Northern Diamonds

The Northern Diamonds are up and running in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, winning their first match at the sixth attempt - by 13 runs defending 138 against Central Sparks at Edgbaston.

A couple of famous sporting cliches certainly sum up Katherine Fraser’s summer so far. ‘It’s a funny old game’ and ‘You win some, you lose some’.

Hollie Armitage knows her Northern Diamonds side have a mountain to climb in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, but the captain is refusing to let go of their Finals Day hope just yet.

Sunrisers won a last-ball thriller by four wickets chasing 124 as captain Grace Scrivens hit a superb 64 not out from 57 balls opening the batting to consign the Diamonds to a fifth straight Charlotte Edwards defeat. Diamonds skipper Hollie Armitage impressed with 39 in their 123-8 and then three wickets with her leg-spinners, but Sunrisers gained 25 off the last two overs, including 11 off Erin Burns in the last, to seal victory.

Coach Dani Hazell is backing her Northern Diamonds side to find form in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, but she knows they have to do it quickly in order for it result in prizes and not just pride.

Diamonds were consigned to a fourth successive Charlotte Edwards Cup defeat after a remarkable spell of bowling from teenager Tilly Corteen-Coleman propelled South East Stars to a six-wicket win at the Riverside.

Katie Levick is backing the Northern Diamonds to turn around their three-game winless run and still make an impact on this year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup.

Central Sparks made it three wins from three as winless Northern Diamonds suffered their second final-ball defeat in a row. 

Coach Dani Hazell is relishing the prospect of facing an in-form Central Sparks side on Monday as the Northern Diamonds bid to ignite their Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign.

The Diamonds lost a thriller to Blaze by four runs, narrowly failing to chase a target of 137, finishing on 132-7. Australian overseas all-rounder Erin Burns starred with a career best 5-25 from four overs of off-spin and hit 22 with the bat. But her best efforts went unrewarded as she was part of a slip from 94-2 in the 16th over of the chase.

Northern Diamonds senior regional talent manager Tom Cant has reflected on a mixed start to the new summer below first-team level.