Scorecard’s-cricket-super-league-2018
Yorkshire Diamonds posted the second highest total in two and a half seasons of the Kia Super League and defended it comfortably against the Southern Vipers at York to secure a first win of 2018 at the fifth attempt.
Home city girl, captain and opener Lauren Winfield underpinned her side’s 175 for five with 64 off 38 balls, including eleven fours and a six, before Katherine Brunt starred with five for 26 from four overs in 163 for nine.
The loss of Winfield’s opposite number Suzie Bates for 34 in the seventh over of the chase was a key moment for a Vipers side who have now lost four from five, including three on the bounce, and have replaced the Diamonds at bottom of the table.
Success for the Vipers would have meant a record KSL chase, but they ended up losing by 12 runs.
After electing to bat on a superb Clifton Park pitch, Winfield fed on anything short and wide as the Vipers erred with the new ball.
Winfield dominated a 56-run opening stand in 5.1 overs with Australian Beth Mooney and then 53 in 6.1 for the second wicket with another overseas left-hander, Chamari Atapattu.
The Sri Lankan’s 43 off 32 balls included two straight sixes, while Winfield pulled another off Arran Brindle’s pace off seamers having reached 50 off 29.
The Diamonds reached halfway at record breaking pace (100 for one) and well set to eclipse the Vipers’ KSL record score of 180 for two against Loughborough last year.
But the visitors dragged things back, taking four wickets and giving themselves a boost as Amelia Kerr and Katie George bowled superb 17th and 18th overs, conceding five and two respectively.
New Zealand leg-spinner Kerr removed Alice Davidson-Richards and Atapattu (caught at backward point reverse sweeping) on the way to two for 27 – the pick of the figures. England seamer Tash Farrant also claimed two wickets.
Bates then started the Vipers chase in ideal fashion, cutting three boundaries off Helen Fenby’s leg-spin, including the first two balls.
But Danni Wyatt edged Brunt behind in the second as the score fell to 14 for one.
Bates continued to pounce on anything short and, like Winfield earlier, cut well as the visitors reached the end of the power play at 50 for one.
However, the New Zealander fell in the seventh over to a fine diving catch at short fine-leg by Fenby off Davidson-Richards’ medium pacers, leaving the score at 52 for two.
Eleven runs later, Mignon du Preez (25) miscued the same bowler to mid-off in the ninth.
The Vipers needed 84 off the last eight overs with Sara McGlashan and Maia Bouchier together, although Brunt removed them both in the 14th over – Bouchier lbw and McGlashan caught at deep square-leg – as the score fell to 111 for five.
Brindle and Kerr kept the required rate at 10s for the next two overs before Atapattu and Beth Langston struck to leave Brunt defending 21 off the last (155 for seven) with Kerr on strike.
Brunt conceded five wides off the first ball, but closed things out comfortably. She trapped George and Carla Rudd lbw to finish with Yorkshire’s best haul, while Kerr finished unbeaten on 28.
The Diamonds face champions Western Storm at Scarborough on Sunday afternoon (2.30pm), 24 hours after the Vipers travel to Haslegrave to take on Loughborough Lightning.
Photos from John Heald
