The two Northern Diamonds stars who sparkled in Southport today – Sterre Kalis and Phoebe Turner – have been reflecting on a memorable win which keeps the region on track for a second Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy title.
The 2022 champions beat Lancashire Thunder by 86 runs, defending their imposing 290-6.
Dutch international Kalis scored a brilliant 100 off 95 balls – her first ton for the Diamonds and her first in List A cricket – before, in bowling Thunder out for 204, Turner’s seam accounted for a stunning senior career best 6-20 from nine overs.
They were the two who stood out as the Diamonds moved to the top of the RHFT table with an eighth win in 12 matches, but there were many others who contributed.
Lauren Winfield-Hill set the tone with 50 at the top of the order after Thunder had elected to bowl before Beth Langston finished the Diamonds innings off with a bang. Her 58 not out off 53 balls preceded two wickets in the successful defence.
The Diamonds are now 10 points clear of fifth-placed Blaze with two games remaining and only 10 points to play for.
While a semi-final place is not yet assured, it’s all but secured with the Diamonds having a far superior net run-rate. A top-two finish in the group would also secure a home semi-final on September 14.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Phoebe Turner and Sterre Kalis shone for the Diamonds today.
Of her hundred, Kalis beamed: “It’s my first one for the Diamonds, so it means even more I guess. It was very pleasing, especially to help get us a win.
“I really enjoyed it. I got in in a bit of a tricky situation. We’d just lost Hollie for not many, so the chat was to rebuild.
“The pitch looked like a decent one, and once we got going myself and Langers got a really good partnership together. She batted brilliantly, especially at the end.
“Tina taking six-for was unbelievable.
“All round, it was a really good team performance.”
Turner was certainly Simply The Best with the ball today, and she couldn’t hide her delight.
“I loved it so much,” she said. “For the first part of it, I was in rhythm and bowled good line and lengths.
Picture by John Heald. Phoebe Turner claimed a career best 6-20 across the Pennines.
“With how the game progressed, I never felt under pressure, and over the spell I got a bit more into my rhythm and was really stoked, especially with it being my career best.
“We have a good team, and we fight to the end.
“We have that grit and determination to keep going, so we knew if we stuck to our plans we could win – and the bowlers did their jobs really well today.
“The ball nibbled about a bit, and I thought it got harder to bat on towards the end of their innings with the weather.
“I was pitching it a bit shorter, but it was staying low. If the bowler doesn’t know whether the ball will pop up or stay low, the batter won’t either!”
Diamonds face second-placed Southern Vipers at Headingley on Wednesday and third-placed South East Stars at Durham on Saturday. One win will secure a home semi.
“We want to win these last few games and stay top of the table. That’s the target for us,” added Turner.
