Cricket

Northern Diamonds emerged victorious in a thrilling Roses T20 clash against Lancashire Thunder, securing a five-wicket triumph at Durham's Seat Unique Riverside. The Diamonds' bowlers orchestrated a remarkable bowling performance, dismissing Thunder for a mere 61 runs, the lowest total in the Charlotte Edwards Cup's four-year history.Scotland's Rachel Slater led the Diamonds' bowling attack with an exceptional three-wicket haul for 12 runs, while Lizzie Scott and Erin Burns also contributed two wickets each. Thunder's batting lineup crumbled under the relentless pressure, with only three batters reaching double figures.In response, the Diamonds faced a challenging start, losing four wickets for 37 runs. However, Rebecca Duckworth's unbeaten 21 guided the hosts to victory with 6.2 overs to spare.The match marked the first of two Roses T20 encounters in as many nights, with the men's teams set to face off at Headingley in the Vitality Blast. The Diamonds' triumph serves as a significant blow to their rivals, setting the stage for an intense battle in the second match.

Northern Diamonds' Hollie Armitage produced a scintillating performance, smashing a career-best 97 off 64 deliveries, to power her team to a 28-run victory over Western Storm in the Charlotte Edwards Cup. The match, played at Headingley, was a dead rubber, but the Diamonds showcased their dominance with a commanding display.Armitage's innings was a masterclass in batting, featuring 14 boundaries and two towering sixes. She forged a formidable opening partnership with Emma Marlow, contributing 97 runs before Marlow departed for nine. Armitage continued her onslaught, reaching her half-century in just 30 balls and dominating the Storm's bowling attack.Western Storm's bowlers struggled to contain Armitage's aggression, with Ellie Anderson conceding five boundaries in a single over. The Diamonds' innings was a testament to Armitage's exceptional form, as she propelled her team to a formidable total of 146 for three.In response, Western Storm's chase faltered from the outset. Rachel Slater's incisive bowling accounted for Dani Gibson and Nat Wraith in the first over, leaving Storm reeling at one for two. Emma Corney and Fran Wilson attempted to rebuild the innings, but their partnership was broken by Sophia Turner's dismissal of Corney.Katherine Fraser and Katie Levick further tightened the screws on Storm, with Fraser removing Wilson and Levick dismissing Sophie Luff. Turner and Levick shared the remaining wickets, as Storm were restricted to 118 for seven, falling 28 runs short of their target.Armitage's magnificent innings, coupled with the Diamonds' disciplined bowling performance, secured a comfortable victory. The match was witnessed by several former Yorkshire players, including England legend Katherine Sciver-Brunt, who was recently honored with an OBE.

Southern Vipers' Charlie Dean orchestrated a remarkable comeback victory against Northern Diamonds in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a crucial win that bolsters their chances of reaching the finals day.Chasing a modest target of 146, Vipers found themselves in dire straits at 29 for 4. However, Dean, celebrating her 22nd birthday, played a scintillating knock of 64 off 38 deliveries, guiding her team to a five-wicket triumph.Dean's innings was a masterclass in aggressive batting, peppered with nine boundaries. She struck three consecutive fours off Katherine Fraser to reach her maiden Charlotte Edwards Cup fifty in just 29 balls. Her match-winning knock eclipsed her previous best of 60 for the region.Northern Diamonds had earlier posted a competitive 145 for 4, thanks to a classy 69 from Hollie Armitage. The birthday girl anchored the innings, sharing half-century partnerships with Sterre Kalis and Bess Heath.Despite the early wickets, Vipers' experienced lineup, featuring eight England internationals, struggled to gain momentum. Maia Bouchier and Charli Knott fell cheaply to Rachel Slater, while Erin Burns' spin proved troublesome for Georgia Adams and Freya Kemp.Danni Wyatt provided some stability with a 28-ball 28, but it was Dean's heroics that turned the tide. With Elwiss providing support, Dean took the game by the scruff of the neck, hitting the winning runs with seven balls to spare.Vipers' victory keeps them in contention for a place in the finals day, while Diamonds' hopes of qualifying are dashed. The defending champions now have five wins from six matches, while Diamonds remain winless after three games.

Durham Cricket has secured a significant signing ahead of their inaugural season as a Tier 1 women's team in 2025. Former England international and highly regarded head coach Dani Hazell has returned to Chester-le-Street on a three-year deal.Hazell, who represented England in 141 matches between 2009 and 2018, including two World Cups and three Ashes victories, will continue her role as head coach of the Northern Superchargers while leading Durham's women's team.Having started her playing career at Durham's academy, Hazell was a natural target for the club as they aim to establish themselves as a leading force in women's cricket in the north of England. Her appointment could potentially entice other Leeds-based Northern Diamonds players to join Durham, rather than waiting for Yorkshire to achieve Tier 1 status in 2026."It was evident from the outset that Dani was the ideal person to guide Durham into this new chapter and establish a legacy as a professional women's team," said Marcus North, Durham's director of cricket. "Her intimate knowledge of the club, having played for us and contributed to our women's and girls' pathway, is invaluable.""Dani's reputation as a successful head coach with the Northern Diamonds and Northern Superchargers is well-established. Her winning mentality as both a player and coach is a valuable asset for Durham. I am eager to collaborate with her as we embark on this exciting chapter for Durham Cricket."Hazell, 36, took over as Northern Diamonds' head coach in 2019, leading the team to victory in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in 2022. Under her guidance, the Northern Superchargers reached the final of the women's Hundred in 2023. She has also played a pivotal role in developing the Diamonds academy."I am thrilled to accept the position of head coach," said Hazell. "This is a transformative chapter for Durham Cricket and the entire region, and I am honored to be a part of this historic era for the club.""I share the club's aspirations and standards for continuous growth and progress, particularly at this pivotal moment for women's and girls' cricket. After our initial discussions, I recognized that this was the right opportunity for me to return to my home club, and I am eager to embrace the challenges ahead."Tim Bostock, Durham's chief executive, added: "We are delighted that Dani has agreed to lead our women's team. Her global expertise in the game is crucial, but her familiarity with Durham cricket is equally important. We believe she is the ideal fit for Durham Cricket."

