollie Armitage from Grace Hall. *After 6 overs PowerPlay, Vipers were 42/3. *2 wickets fell 3 balls apart when Georgia Elwiss 2(4) went ‘leg-before’ to Katie Levick & Freya Kemp was clean-bowled for a 2nd ball ‘duck’ by Grace Hall’s (2/33) ‘Yorker.’ *After 10 overs, Vipers were 62/5. *Emily Windsor 25(28) was clean-bowled, down-the-pitch: missing Katie Levick (2/12.) *After 16.4 overs (100 balls) Vipers were 97/6.*Top-scorer at one run-per-ball was skipper Georgia Adams 42*Not out (42) partnering tail-ender Nancy Harman 32*not out (19): who hit 1 ‘six’ from the final ball – also the only ‘six’ of Vipers’ innings. *Georgia Adams-Nancy Harman partnership added a match-winning 52 runs, 51 of which came from Vipers’ last 4 overs. *Diamonds best performing bowler was Katie Levick who took 2 wickets (2/12.)
Diamonds’ innings: *Skipper Hollie Armitage *[Nicole Faltum keeping wicket for Vipers] *With Katherine Fraser (Scotland) *Internationals Sterre Kalis (NL) & Chloe Tryon (Republic of South Africa) *During their PowerPlay, Diamonds lost their first 3 wickets for 5 runs. *Lauren-Winfield-Hill 1(3) saw her off-stump flattened by former England team-mate Anya Shrubsole. *Leah Dobson lobbed a catch to Ella McCaughan at ‘mid-on,’ from Anya Shrubsole *Skipper Armitage 2(9) edged high to Georgia Elwiss who caught ‘in-the-covers,’ for a 3rd-ball ‘duck.’ *After 6 overs PowerPlay, Diamonds were 31/3 (vs 42/3). *Bess Heath 26(12) hit 3 ‘sixes,’ including 2 from Anya Shrubsole; in a cameo that got Diamonds back on track. *Next over, after launching Mary Taylor for her 3rd ‘six,’ Heath went ‘leg before.’ *After 10 overs, Diamonds were level-pegging: 66/4 (vs 62/5.) *Chloe Tryon and Sterre Kalis mounted a 5th wicket recovery, adding 53. *Diamonds’ lost 3 quick wickets for 6 runs. *Chloe Tryon’s 30(20) who’d hit 1 ‘six,’ lauched a ‘steepler’ that was caught at ‘cover’ by Linsey Smith (ex-Diamonds), from Georgia Elwiss. *Katherine Fraser who mis-timed to leg-side, was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Freya Kemp for a 2nd-ball ‘duck.’ *Next over, top-scorer Sterre Kalis 32(36) was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Georgia Adams, from Anya Shrubsole (chalking-up Anya Shrubsole’s ‘4-fer.’) *After 16.4 overs (100 balls) the match headed for a tight finish: 110/7 (vs 97/6). *Next over, Lizzy Scott 5(12) was stumped by Nicole Faltum from Georgia Adams (1/34.) *Diamonds needed to score 22 runs from Mary Taylor’s (1/27) ‘death’ over; whereas 22 runs were scored from their last 4 overs (vs Vipers, who scored 51.) *During the last over, Katie Levick 4(4) was ‘run out’ by keeper Nicole Faltum at the striker’s end. *Best Vipers bowler was Anya Shrubsole (4/18.)
Match summary: Each PowerPlay followed similar patterns with both sides emerging mid-way, neck-and-neck. As mentioned above Vipers excelled with both bat-and-ball. Georgia Adams played a ‘run-a-ball’ skipper’s innings with her bat. Vipers’ player-Coach Anya Shrubsole took 4/18 with the ball. Diamonds suffered mini-collapse, losing 3 wickets for 6 runs beyond mid-way. Australian Nicole Faltum snapped-up two tail-enders wickets as Diamonds were unable to match Vipers earlier scoring-rate from their last 4 overs. Diamonds next match, a so-called ‘Roses Derby,’ should decide who qualifies for 3rd place to play Vipers in the semi-final on Finals Day. Top-placed Blaze will play in the final, as the only unbeaten team-to-date with maximum points. Match report at URL: https://yorkshireccc.com/news/report-diamonds-v-vipers-ce-cup/
Match Result: Southern Vipers Women 144/6 beat Northern Diamonds Women 128/9 by 16 runs
*Vipers’ batting: 144/6 (20/20 overs 7.2 runs-per-over): Georgia Adams 42(42), Nancy Harman 32*not out(19), Emily Windsor 25(28), Maia Bouchier 24(16); Diamonds bowling: Katie Levick 2/12, Grace Hall 2/33, Lizzy Scott 1/20, Chloe Tryon 1/33; Fow 1-8, 2-14, 3-38, 4-48, 5-49, 6-92.
*Diamonds’ batting: 128/9 (20/20 overs 6.4 r-p-o): Sterre Kalis 32(36), Chloe Tryon 30(20), Bess Heath 26(12) Abi Glen 13*not out(12); Vipers bowling: Anya Shrubsole 4/18, Georgia Elwiss 2/20, Mary Taylor 1/27, Georgia Adams 1/34; Fow: 1-1, 2-2, 3-5, 4-46, 5-99, 6-99, 7-105, 7-115, 9-123.
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV Play at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m4838c095-a74d-49b0-b084-dcc978be2395 & BBC Sport @URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/65797954
*Full match video courtesy of Yorks CCC for Diamonds (starting after half-way, from 04h30m30s/7h34mm21s) via YouTube at URL https://yorkshireccc.com/news/live-stream-yorkshire-vikings-vs-derbyshire-and-northern-diamonds-vs-southern-vipers/
* Latest England and Wales Cricket Board tables at URL: https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/tables/2023
