Northern Diamonds vs Central Sparks at Scarborough (Marine Road North) on 30 June 2024
Following the shock dismissal of Sparks’ skipper third-ball, two batters (Davina Perrin & Katie George) both posted ‘fifties’ with six batters reaching double-figures to post Sparks a defendable score shy of 250. Diamonds top spinner Katie Levick took a 4-fer (4/46.) Diamonds gained two wickets advantage by mid-way. Drama struck with Diamonds requiring five runs from 42 balls remaining, when Sparks seam-bowler Grace Potts broke a match-winning 92 run partnership between England’s Bess Heath and Erin Burns (Australia big bash.) When the next batter went for a golden duck, Grace Potts was on a hat-trick. Match reached its climax five balls later when top-scorer Bess Heath (pictured) [58*not out (from 53 balls)] struck the winning ‘four’ to chalk-up Diamonds’ fifth win of this season’s competition. After seven rounds, Diamonds share top-position with Sunrisers and Vipers (as defending champions.) Commentators were Dr Jane Powell (Performance Manager England Disability Cricket at ECB; & President at Yorkshire CCC); with Ellie Indie (cricket content creator); Sam Gaskell (Media Intern at Yorks CCC); and guest Lizzie Dillam (Northern Diamonds & Girls Pathway Operations Manager at Yorkshire CCC.)
*Sparks’ innings: Skipper Eve Jones (England ‘A’) *With Davina Perrin & Hannah Baker (England u19’s), *Courtney Webb (Australia big bash), *Without Amy Jones (England call-up) Also without Ami Campbell & Ria Fackrell; [Bess Heath keeping wicket for Diamonds] *Erin Burns was said to ‘dominate’ Sparks 1st over; *Facing spin 1st over, and coming around the wicket to the left-hander, skipper Eve Jones was bowled 3rd ball with bails flying, from Erin Burns’ 5th ball; *After 10 ov. Power-play 46/1; *Sweeping across-the-line, Chloe Brewer went ‘leg before’ to Katie Levick; *Abbey Freeborn was caught at ‘fine-leg’ by Katherine Fraser from by Phoebe Turner; *By mid-way (25ov) 105/3; *Courtney Webb was bowled ‘middle-and-off’ by Phoebe Turner; *Having scored ‘fifty’ that included Sparks’ only ‘six,’ Davina Perrin was snicked-an-edge to Bess Heath, from Katie Levick; *Next over Bethan ‘Beth’ Ellis was bowled beneath-her-bat by Katherine Fraser; *Emily Arlott played all-around-the-ball, but was bowled by Katie Levick; *Top-scoring with ’fifty,’ Katie George missed a ‘reverse sweep’ instead going ‘leg before’ to Katie Levick; *Georgia Davis cameo made 20*not out; *Sparks’ batting: Katie George 52(56), Davina Perrin 50(69), Courtney Webb 37(35), Chloe Brewer 37(44), Georgia Davis 20*not out (17), Abbey Freeborn 19(47); *Diamonds’ bowling: Katie Levick 4/46, Phoebe Turner 2/50, Katherine Fraser 1/35, Erin Burns 1/49;
*Diamonds’ innings: skipper Hollie Armitage (England ‘A’) with Bess Heath (England, England ‘A’) *Katherine Fraser & Rachel Slater (Scotland), *Also with Sterre Kalis (NL), Erin Burns (Australia big bash); *Without Leah Dobson, Rebecca Duckworth or Lizzie Scott; [*Abbey Freeborn keeping wicket for Central Sparks] *After 10 ov Power-play, 58/0 (vs 46/1); *Just short of ‘fifty,’ Lauren Winfield-Hill went aerial, caught at ‘mid-off’ by Georgia Davis from Hannah Baker; *By mid-way (25ov) 117/1 (vs 105/3); *Next over, Hollie Armitage was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Courtney Webb from Georgia Davis; *Emma Marlow was bowled between’ off-and-middle’ by Bethan Ellis; *3 balls later, Sterre Kalis missed a fine edge going ‘leg before,’ also to Bethan Ellis; *Erin Burns partnered by Bess Heath match-winning partnership added 92 runs; *Grace Potts was on a ‘hat-trick firstly when bowling Erin Burns ‘top-of-middle;’ *Next ball Phoebe Turner was bowled, missing ‘middle-and-off-bail’ for a golden duck from Grace Potts; *5 balls later, top-scorer Bess Heath scored a match-winning ‘four;’ *Diamonds’ batting: Bess Heath 58*not out (53), Emma Marlow 55(77), Lauren Winfield-Hill 46(48), Erin Burns 34(34), Hollie Armitage 28(41); *Sparks’ bowling: Grace Potts 2/34, Bethan Ellis 2/36, Hannah Baker 1/49, Georgia Davis 1/50;
*Match result: Northern Diamonds 242/6 (44/50 overs @5.4 runs-per-over) beat Central Sparks 239/8 (50/50 overs @4.7 rpo) by four wickets
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/match-centre/104442#scorecard AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin to select a match
*Video highlights (78) courtesy of Northern Diamonds & powered by NV Play @url https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#v2140ea01-d14d-4ebc-ba26-44f5667abf59
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of Northern Diamonds (via NV Play) on YouTube<6h35m07s> @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMs_VuP8bRQ
*Updated fixtures and results @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/05/12/updated-rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-fixtures-and-results/
