Southern Vipers vs Northern Diamonds, Arundel (Castle Cricket Ground) on 22 July at 10h30
No result. Diamonds chalked-up 105/4 just after mid-way (25 overs) before inclement weather became steadily worse. Match was called-off after three hours’ stoppage (at 15h20); with 2 points awarded to each team. Reporters added that Diamonds chance of defending their 50-overs title look slim, having taken three successive defeats prior to the match. Video highlights (x12) from ECB online (NV Play) from Southern Vipers on ‘YouTube’ (please see below.) Weather at Arundel was overcast, evolving into continuous rain, around 15C.
Vipers did not bat. *Skipper Georgia Adams *International player Maitlan Brown (Australia’s WBBL); *With England’s Maia Bouchier & Charlie Dean, but without Lauren Bell or Danni Wyatt.
Diamonds’ innings: *Skipper Hollie Armitage [*Rhianna Southby keeping wicket for Vipers] *International players Chloe Tryon (Rep. South Africa) & Sterre Kalis (NL.) *With Jessica ‘Jess’ Woolston & Rebecca ‘Becky’ Duckworth. *Without Bess Heath or Grace Hall. *Diamonds batted through overcast conditions with grey clouds and the perpetual threat of rain. *Play was briefly interrupted for Vipers’ Linsey Smith to receive wrist bandaging. *Both Diamonds openers went in quick succession for single-figures during their ‘Power-play, faced by a combination of Vipers’ seam and spin bowling from either end. *Sterre Kalis 3 runs (from 9 balls) was caught perfectly at slip by Georgia Adams, from Maitlan Brown’s (1/14) fast-pace. *Lauren Winfield-Hill 8(16) was clean-bowled middle-stump by Mary Taylor’s (1/10) first ball, understood (off-field) to be a ‘champagne moment:’ given LWH’s recent good form. *After ten overs Power-play, Diamonds were 37/2 & 60/2 after 100 balls (16.4 overs.) *Making top-score, Hollie Armitage 48(64) played a skipper’s innings, closing two short of her ‘fifty;’ partnered by Emma Marlow 25*not out (46.) The pair added 58 runs for Diamonds’ third wicket. *During the 20th over, skipper Armitage snicked a thin-edge to keeper Rhianna Southby, who took an effortless catch. *Next ball, Becky Duckworth went for a ‘golden-duck,’ her off-stump knocked-back by Georgia Adams (2/23.) Skipper Adams was placed on a potential ‘hat-trick,’ when starting her next over. *That was carefully negotiated by Emma Marlow as a ‘dot’ ball. *At mid-way (25 overs) Diamonds were 97/4. *Spots of rain were detected as drinks were taken. *Next over, the pitch was covered, assisted by some of the players (see photo.) *Early lunch was announced in an hour’s time. *After three hours hiatus it was decided that no further play was possible.
Match summary: Diamonds batted through just over half their quota of overs before inclement weather arrived and became steadily worse. Vipers weren’t afforded the opportinity to bat. After 10 rounds of the group-stage played-to-date, both teams need to close a 5 point gap that (at time of writing) separates them from the qualifying top-three teams. Diamonds (4th, 21 points) & Vipers (5th, 19 points.)
* Match result: No result (rain): Diamonds 105/4 (25.4 overs/50overs)
*Diamonds’ batting: Hollie Armitage 48(64), Emma Marlow 25*not out (46), Chloe Tryon 11*not out (18); *Vipers’ bowling: Georgia Adams 2/23, Mary Taylor 1/10, Maitlan Brown 1/14; Fow: 1-5, 2-24, 3-82, 4-82.
*Scorecard & Statistics with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via NV Play @URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m85b4c9c0-b5d8-4347-b3d5-f795fe7e7aa8 Also BBC Sport@URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKE1000563
*Match free-to-air, courtesy of Hampshire Cricket (for Southern Vipers) via NV Play on ‘YouTube’ Livestream without commentary [starting from 13m00/04h37m06s] @URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEDPnpmUZQQ
