Cricket

Northern Diamonds finally broke their losing streak in the Charlotte Edwards Cup with a hard-fought 13-run victory over Central Sparks at Edgbaston. The Diamonds, who had lost their first five games, defended a modest total of 137 for 7 to hand Sparks their third consecutive defeat.The Diamonds' innings was a tale of two halves. Hollie Armitage (62 off 49 balls) and Sterre Kalis (43 off 39) put on a 97-run partnership, the second-highest ever for the Diamonds in the Charlotte Edwards Cup. However, the rest of the batting order collapsed, losing six wickets for 17 runs in 25 balls.Sparks' reply was led by England star Amy Jones, who made 39 off 30 balls. However, the Diamonds bowlers kept the pressure on, with all six bowlers taking wickets. Katherine Fraser was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 3-0-12-1.The win was a much-needed boost for the Diamonds, who had struggled for form in the early stages of the tournament. It also ended Sparks' winning streak and kept their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.

In a crucial Charlotte Edwards Cup Finals Day clash, defending champions Southern Vipers outplayed Lancashire Thunder at Emirates Old Trafford, securing a dominant seven-wicket victory.Australian allrounder Charli Knott played a pivotal role, first dismantling Thunder's batting lineup with a three-wicket haul, then leading the Vipers' chase with a blistering 45 off 28 balls.Thunder's innings crumbled under the pressure of Vipers' spin attack. Linsey Smith and Knott combined for six wickets, with Smith claiming three in her opening spell. Thunder's total of 85 was their lowest in T20 regional history.Knott's opening partnership with Georgia Adams (22) set the tone for Vipers' chase. Knott's aggressive strokeplay, including nine boundaries, propelled the team to victory with 55 balls remaining.The win marked Vipers' third in six games, solidifying their position in the race for Finals Day. Thunder, on the other hand, suffered their fourth loss, leaving them with a 2-4 record.Vipers' dominance over Thunder in regional cricket continued, extending their unbeaten streak to 10 matches. The victory also earned them a bonus point, giving them the maximum five points available.

The Blaze, led by an impressive bowling performance from Australian allrounder Heather Graham, continued their dominance in the Charlotte Edwards Cup with a seven-wicket victory over Western Storm. Graham, making her debut for the East Midlands side, claimed 4 for 10, while offspinner Lucy Higham (2 for 18) and left-arm strike bowler Grace Ballinger (1 for 17) also contributed to Storm's dismissal for 99.England skipper Heather Knight top-scored for Storm with 20, but the Blaze's bowling attack proved too strong. The Blaze chased down their target with 35 balls to spare, thanks largely to Scottish internationals Kathryn Bryce (46) and Sarah Bryce. Graham capped her impressive afternoon by hitting the winning boundary.The Blaze, who lost only to Southern Vipers in last season's final, now have six wins from six in the 2024 edition and lead the points table. They remain on track for a return to finals day at Derby on 22 June.Storm skipper Sophie Luff opted to bat first but lost two wickets for 29 in the powerplay overs. Ballinger dismissed Nat Wraith, while Graham claimed the wicket of Fran Wilson. Knight made a positive start but was bowled by Gordon. Legspinner Josie Groves had Amanda-Jade Wellington leg before, leaving Storm at 58 for 4 after 10 overs.Higham bowled Alex Griffiths and had Luff caught at mid-off, while Issy Wong was run out. Graham returned to take three wickets in six deliveries, dismissing Smale, Skelton, and Anderson.Wong removed Tammy Beaumont with the last ball of the opening over of the Blaze's chase, and Teresa Graves was dismissed shortly after. However, Kathryn Bryce and Sarah Bryce put on a 67-run partnership for the third wicket. Filer eventually dismissed Kathryn Bryce, but Graham hit the winning boundary off the first ball of the 15th over to seal the victory.

