Central Sparks vs Northern Diamonds at Birmingham (Edgbaston Stadium) on 4 May (09h30)
Sparks (pictured) hosted a ‘remarkable’ match needing to score four runs from their final over. Bowling her death over, Diamonds’ skipper Hollie Armitage snatched victory from Sparks by one run: when Grace Potts attempted to level the scores by scrambling for a ‘bye.’ Instead, Grace Potts was ‘run-out’ by Bess Heath, resulting in a ‘sensational finish’ by Diamonds. Commentators Claire B Jenkins (women’s cricket commentator, senior lecturer, former player for Somerset women), with social media co-hosts Dr Raf Nicholson & Syd Egan (CRICKETher) Weather was bright with sunny spells.
*Diamonds’ innings skipper Hollie Armitage (England & England A), Abigail ‘Abi’ Glen (England u-19), Bess Heath, Lauren Winfield-Hill (England, Aus Big bash), Erin Burns (Australia Big bash), Sophia Turner (Thunder loan), Jess Woolston; *Without Sterre Kalis (NL call-up) Without Rebecca Duckworth or Lizzie Scott; [*Abbey Freeborn keeping wicket for Sparks]; *After 10 overs power-play, 35/0; Lauren Winfield-Hill made a slow departure, edged to fellow-keeper Abbey Freeborn, from Katie George; *Emma Marlow ‘swung’ and was bowled with bails flying by Katie George’s in-swinging yorker; *Hollie Armitage ‘miscued’ low-down to ‘mid-off,’ caught by Grace Potts, from Hannah Baker; *By mid-way 102/3 (25 overs); *Bess Heath was ‘brilliantly’ caught one-handed at ‘mid-off,’ by Eve Jones, from Grace Potts; *Phoebe Turner chipped to ‘mid-off’ ‘easily’ caught by Eve Jones, from Charis Pavely; *Leah Dobson was bowled by Charis Pavely’s in-swinging yorker; *Ria Fackrell took two wickets when Sophia Turner was caught aerial at ‘mid-wicket’ by Ami Campbell; *5 balls later, top-scorer (scampering 29 singles) Erin Burns was caught effortlessly at ‘mid-off’ by Grace Potts; *Abi Glen scored a ninth-wicket stand of 38 with Jess Woolston. *Jess Woolston (mis-spelt elsewhere) was caught-and-bowled aerial by Bethan Ellis ‘who called for it,’ running across to collect the catch; *Finally Katie Levick was caught behind by Abbey Freeborn for a golden duck. *Diamonds’ batting Erin Burns 49(63), Lauren Winfield-Hill 28(47); Abi Glen 31*not out (27) Leah Dobson 20(22), Emma Marlow 20(38), Bess Heath 17(27), Hollie Armitage 15(23); *Sparks’ bowling Ria Fackrell 2/19; Charis Pavely 2/26, Grace Potts 2/30, Katie George 2/37, Bethan Ellis 1/27, Hannah Baker 1/39;
*Sparks’ innings *skipper Evelyn ‘Eve’ Jones with Issy Wong (England & England A) Grace Potts & Hannah Baker (England A) Davina Perrin & Charis Pavely (England u-19s) *Courtney Webb (Australia Big bash) *Without Amy Jones (England) [*Bess Heath keeping wicket for Diamonds] *Charis Pavely was caught-and-bowled by Erin Burns; *After 10 overs power-play, 33/1 (vs 35/0) & level-pegging by mid-way 102/1 (vs 102/3 );*Eve Jones 2nd wicket partnership with Abbey Freeborn added 105 runs;*Eve Jones was caught by Erin Burns from Sophia Turner; *Abbey Freeborn was ‘run-out’ by Sophia Turner, responding to the call from Courtney Webb for a quick single; *Ami Campbell was caught-and-bowled by Katie Levick; *Courtney Webb 15(18) went ‘leg-before,’ attempting to sweep Katie Levick; *Bethan Ellis 23(40); was caught at ‘cover’ by Sophia Turner, from Phoebe Turner; *Issy Wong was caught-and-bowled by Hollie Armitage; *Katie George 35(55) was caught at ‘backward point’ by Phoebe Turner from Hollie Armitage; *Ria Fackrell went ‘leg-before’ to Hollie Armitage; *With one ball remaining and as mentioned above, Grace Potts was ‘run-out’ by Bess Heath, off the last ball; *Sparks’ batting Eve Jones 65(98), Abbey Freeborn 49(70), Katie George 35(55), Bethan Ellis 23(40); Courtney Webb 15(18); *Diamonds’ bowling Hollie Armitage 3/40, Katie Levick 2/35, Erin Burns 1/31, Phoebe Turner 1/39, Sophia Turner 1/50;
Match result: Northern Diamonds 216 (@4.3 runs-per-over; 49.2/50 overs) beat Central Sparks 215 (@4.3 rpo target 217 from 50/50 ov) by one run
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @URL https://www.ecb.co.uk/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/match-centre/104434#scorecard
*Match free-to-air courtesy of Central Sparks (NV Play) via ‘YouTube’ <07h30m50s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWLHxj3Fmg4&t=3s