The Blaze, last year's Charlotte Edwards Cup runners-up, have secured their place in the Finals Day once again after defeating Northern Diamonds by 13 runs at Headingley. This victory marks their seventh consecutive win in the ongoing campaign.Blaze, who defended a target of 160, are the undisputed leaders of the table. However, they faced a challenge from Diamonds, who have struggled this season with six losses in seven games. Despite their valiant effort, Diamonds' hopes of qualifying for the showpiece day at Derby on June 22 now hang in the balance.Kathryn Bryce and Tammy Beaumont, both international players, played pivotal roles in Blaze's victory. Bryce scored an impressive 54 off 39 balls, while Beaumont contributed 45 off 33. Bess Heath, England's fringe wicketkeeper-batter, fought back for Diamonds with a blistering 59 off 32. However, the hosts' momentum was halted as they collapsed from 94 for 2 in the 12th over to 146 all out in the 20th.Sarah Glenn, England's legspinner, claimed 3 for 32, while Bryce added two wickets with her seamers. After the early dismissal of Teresa Graves, Bryce and Beaumont formed a formidable second-wicket partnership of 78, propelling Blaze to a strong position.Despite Beaumont's departure, Diamonds showed resilience. Allrounder Erin Burns assisted offspinner Katherine Fraser in removing Sarah Bryce and Heather Graham. Bryce, who had reached a dynamic fifty off 34 balls, was dismissed by legspinner Katie Levick. Ella Claridge was also bowled, leaving Blaze at 139 for 6.Grace Ballinger's dismissal of Lauren Winfield-Hill and Glenn's bowling of Hollie Armitage left Diamonds at a precarious 18 for 2 in the third over. However, Heath's aggressive batting, including five boundaries in her first 11 balls, gave Diamonds hope.The tide turned once again as Stere Kalis was caught behind off Glenn and Heath was caught at deep cover off Bryce. Four wickets fell for 26 runs, leaving Diamonds at 120 for 6 in the 15th over. Glenn and Bryce claimed further wickets to seal Blaze's victory.

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 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.

In a thrilling encounter at the Seat Unique Riverside, South East Stars emerged victorious over Northern Diamonds in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, thanks to a remarkable bowling performance from 16-year-old Tilly Corteen-Coleman.Diamonds, who won the toss and elected to bat, made a promising start with openers Leah Dobson and Lauren Winfield-Hill putting on a 50-run partnership. However, the Stars' bowlers struck back with a vengeance, led by Corteen-Coleman's sensational spell.The teenager, who was only called up to the Stars' senior squad in April, picked up career-best figures of 5 for 19, including wickets from four consecutive balls. Her victims included key batters Sterre Kalis and Erin Burns, leaving Diamonds reeling at 88 for 4.The collapse continued as Diamonds lost their last six wickets for just 36 runs, with Corteen-Coleman completing her hat-trick in the final over. Dobson top-scored for Diamonds with a well-made 55, but her efforts were in vain as the hosts were bowled out for a paltry 124.In reply, the Stars made a confident start with Sophia Dunkley smashing a six in the third over. However, Diamonds fought back with Slater removing Dunkley for 25. Despite the wicket, the Stars continued to chase down the target with ease, aided by several dropped catches from Diamonds.Bryony Smith anchored the chase with an unbeaten 60, guiding her side to a six-wicket victory with four overs to spare. The win was the Stars' third in the competition, while Diamonds remain winless after four matches.Corteen-Coleman's performance was the highlight of the match, showcasing her immense potential as a future star of English cricket. Her ability to bowl with accuracy, variation, and pace proved too much for Diamonds, who were unable to recover from her devastating spell.

Central Sparks continued their winning streak in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a thrilling three-wicket victory over Northern Diamonds in a rain-affected match at Headingley. Despite losing wickets consistently, Diamonds managed to post a competitive target of 81 from 11 overs, thanks to Erin Burns' impressive 30.Sparks' chase got off to a strong start, but Diamonds' Rachel Slater struck twice in the fourth over to put the visitors under pressure. Courtney Webb's dismissal by Burns left Sparks in a precarious position, but captain Eve Jones remained resolute, guiding her team towards victory.With 15 runs required from the final two overs, Burns caught and bowled Charis Pavely, leaving Sparks needing five from the final over. Georgia Davis stepped up to the plate, hitting a chip down the ground for two runs off the final delivery to seal the victory.Jones' unbeaten 26 proved crucial for Sparks, while Davis' three wickets and two runs from the final ball were equally important. For Diamonds, Burns' 30 and Grace Potts' three wickets were standout performances.The victory marked Sparks' third consecutive win in the tournament, while Diamonds remained winless after three matches. The result highlighted the depth and resilience of Sparks' squad, who have shown their ability to overcome adversity and secure crucial victories.