South East Stars continued their dominance in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a comfortable six-wicket victory over Sunrisers at Lord's. Paige Scholfield, the South African-born allrounder, extended her impressive form with an unbeaten 50, guiding her team to victory.Sunrisers struggled to establish a solid foundation, losing wickets at regular intervals. Skipper Grace Scrivens and Alice Macleod departed early, while Jo Gardner's brief stay at the crease ended with a dismissal to Alexa Stonehouse. Mady Villiers provided some resistance with a quickfire 14, but her departure left Sunrisers reeling at 27 for 4.Flo Miller emerged as the lone bright spot for Sunrisers, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 39. However, her efforts were not enough to prevent the team from being restricted to a modest 116 for 8. Emma Jones and Stonehouse were the standout bowlers for South East Stars, claiming two wickets each.In response, South East Stars made light work of the chase. Sophia Dunkley and skipper Alice Capsey got the innings off to a brisk start, before both fell to the bowling of Jodi Grewcock. However, Scholfield took control of the chase, playing with authority and composure. She reached her half-century with the winning hit, her eighth boundary of the innings.Despite a brief scare when Emma Jones was dropped, South East Stars cruised to victory, with Scholfield and Phoebe Franklin guiding them home. The win extends South East Stars' unbeaten run in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, solidifying their position as one of the favorites for the title.

The Blaze continued their dominance in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Thunder at Emirates Old Trafford. Kirstie Gordon's exceptional bowling performance, coupled with Sarah Bryce's sharp wicketkeeping, restricted Thunder to a modest total of 111 for 9.Gordon's slow left-arm bowling proved lethal, claiming five wickets for just 12 runs. Her accuracy and variations kept the Thunder batters in check, while Bryce's lightning-fast reflexes behind the stumps resulted in four stumpings.Thunder's innings got off to a shaky start as Fi Morris and Seren Smale were dismissed cheaply. Emma Lamb provided some resistance with a 20-run knock, but Gordon's dismissal of her in the eighth over left Thunder struggling at 44 for 3.Ellie Threlkeld and Danni Collins attempted to rebuild the innings with a 43-run partnership, but their efforts were cut short by Lucy Higham's intervention. Higham's off-spin accounted for Threlkeld and Ailsa Lister, while Collins fell victim to Sarah Bryce's stumping.Kathryn Bryce's 19th over proved to be Thunder's most productive, yielding 17 runs. However, Gordon returned to the attack and wrapped up the innings by dismissing Sophie Ecclestone and Phoebe Graham.In contrast to Thunder's struggles, The Blaze openers, Tammy Beaumont and Teresa Graves, made batting look effortless. They put on a 50-run partnership before Graves departed for 29. Kathryn Bryce joined Beaumont and added a further 36 runs, setting the stage for a comfortable victory.Beaumont remained unbeaten on 34, guiding The Blaze home with 4.2 overs to spare. Sarah Bryce's dismissal in the final over did little to dampen the team's spirits as they maintained their 100% record in the tournament.

South East Stars continued their dominance in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a six-wicket victory over defending champions Southern Vipers at the Kia Oval. Leg-spinner Dani Gregory played a pivotal role, dismantling Vipers' middle order with a spell of 3 for 23.Vipers' innings got off to a shaky start as Alexa Stonehouse's accuracy kept them in check. Charli Knott departed cheaply, followed by Ella McCaughan. Georgia Adams provided some momentum with two boundaries, but her dismissal triggered a collapse. Gregory struck three quick wickets, including Georgia Elwiss, who was bowled attempting to swing across the line.Alice Monaghan and Rhianna Southby staged a late fightback with an unbroken 69-run partnership, but their efforts proved insufficient. Vipers posted 142 for 6, a total that seemed within reach for Stars.Paige Scholfield and Sophia Dunkley opened the chase cautiously, but gradually accelerated. Dunkley reached her half-century from 38 balls, while Scholfield followed suit from 33 deliveries. Despite losing Smith and Dunkley in quick succession, Stars remained in control.Phoebe Franklin sealed the victory with 11 balls to spare, securing Stars' fourth win in five games. Vipers, on the other hand, face an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stage.Gregory's exceptional spell and the solid batting performances of Dunkley and Scholfield proved decisive in Stars' triumph. Vipers will need to regroup and find their form if they want to keep their title hopes alive.

