Coach Dani Hazell is hoping previous experiences can contribute to getting the Northern Diamonds over the line in this summer’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
The Diamonds are within touching distance of qualifying for this summer’s semi-finals.
With two group games remaining, the first of which comes against champions Southern Vipers at Headingley on Wednesday – 10.30am, Diamonds are top of the table with a 10-point gap to fifth-placed Blaze and only 10 points available to play for.
Add in their vastly superior net run-rate, Hazell and co can pencil in September 14 to their diaries.
Diamonds, of course, have been there and done it all before.
They reached the final in both 2020 and 2021, beaten by the Vipers at Edgbaston and Northampton. But they gained revenge over this Wednesday opponents with a glorious triumph at Lord’s in September 2022.
Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com. Northern Diamonds, winners of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in 2022.
Hazell’s side may not need another point to qualify for the semis, but they still have work to do to secure a top-two finish in the group for a home semi-final.
That would be achieved with either a win over the Vipers at Headingley or over South East Stars at Durham on Saturday.
Hazell, fresh from watching her side beat local rivals Lancashire Thunder at Southport yesterday, said: “Having been in those big moments can maybe make you that little bit calmer than somebody else in the opposition.
“We’ve been there, we’ve done that, and we use it as fuel.
“It will be good to be able to call upon some of that experience of being there before.”
Diamonds are facing a Vipers side who are not short on experience themselves. They have won this competition three times and are the defending champions.
Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com. Since lifting the 2022 RHFT title, captain Hollie Armitage has progressed through to senior England honours and will be unavailable for Wednesday’s clash with Vipers as a result.
But they have lost their last two games to open the door for the Diamonds to move top of the table.
They were beaten most recently by Central Sparks at Worcester last Friday, bowled out for 183 in a seven-wicket defeat, and have dropped to second in the table – three points behind Diamonds.
The Diamonds will be without captain Hollie Armitage and Bess Heath due to their involvement in England’s ODI squad for their tour of Ireland – Lauren Winfield-Hill will lead the side.
Freya Kemp is the only Viper in that ODI squad, but she hasn’t played since the resumption of regional cricket following the Hundred.
Former Diamond Linsey Smith is in England’s squad for the forthcoming T20 World Cup in early October, and it would be no surprise to see her rested for this clash.
There is motivation aplenty for the Diamonds over the next three weeks – the final is on September 21.
Picture by John Heald. Phoebe Turner claimed a career best six wickets against Thunder last time out.
First things first, they will be keen to avenge a 70-run defeat against the Vipers at Southampton’s Utilita Bowl in late April. If they can achieve that, they can then concentrate on the bigger picture.
The Diamonds coaches and players are desperate to experience that winning feeling which was so special at Lord’s a couple of Septembers ago.
“It was my first domestic trophy as a coach, and it was a very proud moment,” said Hazell. “After getting there the few years before that and just falling short in the final after final, it was nice to finally get over the line.
“If we get that opportunity this year, we’ll be right up for it.”
And, also, with this being the last year of the Northern Diamonds before players move on to either play for Yorkshire or Durham, they are desperate to depart with a bang.
Hazell added: “Yeah, we’re all moving on from the Diamonds, wherever we may go as players or coaches, and we want to make sure the legacy of the Diamonds is a successful one.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Coach Dani Hazell is confident of a repeat of the 2022 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy triumph.
“We won a trophy a couple of years ago, and we don’t want that to be the only one. That’s extra motivation to try and make sure we leave as winners.
“We’ve competed throughout this five seasons and have been very successful.
“We pride ourselves on the fact we never give up, so we’ll be fighting right to the end of this season, for sure.”
Phoebe Turner with a senior career best 6-20 and Sterre Kalis with her first century for the Diamonds – 100 off 95 balls – were the stars of yesterday’s 86-run win over Thunder at Southport.
And the pair are desperate to see that momentum maintained through the remainder of the group stage as they bid for that home semi-final, which in theory should make their task of qualifying for the final at Leicester that much easier.
Seam bowling all-rounder Turner, who is now the joint second leading wicket-taker in this season’s RHFT with 20, said: “We don’t want to go into these next two games thinking, ‘There’s a big chance of us qualifying’. We want to fight until the end.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Sterre Kalis scored her maiden Diamonds’ century against Thunder at Southport.
And Dutch international Kalis added: “The next two games come around quite quickly, and we just need to bring this momentum that we have.
“Hopefully we finish top and get that home semi-final.”
