Northern Diamonds skipper Hollie Armitage was keen to pay tribute to her supporting cast after taking centre stage with a brilliant unbeaten century in her side’s six-wicket win over Western Storm at Cheltenham College today.
Armitage – 101 not out – was there at the end to hit the winning runs as Diamonds got over the line after being presented with a tricky chase of 204 in 34 overs – made more difficult by a number of rain breaks during an on-off day in the West Country.
Armitage said: “When you see a weather forecast like the one we saw this morning, it can be quite hard to get up for a game of cricket.
“But we pride ourselves on being ready for anything as a unit and were happy to keep Storm to 200 on a flat deck.
“I was a bit lucky with the dropped catches, but these things sometimes make you switch on. I was pleased with the way we chased that total. Luckily for me, those chances were put down and we managed to chase the runs we needed.”
Partnerships of 71 for the third wicket with Sterre Kalis and 67 for the unbroken fifth wicket with Australian international Erin Burns also proved crucial.
She continued: “I thought the way Sterre Kalis (34), Erin Burns (21) and Bess Heath (10) approached the game was really helpful, and you need that kind of positivity when you’re chasing seven-an-over.
“We needed both ends to be firing, and those three were really helpful to me.”
Three of Armitage’s five career centuries have come against Western Storm, and she also scored 97 against them in a T20 at Headingley last month.
She laughed: “Sophie Luff (Storm skipper) said the last time we played them, ‘Can you just stop scoring runs against us?’
“I don’t know what it is really, but I know that my cricket is in a really good place and I understand my game a lot more.”
And to do it all in the beautiful surroundings of Cheltenham College also made it special for Armitage – although perhaps some nicer weather might be better next time.
She added: “With no rain and blue sky on a Saturday, I’d love to come here for a beer. It’s a brilliant venue and a very good ground on which to bat. This is the first time I’ve played here, and I enjoyed it.”
