Cricket

South East Stars secured a home semi-final in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy with a dominant 156-run victory over Northern Diamonds at Durham.New-ball seamer Alexa Stonehouse starred for the Stars, claiming a career-best 4 for 27 as the Diamonds were bowled out for a paltry 119 in 37 overs. Alice Davidson-Richards anchored the Stars' innings with a season-best 79, while Emma Jones contributed a career-best 47.The Diamonds, who had already secured top spot in the group stage, failed to match the intensity of the Stars. Rachel Slater and Abi Glen dismissed the Stars' openers, but Davidson-Richards and Phoebe Franklin steadied the ship.Franklin's 32 included a six over long-off, while Davidson-Richards reached her fifty off 56 balls. A 50-stand between Davidson-Richards and Aylish Cranstone gave the Stars a platform, and they capitalized on sloppy fielding and loose bowling from the Diamonds.Davidson-Richards pulled Beth Langston for six but was caught the next ball. Jones fell just short of a maiden senior fifty, caught by Erin Burns.The Diamonds' chase got off to a disastrous start as Tilly Corteen-Coleman dismissed Lauren Winfield-Hill. Stonehouse then took three wickets in quick succession, including opener Emma Marlow and Langston. Franklin bowled Sterre Kalis, leaving the Diamonds reeling at 30 for 5.Turner resisted with a career-best 49, but Stonehouse returned to complete her 10-over allocation. Spinners Dani Gregory and Kalea Moore (3 for 10) wrapped up the Stars' victory.The Stars will now host a semi-final, while the Diamonds will reflect on a disappointing end to their campaign.

Northern Diamonds emerged victorious in a thrilling last-ball encounter against Southern Vipers, securing a home semi-final berth in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Chasing a formidable target of 241 at Headingley, Diamonds overcame adversity to triumph by a single run.The Vipers innings was anchored by Georgia Adams' measured 82-ball 57, supported by contributions from Ella McCaughan (30), Georgia Elwiss (31), Emily Windsor (33), and Naomi Dattani (30). Despite losing three wickets for 30 runs, the Vipers managed to post a competitive total.Diamonds' chase got off to a shaky start with the early dismissal of Lauren Winfield-Hill. However, Emma Marlow (52) and Rebecca Duckworth (51) steadied the innings with a 91-run partnership. After both batters departed, Erin Burns (31) kept the scoreboard ticking.As the match reached its climax, Diamonds found themselves on the ropes at 216 for 9. Debutant Rebecca Tyson impressed with three wickets, but Katie Levick and Rachel Slater remained at the crease. With nine runs required off the final over, Slater hit the winning two to long-on, securing a dramatic victory.Levick's 13 runs and three wickets played a crucial role in Diamonds' triumph, while Adams' all-round performance (57 runs, 4 wickets) highlighted her impact for the Vipers.

Northern Diamonds' Sterre Kalis and Phoebe Turner starred in a dominant performance against Lancashire Thunder, securing an 86-run victory and propelling their team to the top of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy standings.Kalis notched her maiden List A century, scoring a remarkable 100 runs off 94 deliveries. Her innings, coupled with a 58-run knock from Beth Langston, propelled the Diamonds to a formidable total of 290 for 6.Lancashire Thunder's chase got off to a promising start, with Alice Clarke and Emma Lamb putting on 38 runs in the opening five overs. However, Rachel Slater's double strike, dismissing both batters, halted their momentum.Eve Jones and Seren Smale steadied the Thunder's innings, but their 100-run partnership was broken by Turner, who bowled Smale for 48. Langston then struck twice in a double-wicket maiden, removing Jones and Ellie Threlkeld.Turner continued her impressive spell, claiming the remaining Thunder wickets to finish with a remarkable six for 20. Her performance sealed a five-point victory for the Diamonds, who now sit atop the table with 37 points.Earlier, Lauren Winfield-Hill and Emma Marlow had laid the foundation for the Diamonds' innings with a 95-run opening stand. However, the Thunder fought back, taking two wickets in quick succession.Kalis and Langston then combined for a crucial 111-run partnership, reviving the Diamonds' innings. Kalis reached her century before being dismissed, while Langston contributed a valuable 58.The Diamonds' total proved too much for the Thunder, who were bowled out for 204 despite Jones' 57 runs.

