Southern Vipers vs Northern Diamonds at Southampton, The Utilita Bowl Stadium on 14 June 2024 at 14h00 (double-header)
Double-defending champions Vipers had ‘plenty to celebrate’ after a ‘brilliant’ win to secure Vipers’ place in Derby’s finals-day play-offs. Both teams have two matches remaining at the competition’s group-stage Losing a ‘must-win’ match, defeated Diamonds found themselves eliminated. For Diamonds, skipper Hollie Armitage [69 runs *not out (from 60 balls)], was partnered by Dutch international Sterre Kalis and England’s Bess Heath, collectively posted their season’s highest score-to-date. Diamonds also took early wickets that were ’not in the script’ during the power-play. Also, at one point, Diamonds did well to place Vipers ‘in a real pickle,’ during their sixth over of power-play, on 29/4. Thereafter, a match-winning unbeaten 6th wicket partnership between Charlie Dean (pictured) and Georgia Elwiss added 79 runs, to turn-around Vipers’ fortunes. Charlie Dean chalked-up her career-best score: [64 runs *not out (from 38 balls).] Separately, before the match, Charlie Dean received her 50th Vipers’ cap. After the match, commentator Kevan ‘Kev’ James (who was joined on commentary during the match with Vipers’ player Charlotte Taylor) interviewed Charlie Dean on her career-Best Score that enabled Vipers win. Please see below. Weather overcast, breezy with dense grey clouds and threat of rain, 15-20C.
*Diamonds’ innings: *skipper Hollie Armitage & Bess Heath (England & England A; & Aus Big bash), Erin Burns (Aus Big bash), Katherine Fraser (Scotland), Sterre Kalis (NL); & Sophia Turner; *With Rebecca Duckworth, Emma Marlow & Rachel Slater in place of Abigail ‘Abi’ Glen, Grace Hall & Jess Woolston; *Without Lauren Winfield-Hill [*Rhianna Southby keeping wicket for Vipers]; *Started ‘badly’ during the first over when Emma Marlow was clean-bowled by Lauren Bell; *Sterre Kalis went for a softer dismissal, described as ‘catching practice’ when caught-and-bowled by Georgia Adams; *Commentators’ curse struck when ‘thorny’ Erin Burns (described by commentator as a ‘thorn in Vipers’ side) reverse-scooped down leg-side, straight into the keeper’s gloves, from Lauren Bell; *Bess Heath’s main partnership with her skipper added 68 runs until ’breakthrough came,’ when caught by Linsey Smith from Charli Knott. *Charli Knot was said to have taken her 14th wicket-to-date; *Hollie Armitage closed 69*not out; Leah Dobson ‘who could hit a long ball’ was not out; *Diamonds’ batting: Hollie Armitage 69*not out (60), Sterre Kalis 32(26); Bess Heath 31(23); *Vipers’ bowling: Lauren Bell 2/31, Georgia Adams 1/22, Charli Knott 1/22;
*Vipers’ innings: skipper Georgia Adams (England ‘A’) with Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean, Freya Kemp & Danni Wyatt (England); Georgia Elwiss (ex England); *Also with Charli Knott (Australia Big-bash); Without Freya Davies (England) Mary Taylor (England u-19) or Nancy Harman, Ella McCaughan & Alice Monaghan; [*Bess Heath keeping wicket for Diamonds]; *’Massive blow’ when Maia Bouchier ‘missed everything,’ (going through) to leg stump, bowled by Rachel Slater for a 3rd ball duck; *’In-form’ Charli Knott was beaten ‘by a fuller ‘peach’ delivery, that sent her bails flying; *Georgia Adams drove ‘too square,’ and was caught ‘in the deep’ at ‘mid-wicket’ by Emma Marlow, from Erin Burns; *Placing Vipers ‘in a real pickle;’ Freya Kemp drove ‘flat and straight’ to ‘mid-on,’ caught by Sterre Kalis from Erin Burns; *Suffered another ’massive blow’ when Danni Wyatt was caught at ‘extra cover’ by Rachel Slater, from Hollie Armitage; *Match-winning unbeaten 6th wicket partnership between Charlie Dean and Georgia Elwiss added 79 runs; *Vipers’ batting: Charlie Dean 64*not out(38), Danni Wyatt 28(26), Georgia Elwiss 27*not out (25), Charli Knott 12(11); *Diamonds’ bowling: Rachel Slater 2/23, Erin Burns 2/32, Hollie Armitage 1/16;
*Match result: Southern Vipers 146/5 (7.7 runs-per-over from 18.5/20 overs, target 146 from 20/20 ov.) 4 points, beat Northern Diamonds 145/4 (7.2 rpo from 20/20 ov.) by five wickets (with 7 balls remaining)
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/match-centre/104400#scorecard AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin to select a match
*Video highlights (41) courtesy of Southern Vipers & NV Play @url https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#v1d43c0d6-6aae-414b-8720-f287f91224c3
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of Southern Vipers (via NV Play) on YouTube<03h34m50s> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxXUa0B4Waw
*Charlie Dean Pleased With Career-Best Score in Diamonds win; interview for BBC Radio Solent <04m24> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTINhDfKCtU&t=3s
*Footnote: Gaffed caption as Charlie Dean’s Career-Best Score enabled Vipers win
