As England were beating Ireland in the first of their two T20s in Dublin, two exciting semis were taking place at Headingley and Beckenham.
England first:
Scores:
England 176
Ireland 109 (18.3 overs) England won by 67 runs
This was a different XI from the one that failed to make a clean-sweep of the three ODIs. It helped to underline the broad strength of the game in England, but presents the selectors with ongoing problems.
Even with these five matches in Ireland and the coming T20 World Cup in the UAE, it’s hardly possible for them to make clear judgements about the right players to choose.
New on the T20 scene today were Bryony Smith who opened and top-scored with 58; then Seren Smale, Georgia Adams, Charis Pavely, Issy Wong and Mahika Gaur; all added to the five (Cross, captain again, Beaumont, Armitage, Scholfield and Villiers, who had appeared in Belfast. It was significant that Smale was nominated keeper; at last we know who else Jon Lewis has in mind beyond Amy Jones and Bess Heath. She scored 25 batting No 3, took a catch and a stumping, which all helped her cause.
Georgia Adams looked understandably nervous, having to wait till the age of 30 to receive her first cap. But she mustered 16 off 16, so can feel satisfied.
Smith played the innings all her admirers recognise, smashing twelve 4s off 30 balls. Detractors of Tammy Beaumont as a T20 operative can feel smug. She stood at the other end as Smith smote Orla Rendergast for 20 in an over. But when she was bowled by Jane Maguire at 112-2, she had scored 27 in 23; not too shabby.
Of the remaining batters only Mady Villiers did herself full justice, striking 35 off 15 balls with no fewer then seven 4s.
Once more Ireland were heavily dependent on Prendergast (53/34). After her only Ava Canning (25/25) reached double figures.
In short-format matches bowling figures can be very misleading. Much depends on who bowls to whom and when. How many fielders allowed outside the ring when X is turning her arm? But it was Wong who produced the telling analysis, 4-0-14-2, with much the tightest economy (3.50). It’s been a long wait for her between her last wicket, in 2022, and today’s first. She bowled skipper Gaby Lewis for 2, to help put the skids under the Irish innings.
The Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy Semi-finals
First: Northern Diamonds 232-8; Sunrisers 234-3 (Leeds)
This was a triumphant result for Sunrisers, who had been the Cinderellas right through the franchise years. The last two seasons have seen them improve their bowling, their batting and above all their confidence.
As in the other match, important players were engaged elsewhere. In recent rounds players who had taken a back seat have had the chance to prove their worth. Not so long ago 233 would have seemed a daunting target for the visitors. Not now.
Diamonds were indebted to Emma Marlow (63) and Sterre Kalis (49) for scoring the bulk of their total, but Phoebe Turner’s hard-hitting 32 down the order ensured a stern chase for Sunrisers.
The difference in their innings was the consistency of the top order, Grace Scrivens (56), Jo Gardner (19), Cordelia Griffith (68) and Jodi Grewcock (63*) They really did their job, leaving Alice McLeod to add only eight to close the game with more than six overs to spare.
This will be their first final of any sort.
The other game: Southern Vipers 220-9; South-East Stars 221-7 (Beckenham)
This was a much tenser battle. Vipers looked ready to march into yet another final until Kalea Moore walked out to join Alice Davidson-Richards. Stars’ position was dire: three wickets in hand
and 90 needed.
Georgia Elwiss and Freya Davies, two old hands, had reduced the hosts to 55-4; Aylish Cranstone gave hope with 27, but when she was caught and bowled by Rebecca Tyson, Stars still needed an unlikely 127. Priyanaz Chatterji helped take the score to 131-7.
Then Kalea Moore walked out to join Alice Davidson-Richards. ADR has come into fine form recently, but she was confident enough of Moore’s ability not to farm the bowling. The pair ran handy singles and put away the occasional four.
Then Moore seemed to decide she must take the risks. She was lucky with one or two swipes, but the stand prospered.
Now we could see the challenges this year’s RHFT presents. How strong were sides deprived of their leading players? (Just to offer one list of absentees: Stars were missing Bryony Smith, Alice Capsey, Tash Farrant, Paige Scholfield, Ryana Macdonald Gay and Sophia Dunkley).
As the Stars’ pair reached 50 together, the bowling came to look more threadbare. The eighth wicket added 90 runs, of which Moore added 52* off 52, her most important innings yet; ADR’s contribution was an invaluable 90* off 109.
A word of praise for Phoebe Franklin. Her fielding has been of the highest quality this summer. She took yet another outstanding catch low down at mid-wicket to dismiss Naomi Dattani, then ran out Freya Davies towards the end.
Star’s fielding in general has been top-quality. Two catches on the edge by ADR summed up the reasons why they find themselves in their first RHFT final, just like Sunrisers.
Congratulations to both sides and their coaches.
The final is at Uptonsteel County Ground, Grace Road, Leicester on 21 September
