Cricket

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.

Western Storm's Heather Knight, fresh off a disappointing T20I series against Pakistan, showcased her form ahead of England's upcoming series against New Zealand with a commanding 66-run knock. Her innings propelled Western Storm to a 142-run total against Sunrisers, who were condemned to the wooden spoon in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.Knight's 74-run partnership with 20-year-old Emma Corney, who contributed a career-best 46, laid the foundation for Storm's competitive score. Despite Sophie Munro's impressive four-wicket haul for Blaze, Storm managed to post a challenging target.In response, Sunrisers' Grace Scrivens and Jo Gardner made a promising start, but their momentum was halted by a series of quick wickets. Scrivens fell for 26, while Gardner's aggressive 22 was cut short. Lissy MacLeod's first-ball dismissal further dented Sunrisers' hopes.Despite Jodi Grewcock's valiant 40, Sunrisers were unable to recover from their early setbacks. They fell 11 runs short of their target, ending their tournament as the bottom-placed side for the fourth consecutive year.Knight's performance was a timely reminder of her class and experience. Her ability to anchor the innings and score at a consistent pace proved invaluable for Western Storm. Corney's breakout knock also bodes well for the future of English cricket.

The Blaze continued their dominant run in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing an eighth consecutive victory with an eight-wicket triumph over Sunrisers at Lord's. Kathryn Bryce, the tournament's leading run-scorer, once again proved her prowess with an unbeaten 57 from 37 balls.Bryce's innings, her fourth half-century in six games, was the cornerstone of The Blaze's chase. She shared a crucial 100-run partnership with her younger sister Sarah, who contributed an unbeaten 54 from 35 deliveries. The Bryce sisters' partnership ensured The Blaze maintained their 100% record in the group stage, reaching their target with 29 balls to spare.Earlier, Sunrisers captain Grace Scrivens led her team's batting effort with a top score of 42 from 38 balls. However, The Blaze's bowlers kept the Sunrisers in check, restricting them to 137 for seven. Marie Kelly's direct hit from mid-off accounted for Scrivens, while Heather Graham claimed two wickets in three deliveries to stifle Sunrisers' momentum.The Blaze's chase got off to a shaky start when Tammy Beaumont was dismissed for a duck. However, Marie Kelly and Sarah Bryce steadied the innings with a 50-run partnership. Kelly's dismissal brought Kathryn Bryce to the crease, and she quickly asserted her dominance. Bryce reached her half-century in just 33 deliveries and continued to accelerate the scoring rate.Sarah Bryce also played a vital role, hitting two sixes in two balls off Eva Gray. She went on to post her first 50 of the tournament before sealing the victory with a square-cut boundary off Amu Surenkumar.The victory all but mathematically ends Sunrisers' hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals, while The Blaze remain firmly in contention for a top-two finish in the group stage.

In a thrilling encounter at Blackpool, Thunder emerged victorious over Sunrisers in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a five-wicket triumph in the final over.Thunder's chase began with a flurry of boundaries from Fi Morris, who struck a six and three fours before being run out for 25. However, the loss of Emma Lamb and Katie Mack, both run out, left Thunder in a precarious position at 43 for 2.Seren Smale steadied the innings with an unbeaten 39, her highest score in the competition. Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross contributed crucial runs in the latter stages, with Cross hitting a six and a four in the final over to seal the victory.Earlier, Sunrisers had posted a competitive 151 for 9, led by Lissy Macleod's 60. Mady Villiers and Jo Gardner provided early impetus, but spin proved to be Sunrisers' undoing. Morris and Ecclestone claimed two wickets each, while Eva Gray dismissed Ellie Threlkeld.Macleod and Amu Surenkumar revived Sunrisers' innings with a 60-run partnership, but a chaotic 18th over saw three wickets fall in three balls. Macleod and Surenkumar were both run out, while Gray was dismissed lbw by Ecclestone.Thunder's victory leaves them in fifth place in the standings, while Sunrisers face an uphill battle to qualify for the playoffs.

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.

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.

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.

Sunrisers emerged victorious in their Charlotte Edwards Cup clash against defending champions Southern Vipers, securing a thrilling three-run triumph at Arundel. The victory marked Sunrisers' first in the competition since 2021.Chasing a modest target of 135, Vipers appeared to be cruising towards victory after Australian opener Charli Knott's impressive 41-ball fifty. However, Sunrisers' disciplined bowling and aggressive fielding proved to be the difference-makers.Sophie Munro led the Sunrisers' bowling attack with a superb spell of 4 for 27, while Knott's all-round performance included three wickets. The Vipers' chase faltered as they struggled to maintain the required run rate, despite Knott's early heroics.With 32 runs needed from the final three overs, the match remained in the balance. However, the dismissals of key players Georgia Adams and Freya Davies, followed by Elwiss's departure, put pressure on the Vipers.Emily Windsor's stumping off the last ball of the 18th over left Vipers needing 22 off two. Alice Monaghan's dismissal at the end of the 19th over made the task even more daunting, with 12 runs required from the final over.Earlier, Sunrisers had posted a solid 134 for 5, thanks to a 41-run opening partnership between Grace Scrivens and Joanne Gardner. Gardner's 39-ball 42 included a towering six, but her dismissal triggered a collapse as Vipers took three wickets in quick succession.Knott's impressive fielding and bowling played a crucial role in Vipers' resurgence, but Sunrisers' resilience and determination ultimately proved too much for the defending champions.

Southern Vipers, the reigning Charlotte Edwards Cup (CEC) champions, secured their first victory of the 2023 campaign with a dominant 19-run triumph over Sunrisers. The match witnessed record-breaking performances from England's Georgia Elwiss and Freya Kemp, who propelled Vipers to a formidable total of 171 for 2.Elwiss and Kemp forged an unbroken 110-run partnership, the highest for any wicket in Vipers' history. Elwiss anchored the innings with a composed 73 off 57 deliveries, while Kemp unleashed her power-hitting prowess, smashing 55 off 35 balls, including three maximums. Their alliance surpassed the previous Vipers' best of 108, set by Danni Wyatt and Maia Bouchier in last year's Eliminator.In response, Sunrisers' chase was spearheaded by Mady Villiers and Jo Gardner, who shared a 75-run stand. Gardner played the role of anchor, reaching her maiden CEC half-century, while Villiers fell just short of her own fifty. However, Vipers' bowlers tightened their grip, with Mary Taylor claiming two wickets in quick succession to swing the momentum in their favor.Despite Gardner's late power-hitting, Sunrisers fell short of the target, finishing on 152 for 5. Freya Davies, Linsey Smith, and Taylor were the standout bowlers for Vipers, each claiming two wickets.Elwiss's innings marked her first CEC half-century, while Kemp's fifty was her second for Vipers and her first in T20 cricket. Their record-breaking partnership laid the foundation for Vipers' victory, showcasing their exceptional batting prowess.