Sunrisers' Mady Villiers celebrated her 26th birthday with a career-best bowling performance, leading her team to a three-wicket victory over Northern Diamonds at Chelmsford. Villiers' 4 for 36 and Sophie Munro's 3 for 25 restricted Diamonds to 188 for 9, despite Sterre Kalis' 36 and Katherine Fraser's 34.In reply, Grace Scrivens' 56 anchored the chase, sharing half-century partnerships with Cordelia Griffith and Jody Grewcock (40). Despite a late wobble, Sunrisers reached their target with 12 overs to spare, moving third in the standings.Diamonds, missing Lauren Winfield-Hill and Bess Heath, opted to bat first on a used pitch. Fraser provided early momentum with four boundaries, but Eva Gray dismissed her on the final ball of the powerplay. Villiers then took center stage, dismissing Hollie Armitage, Emma Marlow, and Rebecca Duckworth to leave Diamonds reeling at 97 for 4.Kalis and Beth Langston counter-attacked with a 50-run stand, but Villiers and Munro struck again to remove both batters. A stubborn ninth-wicket partnership between Maddie Ward and Katie Levick helped Diamonds reach a par score of 188.In the chase, Sunrisers lost early wickets, but Griffith and Scrivens steadied the innings with a 53-run stand. Scrivens reached her half-century with a towering six, but was dismissed shortly after. Grewcock was run out in a mix-up, and Villiers was dropped by Kalis.Fraser caused late panic with the wickets of Miller and Gray, but Lissy Macleod (23 not out) guided Sunrisers home. Diamonds' dropped catches proved costly, as they missed out on a chance to consolidate their position in the top two.

Bess Heath, England's rising star wicketkeeper-batter, has inked a three-year deal with Durham, solidifying her position as a cornerstone of the Tier 1 outfit. The move marks a significant shift in the women's county cricket landscape, as Durham prepares to replace the Northern Diamonds in the new competition from 2025 onwards.Heath, 22, has amassed over 3000 runs across all formats since her professional debut four years ago. Her impressive performances earned her a place in the England squad, where she has made five appearances, including against Sri Lanka last year.Throughout her burgeoning career, Heath has represented various teams, including Brisbane Heat, Northern Superchargers, Melbourne Stars, and Yorkshire. With Northern Diamonds, she reached the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final in her debut season in 2020 and lifted the trophy two years later. Her exceptional 286 runs in the same competition last summer earned her a nomination for the PCA Women's Young Player of the Year award.Heath's decision to join Durham comes amidst a period of transition for the Diamonds squad, following the relocation of the new club's base from Headingley to Chester-le-Street. Her teammate and fellow wicketkeeper, Lauren Winfield-Hill, is expected to remain with her native Yorkshire, despite their Tier 2 status next summer.Upon joining Durham, Heath expressed her excitement: "I am so excited to be joining Durham from next season and get going in the North East. The opportunity to join Durham is something I am very much looking forward to and hopefully I can play my part in creating new history for Durham."Marcus North, Director of Cricket, hailed Heath's signing: "Bess is one of the most exciting young talents in England, and we are thrilled to have recruited her to Durham on a long-term contract.""Despite being only 22, she already has a tremendous amount of experience in the domestic game and we look forward to seeing her continue to thrive at Durham as she looks to add more England caps."Meanwhile, David Ripley has been appointed as the Head Coach of Northamptonshire's Women for their inaugural Tier 2 season next year. Ripley, who guided Northamptonshire's men to two T20 Blast titles in 2013 and 2016, also achieved two promotions to the County Championship Division One.Ripley will officially take up his new role in February 2025, ahead of a maiden Tier 2 season that will also feature Derbyshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire, Middlesex, Sussex, Worcestershire, and Yorkshire."I'm delighted to be joining the Women's Steelbacks as Head Coach, it's exciting times ahead as the new format is rolled out," Ripley said. "As well as a competitive senior team I hope to help develop our younger girls into future professional players, in partnership with our pathway coaches."