In a thrilling Charlotte Edwards Cup encounter at Wantage Road, Sunrisers emerged victorious over Northern Diamonds by four wickets, thanks to a valiant captain's knock from Grace Scrivens.Chasing a modest target of 124, Sunrisers faced a slow pitch and a disciplined Diamonds bowling attack. Despite losing six wickets along the way, Scrivens remained resolute, guiding her team to a nail-biting victory with an unbeaten 64.Diamonds skipper Hollie Armitage had earlier provided a solid foundation with a 39-run knock, but the visitors struggled to accelerate on the slow surface. Mady Villiers and Nicola Hancock shared four wickets between them, restricting Diamonds to 123 for 8.Sunrisers' chase began cautiously, with the team struggling to keep up with the required run rate. Gardner's six off Grace Hall provided a brief spark, but her dismissal triggered a collapse. Villiers, Griffiths, and Grewcock all fell in quick succession, leaving Scrivens with a daunting task.Undeterred, Scrivens took the game into the final over, needing 11 runs to win. She calmly dispatched Erin Burns for two boundaries, setting up a thrilling finish. With two runs required off the last ball, Scrivens smashed a boundary down the ground to seal the victory.Armitage was Diamonds' most successful bowler, claiming three late wickets for 16. However, it was Scrivens' unwavering determination and match-winning innings that proved decisive for Sunrisers.

The Blaze continued their dominant run in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a fourth consecutive victory with a 10-run triumph over Central Sparks at Trent Bridge. Allrounder Kathryn Bryce emerged as the star performer, showcasing her versatility with both bat and ball.Bryce's 57-run knock formed the backbone of The Blaze's 134 for 6. She forged crucial partnerships with her sister Sarah (55 runs) and South African Nadine de Klerk (40 runs). Emily Arlott's 2 for 23 was the standout bowling performance for Sparks.In response, Sparks fell short despite valiant efforts from Katie George, Eve Jones, and Courtney Webb. Bryce's medium pace proved effective, claiming 2 for 28, while skipper Kirstie Gordon chipped in with 2 for 22.The Blaze's innings began with early setbacks as Tammy Beaumont and Teresa Graves departed cheaply. However, Kathryn Bryce and Sarah steadied the ship with a 55-run stand. Bryce reached her half-century with a paddle-scoop boundary, but her innings was cut short by a leg-before decision.De Klerk's contribution ended with a catch at extra cover, while Marie Kelly's stay was brief. Ella Claridge and Josie Groves provided some late impetus, but The Blaze's total of 134 looked modest.Sparks' chase started poorly, losing three wickets in the powerplay. Jones and Webb kept their side in the hunt, but the required run rate escalated after their dismissals. Arlott's late boundaries proved futile as Bryce's bowling and a superb catch by Claridge sealed the victory for The Blaze.

Western Storm's impressive bowling performance led them to a 28-run victory over Sunrisers in a low-scoring Charlotte Edwards Cup match at the Cooper Associates Ground in Taunton.England Under-19 spinner Sophia Smale played a pivotal role, claiming three wickets in a devastating eight-ball burst and taking two catches. On-loan seamer Ellie Anderson finished with remarkable figures of 4 for 9 from 2.4 overs, while England international Lauren Filer took 3 for 19.Chasing a target of 135, Sunrisers were bowled out for 106 in 17.4 overs. Storm's skipper Sophie Luff top-scored with 41, sharing a crucial 43-run partnership with Amanda-Jade Wellington (20).Storm's innings began with a promising opening stand of 25 between Nat Wraith and Emma Corney, but Corney's dismissal for 10 gave Sunrisers a breakthrough. Fran Wilson and Wraith advanced the score to 37 for 1 at the end of the powerplay, but Sophie Munro struck twice in quick succession to reduce Storm to 44 for 3.Wellington and Luff rebuilt the innings, with Luff reaching 41 before being dismissed. Alex Griffiths and Issy Wong fell cheaply, leaving Storm in danger of falling short. However, Luff's spirited innings carried them to a respectable total of 134 for 8.Filer struck early for Storm, removing Sunrisers skipper Grace Scrivens in the first over. Alice Macleod and Jo Gardner also departed cheaply, leaving Sunrisers reeling at 22 for 3.Smale then took control, claiming three wickets in eight balls to reduce Sunrisers to 59 for 6 at the halfway point. Miller and Carr added 35 for the seventh wicket, but Anderson and Filer wrapped up the tail to secure Storm's first win in five games.