At Worcester (New Road) Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy on July 16
Northern Diamonds stay second-placed to Vipers: – each team bagging three wins from their first three rounds of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Peppering Sparks with ‘dot’ balls, Diamonds chased down their target with relative ease. Diamonds key third wicket partnership between Dutch International Sterre Kalis (pictured) with skipper Hollie Armitage added 108 runs in eighteen overs. That accelerated Diamonds toward a comfortable win. Match was live streamed by Central Sparks on ‘youtube,’ with commentary from Clare Jenkins with Dr Samara Afzal (one of the first Asian women to play for Warwickshire) and Dr Raf Nicholson (CRICKETher Vodcast.) Also via ESPN-cric-info social media. Weather was a glorious sunny day with blue sky with wispy white clouds seen low on the horizon.
Sparks innings
*Sparks were without Amy Jones and Issy Wong, on England duty. *Lauren Winfield-Hill kept wicket for Diamonds in place of Bess Heath. *Nearly half (46%) of power play balls delivered by Diamonds (Emma Marlow and Rachel Slater) were ‘dot’ balls. After ten overs Sparks were 29/1, losing debutante opener Stephanie Butler 12(31) to a catch by NZ Leigh Kasperek, from Rachel Slater’s seam. *Overs 11-20 followed a similar pattern (37%) with Beth Langston’s seam, paired with Leigh Kasperek and Linsey Smith (spin.) *After 100 balls (16.4 overs) Sparks were 54/1; losing Thea Brookes (14 runs from 31 balls) ’leg before’ to Linsey Smith before mid-way (82/2.) *Only two ‘fours’ were scored by Sparks during the first-half of the match, with no ‘sixes’.
*Sparks skipper Eve Jones played a skipper’s innings, adding thirty-two with Ami Campbell for the third wicket. Also adding 75 with Abi Freeborn for the fourth wicket. *When stumped by keeper Lauren Winfield-Hill, Eve Jones 91 (128) received generous congratulations from Hollie Armitage on her ‘captain’s knock:’ *Abi Freeborn 48*(62) anchored the innings thereafter, scoring five-out-of-ten ‘fours’ hit during the second-half. Separately, Sparks lost Emily Arlott (1) who was ‘run out;’ also Ria Fackrell who mis-hit a full-toss from Emma Marlow: Sterre Kalis making a successful running-catch inside the fielding circle.
Diamonds innings
*Abi Freeborn kept wicket for Sparks in place of Amy Jones. *First wicket partnership saw Diamonds through their power play (55/0 vs 29/1) adding 74 runs. *Linsey Smith (25) was first to go, coming down the wicket to Hannah Baker’s spin, and was stumped by Sparks keeper Abi Freeborn. *Reflectively, commentators noted that Diamonds’ openers had ‘been quicker’ (running) between the wickets. *After 100 balls (16.4 overs) Sparks were almost thirty runs ahead (82/1 vs 54/1.) *Next over, Lauren Winfield-Hill 50 (55) was caught behind by Ami Campbell, three balls after chalking-up her ‘fifty.’ Sterre Kalis arrived at the crease to partner Hollie Armitage.
*At mid-way (25 overs) Diamonds had a forty-runs advantage: 122/2 (vs 82/2); commentators adding that Sparks ‘Desperately needed a wicket.’ *After 36 overs, with the end in sight, Sterre Kalis (46 from 57) was caught one-handed by Hannah Baker fielding at ‘long-off;’ Kalis having added 108 runs with skipper Hollie Armitage. *Commentators enthused about Bess Heath, who was described as: ‘One of the most promising batters in test cricket.’ *The legendary commentators’s curse struck when Heath’s middle stump was skittled by Georgia Davis for a second-ball duck. *At that point Diamonds needed just 23 runs from 13.3 overs; with six wickets in hand. Skipper Armitage made sixty not out 60*(63.) *Beth Langston ran the winning ‘two.’
Summary
*After a slow start, peppered by Diamonds’ ‘dot’ balls, skipper Eve Jones made top score of the day (91) building a solid 75-runs partnership with Abi Freeborn (48*.) *Diamonds top four batters all made respectable scores, compared to Sparks two. *Overall, Sparks hit 12 ‘fours’ but no ‘sixes.’ *Anchored by opener Lauren Winfield-Hill (50), Diamonds made a confident reply, bagging a forty-run advantage by the mid-way point. Thereafter, Sterre Kalis (46) and Hollie Armitage (60*) made light work of their run chase, chalking up 108 runs over 18 overs. *Diamonds have won three matches from three and stay second-placed; whereas Sparks have lost two from three.
Result: Northern Diamonds Women 215/5 (50 overs, target 215) beat Central Sparks Women 214/6 (50 overs) by 5 wickets with 64 balls remaining
Sparks batting: 214/6 (50 overs, 4.28 runs-per-over) Eve Jones 91(128), Abi Freeborn 48*(62) Ami Campbell 16(35), Thea Brookes 14(31), Stephanie Butler 12(31), Ria Fackrell 10(10); Diamonds bowling: Emma Marlow 2/37, Rachel Slater 1/16, Leigh Kasperek 1/43, Linsey Smith 1/45; Fow 1-29, 2-81, 3-113, 4-188, 5-190, 6-208.
Diamonds batting: 215/5 (39.2/50 overs, 5.46 runs-per-over): Hollie Armitage 60*(63), Lauren Winfield-Hill 50(55), Sterre Kalis 46(57), Linsey Smith 25(48); Sparks bowling: Grace Potts 2/43, Hannah Baker 2/ 59, Georgia Davis 1/41; Fow 1-74, 2-83, 3-191, 4-192, 5-205;
Scorecard and statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2022-1297659/central-sparks-vs-northern-diamonds-1297935/full-scorecard
Match highlights free-to-view from Central Sparks via youtube and live stream 5h14m41s from 12:45 at URL:https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#mbe76350a-34d6-47d3-b18a-eb6650fd2753
