Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2024 – match 24

Stars hosted a ‘remarkable’ match that was decided by the final ball. A combined total of 619 runs were scored on what was described as a ‘brilliant day of cricket’ played in perfect conditions. Three Diamonds batters made ‘fifty’ (Hollie Armitage, Bess Heath & Sterre Kalis.) News arrived during the interval, that Hollie Armitage was looking for a ‘quick win,’ selected to play an upcoming fixture arranged at short notice between ‘England A’ vs ‘Pakistan Women.’ When play resumed, commentators lauded the home team for staging a ‘world-record run chase,’ the home team needing a mammoth 312 to win ‘to make history at Beckenham.’ Just as England’s Sophia Dunkley 130 (from 136 balls) was running out of partners, Aylish Cranstone made a quick-fire 41 (from 32 balls) out of 83: setting a new record Stars 6th wicket partnership. The match reached its climax when with three balls remaining, centurion Sophia Dunkley was ‘run-out’ by Hollie Armitage. Two balls later, Australian Erin Burns took a second wicket from the final match ball to bag Diamonds a memorable win. Signing-off, commentators Michael McCann & Jamie Reid (sports journalists) told viewers they ’needed to lie down.’ Weather described as cloudless, and hot 20C. Slowing outfield following recent rain.

*Diamonds’ innings *Skipper Hollie Armitage (England & England A), Bess Heath (England & Aus Big bash), Abigail ‘Abi’ Glen, Lauren Winfield-Hill (England, Aus Big bash) Erin Burns (Australia Big bash) Sophia Turner (Thunder loan) & Emma Marlow; *Without Sterre Kalis (NL call-up) & Jess Woolston [*Chloe Hill keeping wicket for Stars] *Grace Hall substituted for Hollie Armitage. *Lauren Winfield-Hill was bowled by Tash Farrant’s ‘pace-off’ ball that lifted. After ten overs power-play, 47/1. *Emma Marlow was ‘run-out’ by Bethan Miles. By midway (25 overs) 137/2. *Hollie Armitage was caught vertically by Bryony Smith from Kalea Moore; *Erin Burns ‘possibly’ played-on, or was in any case bowled by Danni Gregory during her final over; *Bess Heath who came ‘down-the-track,’ was stumped by Chloe Hill, from Bethan Miles; *Leah Dobson was caught aerial by sub. from Phoebe Franklin; *Sterre Kalis was caught at ‘deep backward square’ by Sophia Dunkley, from Phoebe Franklin; *Phoebe Turner went for a carbon-copy dismissal, from Phoebe Franklin; *Sophia Turner was caught aerial by Aylish Cranstone, from Alexa Stonehouse; *Diamonds’ batting: Hollie Armitage 66(70), Bess Heath 63(62), Sterre Kalis 52(40), Erin Burns 23(19), Lauren Winfield-Hill 19(31), Emma Marlow 32(42), Jess Woolston 23*not out; *Stars bowling: gifted 11 wides Phoebe Franklin 3/49, Kalea Moore 1/39,  Bethan Miles 1/40, Danni Gregory 1/47, Tash Farrant 1/47, Alexa Stonehouse 1/71;

*Stars’ innings skipper Bryony Smith with Alice-Davidson-Richards, Sophia Dunkley & Tash Farrant (England); with Phoebe Franklin, Danielle Gregory & Kalea Moore; *Without Tazmin Brits (Rep. South Africa, injured) *Without Alice Capsey, Kira Chathli (injured) Ryana MacDonald-Gay (seen spectating) or Paige Scholfield (England ‘A’ call-up)[*Bess Heath keeping wicket for Diamonds] *Claudie Cooper substituted for Alice Davidson-Richards, who bowled two overs, returning later to bat with a ‘runner.’ *Bryony Smith was caught by Erin Burns from Phoebe Turner; *Tash Farrant was caught by Leah Dobson from Jess Woolston;*After ten overs power-play, 57/2 (vs 47/1) *Alexa Stonehouse was caught behind, ‘outside-off’ by keeper Bess Heath from Sophia Turner; *Phoebe Franklin was caught-and-bowled by Hollie Armitage *Level-pegging by mid-way (25 overs 131/4 (vs 137/2) *Chloe Hill was caught by Sterre Kalis from Sophia Turner; *Aylish Cranstone was caught by Hollie Armitage bowled Erin Burns; *Alice-Davidson-Richards (with runner Tash Farrant) was stumped on the turn, by keeper Bess Heath, from Katie Levick; *Sophia Dunkley was ‘run-out’ by Hollie Armitage, during Erin Burns death over. *Facing strike, Kalea Moore scored three from the penultimate ball, leaving Bethan Miles needing to score ‘four’ to win. Instead, Sophia Turner took the catch. Stars’ batting: *Sophia Dunkley 130(136), Aylish Cranstone 41(32), Chloe Hill 23 (40), Phoebe Franklin 24(24), Alexa Stonehouse 21(30), Bryony Smith  9(17); Kalea Moore 12*not out; Diamonds’ bowling: As noted above, gifted 21 ‘wides’ *Erin Burns 2/62, Sophia Turner 2/79, Hollie Armitage 1/26, K Jess Woolston 1/28, Katie Levick 1/51, Phoebe Turner 1/59;

*Match result: Northern Diamonds 311/9 (6.2 Runs-per-over, 50/50 overs) beat South East Stars 308/9 (6.1 rpo, target 312 from 50/50ov) by 3 runs

*Footnote: ball 39.6 (bowled three times by Sophia Turner) gifted four ‘wides’ (3+1) and counted as extras in Stars’ total score. Inconsistency may be found at at ball 39.6 where some reporters scorecards are minus 3 ‘wides,’ but do show the right total number of ‘extras’ accrued on Stars’ scorecard.

*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @URL https://www.ecb.co.uk/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/match-centre/104438#scorecard AppleMac users may need to scroll down left margin

*Full match free-to-air courtesy of Northern Diamonds & SE Stars (via NV Play) on YouTube<06h57m00s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iku6iHA8GjM

*Edited match highlights courtesy of Northern Diamonds (via NV Play) @URL https://yorkshireccc.com/match/south-east-stars-v-northern-diamonds-at-beckenham-rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-8-may-2024/?tab=m_scorecard

*IWD big interview: ‘Hollie Armitage England hails Diamonds structure as Englans Debut Looms‘ (dated 8/5/2024) @URL

https://yorkshireccc.com/news/iwd-big-interview-hollie-armitage-hails-diamonds-structure-as-england-debut-looms/