Lauren Winfield-Hill, the England batter, is poised to sign a long-term contract with Yorkshire but is open to exploring loan opportunities in 2025 to maintain her involvement in Tier 1 domestic cricket.With the restructuring of women's domestic cricket in England and Wales, Yorkshire was not among the eight teams granted Tier 1 status and funding by the ECB. However, they have been assured of promotion to the top tier in 2026.This has presented a dilemma for several Northern Diamonds players, including Winfield-Hill, who must decide between relocating to a Tier 1 county or remaining in Leeds for another season."My intention is to stick around and commit to Yorkshire," Winfield-Hill stated. "I haven't officially signed a contract or anything, but that's what I'm looking to do. What that looks like with loans or opportunities to play Tier 1 cricket is something that we'll explore, but if that doesn't happen, it doesn't happen."Winfield-Hill's loyalty to Yorkshire played a significant role in her decision to stay. "I've always been really keen to finish where I started and [Yorkshire] is a place that's really close to my heart. It's where my friends and family get to come and watch me… those sorts of things are massively important to me."However, she is considering a loan deal in 2025 to ensure she continues to play at the highest level. "We're just working through it all now," she said. "There's lots of things that are quite unknown with what Tier 2 and Tier 1 looks like, what the crossover is and all the rest of it.""I don't really want a year of not playing top-flight cricket domestically in England but what that looks like, I'm unsure of now. That's the truth. We're trying to get the best of both worlds in terms of being around for Yorkshire stuff, developing that, and making sure that in 18 months or two years' time, we're ready to hit the ground running and compete in Tier 1."Meanwhile, the Blaze have signed Ireland allrounder Orla Prendergast for the remainder of the season after Nadine de Klerk was ruled out through injury.

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.

Northern Diamonds emerged victorious in a thrilling Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy match against Western Storm, securing a six-wicket triumph via the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method.Chasing a revised target of 199 in a rain-affected encounter, Diamonds skipper Hollie Armitage led the charge with an unbeaten century. Her 101-run knock, studded with nine fours and a six, proved pivotal in guiding her team to victory.Armitage received crucial support from Sterre Kalis (34) and Erin Burns (21*), who contributed valuable runs in the middle order. The Diamonds' chase was aided by two dropped catches, with Armitage being reprieved on 23 and 53.Earlier, Western Storm had posted a competitive 200-5 after losing the toss. Fran Wilson anchored the innings with a well-crafted 61, while Emma Corney (40) and Nat Wraith (34) made significant contributions. Amanda-Jade Wellington provided a late flourish with a quickfire 27.Abi Glen was the standout bowler for Diamonds, claiming 2 for 24 in her six-over spell.The match was characterized by rain interruptions, which forced a reduction in overs and set the tone for a tense and unpredictable contest.Armitage's captain's knock and the Diamonds' resilience in the face of adversity proved decisive in securing the victory. The result sees them close the gap on leaders Southern Vipers in the standings.

Northern Diamonds emerged victorious in a thrilling Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy encounter against Central Sparks, securing a four-wicket triumph at North Marine Road. The Diamonds' triumph was orchestrated by the brilliance of Katie Levick and Bess Heath.Levick's exceptional bowling performance saw her claim four crucial wickets for just 46 runs, while Heath's unbeaten 58 runs played a pivotal role in guiding her team to victory.Central Sparks, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, posted a competitive total of 239 for 8. Davina Perrin and Katie George both showcased their batting prowess, scoring half-centuries. However, Diamonds' bowlers, led by Levick, consistently struck back, preventing Sparks from establishing a dominant position.Northern Diamonds' chase began steadily, with opener Lauren Winfield-Hill setting the tone with an aggressive approach in the powerplay. Emma Marlow's solid contribution of 55 runs provided further stability, while Heath and Erin Burns combined effectively to steer the Diamonds towards their target.Despite losing Winfield-Hill for 46, Diamonds maintained their composure. Skipper Hollie Armitage and Marlow rotated the strike efficiently, keeping the scoreboard ticking. Armitage's departure for 28 was followed by a brief setback as Sparks claimed two quick wickets.However, Heath and Burns displayed their experience and skill, rebuilding the innings and guiding the Diamonds to victory with six overs to spare. Heath's boundary-hitting ability and Burns's reverse sweep for four proved crucial in the final stages.