The Northern Diamonds slipped to a six-wicket Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Roses defeat to Thunder at York’s Clifton Park.
Naomi Dattani claimed four wickets to help bowl Diamonds out for 167 and played a crucial innings of 46, sharing a 98-run stand with Deandra Dottin – who made 54 – as Thunder completed their chase with 12.2 overs to spare.
Lauren Winfield-Hill top-scored for Diamonds with 33 but the target was never enough as Thunder won their first match of the competition. After eight games, the Diamonds have won four and lost four
Diamonds were asked to bat first and openers Winfield-Hill and Sterre Kalis batted well to negotiate a probing new-ball spell from Mahika Gaur and Dattani.
The openers moved Diamonds on to 37-0 after 10 overs and the in-form Winfield-Hill, who was in search of her fifth half-century of the competition, began to move through the gears.
She had ended the 10th over with a six and struck two beautifully-timed boundaries off Laura Jackson in the 13th over but was the first wicket to fall – superbly caught behind by Ellie Threlkeld off Dattani.
Kalis departed an over later, bowled by Jackson for 21, and Diamonds were unable to build momentum due to a regular loss of wickets.
Hollie Armitage was Dattani’s second scalp for six before Emma Marlow was run out for nine to leave the hosts on 88-4.
Bess Heath and Chloe Tryon both began positively – Tryon striking two fours in four balls – but both soon fell.
Heath was well run out for 17 by Dottin attempting a second run before Tryon was bowled by Fi Morris for 14 to leave Diamonds 117-6 after 30.1 overs.
Leah Dobson looked good for her 13, which featured a couple of aggressive boundaries, but Liberty Heap took two wickets in the 36th over to dismiss Dobson and Lizzie Scott.
Katie Levick threatened a late cameo as she hit two boundaries off Dottin, but Dattani returned to bring the Diamonds’ innings to a swift close.
Levick skied to Morris for 11 and Grace Hall edged behind for 13 as Dattani finished with 4-16 and Diamonds were all out in the 44th over.
Thunder began their chase with intent, putting the Diamonds’ bowlers under pressure and had reached 32-0 with a ball to go in the fifth over.
But Scott produced an excellent delivery to bowl Seren Smale for 15 and help check some of the visitors’ momentum.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. David Lloyd and his wife Diana, an employee of Lancashire CCC, at York Cricket Club. Diana is from York and the couple now live on this side of the Pennines.
Thunder were still in charge, reaching 52-1 after 10 overs, but the introduction of Levick had the desired effect.
The spinner claimed the key wicket of England opener Emma Lamb, who had looked good for her 21, and took a second in her first over by bowling Morris for a duck.
Thunder pair of Dattani and Dottin found runs hard to come by, but had ticked their side on to 85-3 after 20 overs.
The forecast rain had arrived however and, four balls later, the umpires took the players off. It proved to be just a brief shower and play resumed 12 minutes later.
At the halfway mark, Thunder had reached 93-3 but Diamonds were keeping a grip on the scoring rate.
Dattani and Dottin showed great patience to chip away at the target – sharing a stand of 98 to help guide Thunder to their target.
Dottin reached her half-century before Tryon removed Dattani for 46, but it proved too little too late for Diamonds as Thunder won with 12.1 overs to spare.
Diamonds are next in action when they host Central Sparks at Headingley on Saturday, beginning at 10.30am.
