Rachel Slater was the hero as she hit the winning runs following a searing final over boundary as the Northern Diamonds beat champions and fellow contenders Southern Vipers by one wicket off the last ball at Headingley to qualify for a home semi-final in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
The Scotland seamer started and finished this game by taking a wicket as the Vipers made 240-8 and, after the hosts had fallen to 216-9 chasing, sharing 25 for the last wicket with Katie Levick.
Slater finished 18 not out and Levick 13, the latter also claiming an excellent 3-36 from 10 overs of leg-spin.
The pair needed to hit nine off the last over from debutant left-arm spinner Rebecca Tyson, who herself struck three times, and two off the last ball, which Slater hit to long-on and ran like the wind alongside Levick.
With one game still to play in the group stage, which the Diamonds sit top of thanks to a ninth win in 13, they can now start planning for a home semi at Headingley on September 14.
This was a clash between the league leaders Diamonds and a Vipers side who started the day in second. But the Vipers are still not assured of progression. They go into Saturday’s final round of group matches with work to do.
The Diamonds will face South East Stars at Durham in three days’ time in a much more relaxed state knowing they are assured of top spot in the group stage.
Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com. Rachel Slater and Katie Levick celebrate victory and confirmation of a home semi-final.
And that was, chiefly, down to Slater and Levick though not forgetting crucial half-centuries for opener Emma Marlow with 52 and Rebecca Duckworth with 51 at the start of the chase. Duckworth’s was her maiden regional fifty.
Vipers captain Georgia Adams didn’t deserve to finish on the losing side as she hit 57 added to a season’s best 4-30 from 10 overs of off-spin.
While Levick stood out for the Diamonds with her three-for, there were three run outs in the innings after Vipers had elected to bat first.
Vipers innings ebbed and flowed on a true pitch and with the outfield fast.
While the Diamonds were missing Hollie Armitage and Bess Heath because of England duty, the reigning champions were missing some experience in the form of Danni Wyatt and overseas batter Charli Knott, for example.
Coming into this game following two defeats, they weren’t over adventurous with the bat, more determined to get into the game with a competitive score.
And that’s what they did, courtesy of a measured 57 from captain Georgia Adams, who was supported by opener Ella McCaughan with 30, Georgia Elwiss and Emily Windsor 31 apiece and Naomi Dattani’s 34.
Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com. Rebecca Duckworth scored her maiden regional fifty.
Ironically, this was Dattani’s second successive game against Diamonds having joined the Vipers on loan from Lancashire Thunder, who she played for at Southport on Sunday.
She was one of Phoebe Turner’s career best six wickets.
Seamers Turner and left-armer Slater were today’s other wicket-takers for the Diamonds, added to Levick’s three-for and the trio of run outs.
A brilliant diving catch in the covers from Abi Glen helped Slater oust Rhianna Southby before Levick bowled the other opener, McCaughan to leave the score at 50-2 in the 14th over.
Adams and Elwiss then steadied with a calming partnership of 76 in 18 overs.
While off-side dominant Adams hit six boundaries in her 74-ball fifty, Elwiss only found the boundary twice in her 31.
Both then fell as part of a loss of three wickets for 30 as the score slipped from 126-2 in the 32nd over to 156-5 after 38.
Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com. Emma Marlow got the chase going with a vital fifty.
Adams was bowled on the cut, Elwiss was run out by a direct hit at the non-striker’s end from mid-off and Abi Norgrove fell the same way having slipped trying to get up from playing a sweep shot to short fine-leg.
Windsor and left-handed Dattani, who got some revenge against Phoebe Turner for Sunday by hoisting her for the only six of the innings, shared 47 for the sixth wicket.
And they sparked significant acceleration as 66 runs came from the last overs.
Levick was the pick of the Diamonds bowlers.
After bowling McCaughan and Adams, she later had Windsor stumped as the score fell to 203-6 in the 45th over.
The Diamonds innings was not dissimilar to that of the Vipers in that they lost an early wicket, rebuilt and then were hurt by the loss of quick wickets in the middle.
Both sides accelerated late on, and thankfully the Diamonds came out on the right side.
Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com. Rachel Slater celebrates the win at Headingley today, where the Diamonds will return a week on Saturday.
Diamonds lost stand-in captain Lauren Winfield-Hill when she miscued Adams to mid-on, leaving the score at 5-1 in the third over.
Marlow and Duckworth then shared an eye-catching 91 for the second wicket to give the Diamonds a platform. Duckworth posted her first fifty in Diamonds colours and Marlow only her second – off 71 and 81 balls respectively.
However, having driven well, both fell quickly as Diamonds lost three wickets for 26 inside seven overs to change the complexion of things and give the champions a leg-up with the score at 122-4 in the 32nd over.
Duckworth and Sterre Kalis were trapped lbw sweeping at Adams before Marlow was bowled by the seam of Elwiss.
Australian overseas all-rounder Erin Burns added 31, but when she sliced Tyson to short third – 153-5 after 38 overs – it felt like a defining moment.
But one thing we have learnt over five years of regional cricket is that you never ever write off the Diamonds.
Tyson also bowled a scooping Phoebe Turner and had Abi Glen caught at backward point. Glen had clobbered a crucial 24 off 12 balls to give the innings late impetus.
Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com. Erin Burns completes one of three run outs in the Vipers innings.
Sandwiched in between, Adams bowled Katherine Fraser before Freya Davies bowled Sophia Turner – 216-9 in the 47th. By now rain was falling, adding to the drama. Thankfully, the umpires kept play going, ensuring Duckworth Lewis Stern didn’t come into play.
Slater and Levick chipped away at the target before, with three balls left, the former crashed Tyson through cover for four. Then came the winning two to long-on as the 2022 champions made their task of repeating that title just a touch easier thanks to one of their greatest wins.
