Northern Diamonds v Southern Vipers at Leeds (Headingley) on 17 September 2022 (10h30)
Triple-billed by commentators as a ‘North-South Derby,’ ‘top-of-table’ clash and ‘dress-rehearsal’ for the Lord’s final. Neither team had lost a match and there was a reasonable chance that the same teams could play each other in the final. A minute’s silence was held, followed by the national anthem; and an ECB statement was read out to mourn the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II. England hopeful Bess Heath (pictured) played a ’superb innings’ for her ‘fifty,’ supporting top-scorer Lauren Winfield-Hill, who hit a ‘ton’ to became the tournament’s best batter, scoring more than 400 runs from six matches. Commentators Kevan ‘Kev’ James (BBC Radio Solent) with James Carr (Diamonds’ Regional Director) and Jemma Green (former Hants player.) Broadcast by NV-Play, ESPN-cric-info and podcasts via social media. Weather at Headingley was described as a cloudy ‘damp’ September’s day, albeit with sunny spells.
Vipers Innings
Skipper Georgia Adams. *Chloe Hill keeper for Carla Rudd. Including Maia Bouchier (released from England duties) but excluding Charlie Dean, Danni Wyatt, Lauren Bell and Freya Kemp (retained by England.) *Debutante Finty Trussler. *Player’s availability had been an on-going problem for Vipers, because half their team can be called-up at any moment to play for England. *Vipers lost Ella McCaughan straight away, her leg-stump skittled from an ‘inside edge,’ for a first-ball duck from Lizzie Scott (Scott making her second appearance.) *Scott was paired with Linsey Smith, then Jessica Woolston. *Maia Bouchier 9(9) went cheaply, ‘leg before’ to Linsey Smith (24/2), said to ‘unsettle’ batters by ‘getting through her overs quickly.’ *After 10 overs power play, Vipers were 49/2. *Drinks were taken after 16 overs, with Vipers on 77/2. *Emma Marlow paired with Katie Levick ended a 72-run third-wicket partnership between Vipers’ Georgias when Georgia Adams 33(56) was stumped by keeper Winfield-Hill, coming ‘down the track’ to Katie Levick’s spin: 96/3. *By mid-way (25 overs) Vipers were 104/3. *Paired with Linsey Smith and Leigh Kasperek, Katie Levick sent Paige Scholfield’s 9(21) bales flying from an inside edge to middle & leg. *Another bowling change paired Lizzie Scott with Emma Marlow who clean-bowled Georgia Elwiss 61(95) who’d ‘played tightly,’ partnered by Emily Windsor. *Skipper Hollie Armitage brought herself on to bowl during the 38th over, dismissing Chloe Hill 8(15) third ball, caught by Emma Marlow. *Two Vipers wickets fell with consecutive balls when Tara Norris 9(11) was ‘run-out’ by Lizzie Scott, from Emma Marlow; and Alice Monaghan was caught behind by keeper Winfield-Hill for a golden duck, from Hollie Armitage. *Skipper Armitage bagged her third wicket during her ‘death over’ when Charlotte Taylor 11(27) was caught by Bess Heath. Finally, Emily Windsor struck ’four’ from the last ball, closing on 49*(61) ‘not-out.’
Diamonds Innings
Skipper Hollie Armitage. *Debutante Jessica Woolston, with returner Leah Dobson. *Jenny Gunn rested. *Diamonds have played a consistent team, apart from Natalie Sciver or Katherine Brunt. *Separately Lizzie Scott was playing again for Beth Langston (injured.) *During the power play, seam bowler Tara Norris (USA International) was paired with Charlotte Taylor. Opener Linsey Smith 2(14) was quickly caught by Charlotte Taylor from Tara Norris (1/37.) *At the power play, Diamonds were 58/1 after ten overs (vs 49/2) *Paige Scholfield paired with skipper Adams made little impact until the eleventh over, when Hollie Armitage 24(21) snicked a catch to keeper Chloe Hill, from Georgia Adams’ spin. *Two more wickets fell during debutante Finty Trussler’s second over. *Firstly, Dutch International Sterre Kalis 8(15) was caught by Paige Scholfield, from Finty Trussler. *Three balls later Leigh Dobson went ‘leg before’ to Finty Trussler (2/56) for a third-ball duck. *Having ’started like a train,’ in-form batter Lauren Winfield-Hill chalked-up her first ‘fifty’ during the twentieth over. *Diamonds’ Carr applauded Bess Heath who batted with maturity beyond her years and ‘understood her role:’ that was to keep Winfield-Hill on strike. *At mid-way, Diamonds were 132/4 (vs 104/3.) *Winfield-Hill chalked-up her ‘ton’ from 103 balls. *Next over, Diamonds reached the 200-mark. *Bess Heath 54(68) played a ’superb innings.’ *Together, Heath and Winfield-Hill bagged 129 runs for Diamonds’ fifth wicket, until Heath 54(68) was caught by Alice Monaghan from Georgia Adams (2/37.) *After forty overs, Paige Scholfield paired with Tara Norris, bagged another wicket for Vipers as Leigh Kasperek (NZ) was ‘run-out’ not expecting Alice Monaghan’s direct hit when scampering for a second run. *Next ball, commentators said the result was ‘never in doubt’ as Lauren Winfield-Hill launched the winning ’six,’ remaining undefeated on 125*not out .
Summary
Diamonds, said to be ‘at full strength’ had not suffered depletion of their key players to the England squad, to the same extent as Vipers. Vipers posted a defendable score, but Diamonds made a strong reply. Tournament’s top batter Lauren Winfield-Hill posted 125,* partnered by England hopeful Bess Heath’s 54; adding 129 runs for Diamonds fifth wicket. Defeated Vipers lose their top-of-table place to Diamonds, who win the free ticket to the final. Receiving news that Stars won their last group match to finish second, Vipers finished third. Second-placed Stars to host third-placed Vipers in the Play-off. Diamonds meanwhile, were said by their Regional Director James Carr to be ‘bridesmaid-in-waiting,’ having lost back-to-back finals for the last two years. Reaching this year’s final, Carr looked forward optimistically to Diamonds’ celebrating their inaugural trophy win.
Result: Northern Diamonds Women 231/6 (target 227) beat Women beat Vipers Women 226/9 by 4 wickets
Vipers batting 226/9 (@4.52 runs-per-over from 50 overs); Georgia Elwiss 61(95), Emily Windsor 49*(61), Georgia Adams 33(56), Charlotte Taylor 11(27); Diamonds bowling: Hollie Armitage 3/37, Katie Levick 2/35, Linsey Smith 1/27, Emma Marlow 1/46, Lizzie Scott 1/46; Fow 1-5, 2-24, 3-96, 4-121, 5-143, 6-159, 7-182, 8-182, 9-216. Diamonds batting: 231/6 (@5.37 runs-per-over from 43 overs, target 227 from 50 overs); Lauren Winfield-Hill 125(125), Bess Heath 54(68), Hollie Armitage 24(21); Vipers bowling: Georgia Adams 2/37, Finty Trussler 2/56, Tara Norris 1/37; Fow 1-18 ,2-62, 3-79, 4-79, 5-208, 6-225.
Scorecard & statistics at URL https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2022-1297659/northern-diamonds-vs-southern-vipers-1297952/full-scorecard & https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/34693
Match highlights, courtesy of Yorkshire Cricket TV via NV-Play on YouTube at URL: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#md609ef2f-f469-4cb7-b797-cd2c6e4a81ca
Match free-to-air (from 06m20 from 06h03m40s) via YouTube at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coeti0JGkzs
