The Blaze vs Northern Diamonds at Nottingham (Trent Bridge) on 23 May 2024 at 18h30 (night natch)
Introducing the match, commentators announced that Blaze were seeking their second straight win, whereas Diamonds were starting their campaign. For Diamonds, Australian Erin Burns chalked-up a 5-fer, ironically for the losing-side, put down to a series of dropped catches in difficult playing conditions. By comparison, Blaze held-on to more difficult catches and put immense pressure on batters as Diamonds required-run-rate escalated above 10 runs-per-over. Diamonds needed 31 runs from the final 18 balls. Final over from Kathryn Bryce started with ’six’ from fellow Scots international Katherine Fraser; but ended uneventfully when tail-ender Grace Hall was tasked to score an unlikely ‘six’ from the final ball. Blaze take 2nd place, lying one point behind Sparks. Commentators believed to be Melissa Story (BBC Sport), Sarah Taylor (Player-Coach & ex-England keeper) with guest player Kate? Also broadcast via BBC Sound (Radio Leeds.) Weather: Quite windy on a ‘chilly’ evening with dense cloud at dusk, with floodlights switched-on.
*Blaze’s innings *skipper Kirstie Gordon (England ‘A’), Josie Groves (England u19s); Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland); *Also with Nadine deKlerk & Michaela Kirk (from Rep. South Africa); Without Tammy Beaumont, Sarah Glenn or Nat Sciver-Brunt (England call-up); *Without Georgie Boyce (injured); without Sophie Munro (newly loaned to Sunrisers); [*Lauren Winfield-Hill keeping wicket for Diamonds]; *Commentator’s curse struck immediately when Marie Kelly who had ‘good quality’ was bowled ‘middle-stump,’ by Erin Burns; *Following two dropped catches, Teresa Graves was bowled by Erin Burns; *After six overs power-play 38/2; *Kathryn Bryce was caught by at ‘extra cover’ by Hollie Armitage noticed as ‘wearing sunshades’, from Katie Levick; *Blaze were 60/3 by mid-way; *Following a dropped catch at ‘backward square,’ Sarah Bryce went aerial and was caught overhead at ‘mid-off’ by Grace Hall, from Erin Burns; *Having made a ‘good foundation,’ commentator’s curse struck when Ella Claridge ’top-edged’ back to Katie Levick for ‘caught-and-bowled;‘ *Nadine deKlerk lost her ‘off-stump’ to Katie Levick; *At which point during the 15th over Diamonds were cursed with ‘making a recovery”; *Dropped-catch followed at ‘long-on’ on 86/6; *Michaela Kirk was slow to depart at first, when caught by Grace Hall diving just inside the boundary, from Rachel Slater; *Kirstie Gordon was caught with a ‘small juggle’ at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Leah Dobson, from Grace Hall; *Lucy Higham was caught at ‘extra cover’ by Hollie Armitage from Erin Burns; *Finally, Grace Ballinger ‘shuffled forward’ to the last ball and was stumped by Lauren Winfield-Hill, from Erin Burns; *Blaze’s batting: Kathryn Bryce 31(29), Josie Groves 24*not out(17), Sarah Bryce 18(20), Teresa Graves 13(15), Nadine deKlerk 11(17); *Diamonds’ bowling: Erin Burns 5/25, Katie Levick 3/22, Grace Hall 1/20, Rachel Slater 1/30;
*Diamonds’ innings: *Skipper Hollie Armitage, Bess Heath (England & England ‘A’), Lauren Winfield-Hill (England, Aus Big bash), Erin Burns (Aus Big bash), Katherine Fraser (Scotland), Sterre Kalis (NL); With Grace Hall, Emma Marlow & Rachel Slater for Rebecca Duckworth, Abigail ‘Abi’ Glen & Jess Woolston; [*Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze]; *Leah Dobson went ’leg-before’ to Kirstie Gordon; *After six overs power-play 39/1 (vs 38/2); *During the ninth over Hollie Armitage went ’leg-before’ to Kirstie Gordon; *During the 10th over, keeper Sarah Bryce was struck on her helmet and play was paused for concussion check on 64/2; *By mid-way 65/2 (vs 60/3) *’Using her feet,’ Lauren Winfield-Hill was bowled ‘middle stump’ by Kathryn Bryce; Two balls later, *Erin Burns was ‘run out’ diving flat-out when arriving short of a second run at the striker’s end, by Josie Groves’ throw to Sarah Bryce; *With three overs remaining Bess Heath was caught at ‘long-on’ by Marie Kelly from Nadine deKlerk; *During the penultimate over, Kirstie Gordon conceded 4 runs, taking two wickets; *Firstly Sterre Kalis was was ‘run out’ at the non-striker’s end by Nadine deKlerk; *Five balls later Emma Marlow was bowled through-the-gate ’leg stump;’ As mentioned above, Diamonds’ challenge finished with the last ball. Closure 21h45; *Diamonds’ batting: *Lauren Winfield-Hill 38(37), Hollie Armitage 28(23), Erin Burns 22(25), Bess Heath 15(11), Katherine Fraser 11*not out(5); *Blaze’s bowling: Kirstie Gordon 3/20, Nadine deKlerk 1/29, Kathryn Bryce 1/30;
Match result: The Blaze 136/10 (6.8 runs-per-over, from 20/20 overs) awarded 4 points, beat Northern Diamonds 132/7 (6.6 runs-per-over, from 20/20 overs, target 137) by 4 runs
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @URL https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/match-centre/104377#scorecard
*Video highlights courtesy of NV Play https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#v3f8037fd-02ae-468e-aef8-8eb0e234bcc6
*Match free-to-air courtesy of The Blaze (via NV Play) on YouTube<03h22m46s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0660pJn9kWY
