A blistering 71 from England opener Tammy Beaumont denied the Northern Diamonds the chance to win their only pre-season friendly on home soil today as the Blaze took the honours by five wickets in a 50-over fixture at Weetwood.
Beaumont crashed three sixes and seven fours in 53 balls as the new Nottingham-based region chased a 199 target in 27 overs.
She shared 126 inside 16 overs for the first wicket with Marie Kelly (36) before Georgie Boyce completed the visiting victory with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls.
Abi Glen’s seamers accounted for three wickets, including Beaumont bowled as she tried to cut one which skidded through and uprooted her off-stump.
Glen finished with an encouraging 3-45 from seven overs, while Lizzie Scott and Hollie Armitage struck.
Earlier, having been invited to bat, Armitage top-scored for the Diamonds in their 198 all out with 67 from number three, the captain hitting eight fours in 77 balls.
Rebecca Duckworth (20), Bess Heath (22) and Emma Marlow (27) all provided useful support.
When Armitage fell, the Diamonds were 120-7 in the 29th over, so to get up to 198 should be a source of encouragement. Last pair Katie Levick and Harriet Robson, with 14 and 16 not out, added 35.
England leg-spinner Sarah Glenn claimed 3-18 from 6.2 overs for the Blaze, while new ball seamer Sophie Munro returned 3-48 from 10.
The Diamonds begin their Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy title defence against the Western Storm at Headingley on Saturday (10.30am).
Lauren Winfield-Hill and Sterre Kalis will return to the fold following their involvement at the Fairbreak Global T20 event in Hong Kong, which finished yesterday.
Kalis and the Tornadoes finished fifth, while Winfield-Hill’s Barmy Army side finished third.
