Beth Langston's Six-Wicket Haul Powers Northern Diamonds to Victory

Northern Diamonds' Beth Langston made a triumphant return from injury, claiming a stunning six-wicket haul to lead her team to a thrilling four-wicket victory over Sunrisers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

Langston, who had been sidelined since July 2022 due to a ruptured ACL, showcased her exceptional pace and accuracy, bowling six overs and four overs from the Pavilion End to dismantle the Sunrisers' batting lineup. Her wickets included opener Jo Gardner, Jodi Grewcock, Mady Villiers, Flo Miller, Amara Carr, Eva Gray, and Amu Surenkumar.

Sunrisers were bowled out for a mere 109 runs in 31 overs, with only Gardner managing to score over 20. Northern Diamonds' bowlers, including Lizzie Scott, Phoebe Turner, and Erin Burns, shared the remaining wickets.

In response, Northern Diamonds faced a shaky start, losing four wickets for 32 runs. However, Burns, who finished unbeaten on 35, and Hollie Armitage (33) steadied the innings with a 43-run partnership. Despite losing Langston for eight, Burns guided her team to victory with 25.2 overs to spare.

Sunrisers' Kate Coppack impressed with three wickets, but it was Langston's performance that stole the show. Her six-wicket haul is the best by any bowler in regional cricket this summer.

Northern Diamonds' victory propelled them to second place in the table, all but securing a semi-final berth with five games remaining. Sunrisers remain in the top four despite their third loss in nine matches.

Langston's return is a major boost for Northern Diamonds and England, who will be looking to defend their World Cup title in India later this year. Her performance is a testament to her resilience and determination, and it bodes well for the future of English women's cricket.

Tags: #BethLangston, #NorthernDiamonds, #Sunrisers, #RachaelHeyhoeFlintTrophy, #Women'sCricket