Northern Diamonds vs South East Stars at Chester-le-Street Co Durham (Seat Unique Riverside) on 7 September 2024
Players knew they were pre-qualified to play in the up-coming semi-finals. By no means a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the final, the match turned out to be one-sided, played in ’spin-friendly’ conditions with a ‘green-looking’ pitch and ball-slowing outfield following recent rain. Batting first, Kira Chathli’s Stars comfortably exceeded the ground’s average score (180) by a wide-margin. Commentators’ expectations raised for ‘around 270’ emerged, soon after Alice Davidson-Richards made top-score with a run-a-ball 79 and Diamonds bowlers were without ‘a single maiden.’ By comparison, Diamonds lost early wickets and carried four wickets’ disadvantage between their power-play and mid-way. Stars’ pick-of-the-bowlers, were seamer Alexa Stonehouse – (pictured) who took a career-best 4-fer (taking four wickets); also with spinner Kalea Moore who took her second 3-fer this season. Beyond mid-way, Diamonds tail-enders fought a nightmare ‘rear-guard’ consolation to chalk-up three figures.
Commentators added that Diamonds were ‘going into their semi-final to host Sunrisers (at Headlingley) ‘on the back of a defeat.’ As winners and group-stage runners-up, Stars will host the second semi-final at Beckenham, at home to Vipers. Both matches played on 14 September. Commentators were Jonathan Doidge (referred to endearingly as ‘Doidgey’ for BBC radio Leeds, for Yorkshire CCC), with Paul Shaw (former England Women’s head coach & exThunder Coach.) Weather: initially wet, described by commentators as ‘mizzle,’ causing a delayed start because of poor visibility. Thereafter: grey cloud cover, light wind; cool 12C.
*Stars’ innings skipper Kira Chathli with Alice Davidson-Richards (England & England ‘A’); Tilly Corteen-Coleman & Alexa Stonehouse (u19’s), Chloe Hill (loan); without Sophia Dunkley or Alice Capsey (both England); Also without Bryony Smith, Paige Scholfield & Ryana MacDonald-Gay (England ‘A’) [Lauren Winfield-Hill keeping wicket for Diamonds]; *Alexa Stonehouse (gaffed as Chloe Hill, but corrected) was caught looking to go ‘over-the-top,’ by Phoebe Turner, from Rachel Slater; *After 10 overs Power-play 39/1); *Chloe Hill was caught at ‘short-mid-wicket’ by Erin Burns, from Abi Glen; *Phoebe Franklin who hit one ‘six’ played-on ‘to ‘leg-stump’ from an inside-edge,’ bowled by Phoebe Turner ‘with good line-and-length’; *Attempting to sweep over ‘mid-on’ Kira Chathli went ‘leg-before’ to Phoebe Turner; *Drinks taken after 23.3 overs on 123/4; *Stars on 128/4 by mid-way (25 overs); *Backed by commentators curses to ‘take wickets quickly,’ to bring Diamonds ‘back into the game:’ Aylish Cranstone was caught-and-bowled by Erin Burns;’ *‘Playing superbly,’ Alice Davidson-Richards was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Katherine Fraser, from Beth Langston; *Emma Jones posted her career-best 47 until caught-and-bowled by Erin Burns; *Priyanaz ‘Priya’ Chatterji went ‘leg-before’ to Beth Langston from a ‘full and straight’ ball; *Stars’ batting: Alice Davidson-Richards 79(79), Emma Jones 47(52), Phoebe Franklin 32(41), Aylish Cranstone 28(33), Chloe Hill 25(33), Kira Chathli 14(19), Kalea Moore 11*not out(20), Alexa Stonehouse 10(21); *Diamonds’ bowling: Beth Langston 2/44, Erin Burns 2/57, Phoebe Turner 2/64, Abi Glen 1/22, Rachel Slater 1/26;
*Diamonds’ innings *skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill & international players Sterre Kalis (NL) & Erin Burns (Australia Big Bash)*Also Katherine Fraser & Rachel Slater (Scotland) and substitute fielder Sophia Turner; *Without Bess Heath (England);or Hollie Armitage (England ‘A’); [*Kira Chathli keeping wicket for Stars]; *Lauren Winfield-Hill was caught by Phoebe Franklin from the first ball of Tilly Corteen-Coleman’s 2nd over; *Next over Rebecca Duckworth went ‘leg-before’ to Alexa Stonehouse; *Sterre Kalis was bowled by Phoebe Franklin; *Emma Marlow was caught by Emma Jones from Alexa Stonehouse; *Two balls later Beth Langston went ‘leg-before’ to Alexa Stonehouse, for a second-ball duck; *After 10 overs Power-play 34/5 (vs39/1); *Erin Burns was caught behind by keeper by Kira Chathli, from Alexa Stonehouse; *Katherine Fraser was caught by Kira Chathli, from Kalea Moore; *Two balls later Abi Glen went for a second-ball duck; *Mid-way (25 overs) on 82/8 (vs128/4); *Katie Levick was caught behind by keeper Kira Chathli, from fellow leg-spinner Dani Gregory; *Finally, Rachel Slater mis-timed a ‘front-foot flick,’ caught at ‘square’ by Chloe Hill from Kalea Moore; *Top-scorer Phoebe Turner remained undefeated, one run short of ‘fifty;’ *Diamonds’ batting: Phoebe Turner 49*not out(78), Katie Levick 19(45), Erin Burns 15(18), Emma Marlow 13(21); *Stars’ bowling: Alexa Stonehouse 4/27, Kalea Moore 3/10, Dani Gregory 1/14, Tilly Corteen-Coleman 1/15, Phoebe Franklin 1/37 ;
*Match result: South East Stars 275/8 (@5.4 runs-per-over from 50/50 overs) beat Northern Diamonds 119/10 (@3.2 r-p-o from 36.1/50 overs) by 156 runs
*Scorecard and video highlights when available courtesy of ECB (via NV Play) @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/match-centre/104469#scorecard
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of Durham Cricket for Northern Diamonds (NV Play) via YouTube <07h33m49s> @url. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSlUd4IvttI
*Updated fixtures and results @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/08/23/updated-rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-fixtures-and-results-2/
