September 2, 2024

Sterre Kalis and Phoebe Turner Lead Diamonds to 86-Run Victory

Sterre Kalis’s maiden List A century and Phoebe Turner’s impressive six-wicket haul led Northern Diamonds to an 86-run victory over Lancashire Thunder, taking them to the top of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy standings. Northern Diamonds posted 290 for 6, with Kalis scoring 100, Abi Langston 58, and Lauren Winfield-Hill 50. Lancashire Thunder managed 204 in response, with Jones top-scoring 57, as Turner took 6 for 20.

The win puts the Diamonds on the brink of qualifying for the semi-finals with 37 points, 14 points clear of fifth-placed The Blaze, who have three games remaining. Meanwhile, Lancashire Thunder’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages have taken a significant hit.

Lauren Winfield-Hill and Emma Marlow set a solid foundation for Northern Diamonds with a 95-run opening partnership. Later, Sterre Kalis and Beth Langston added a century stand for the fifth wicket, taking the Diamonds to 290 for 6. This proved too challenging for Lancashire Thunder, who were bowled out for 204 despite a century partnership between Eve Jones and Seren Smale.

Lancashire’s run chase started well, with Alice Clarke and Emma Lamb scoring 38 runs in the first five overs. However, Rachel Slater turned the tide by dismissing Clarke lbw for 14 and bowling Lamb for 19. Jones and Smale rebuilt the innings, reaching 130 for 2 at the halfway point, with 161 more runs needed. But just after they completed their 100-run partnership, Phoebe Turner struck, bowling Smale for 48. Langston then delivered a game-changing double-wicket maiden, removing Jones for 57 and skipper Ellie Threlkeld for a duck.

With Thunder at 166 for 5 in the 31st over, the momentum shifted decisively in favor of the Diamonds. Turner capitalized on this, tearing through the remaining Thunder lineup with a brilliant second spell, finishing with 6 for 20. The Diamonds secured a significant five-point victory.

Winfield-Hill and Marlow provided a strong start for the Diamonds after being sent into bat, scoring 48 runs during the powerplay and reaching 95 runs by the 20th over. However, the Thunder quickly responded by taking two wickets in four balls.

Winfield-Hill, who was dropped on 14, scored a solid fifty off 59 balls, including 6 fours. But she was bowled immediately after reaching her milestone by left-arm spinner Hannah Jones. Just four balls later, captain Hollie Armitage was bowled for a duck by Naomi Dattani, dealing the Diamonds a significant setback.

Phoebe Graham increased the pressure by dismissing Marlow for 45 with the first ball after the 25-over drinks break. Overseas all-rounder Erin Burns, back from the Caribbean Premier League, was also out for 10, leaving the Diamonds at 136 for 4 after 30 overs.

However, Sterre Kalis and Beth Langston revived the innings with a crucial 111-run partnership in just 17 overs. Kalis reached her fifty off 64 balls and, despite being dropped on the next delivery, powered on to score her maiden List A century off 94 balls before being caught at cover by Seren Smale off Dattani’s bowling.

Langston then took charge in the final overs, hitting a powerful 58 off 53 balls, including the only six of the innings, helping the Diamonds reach 290 for 6, which proved to be more than enough.

Glamorgan Held Off as Peter Handscomb Anchors Final-Day Resistance

Leicestershire secured a hard-fought draw against Glamorgan, thanks mainly to centuries from overseas stars Peter Handscomb and Ajinkya Rahane. Leicestershire posted 251 in their first innings and followed it up with 369 for 6 in their second innings. Handscomb remained unbeaten on 139, guiding his team to safety on the final day. At the same time, Rahane also contributed with a crucial century.

Despite the draw, Leicestershire’s chances of promotion remain slim, as they are still 22 points behind second-placed Middlesex. Handscomb’s innings were his final contribution to the season before returning to Australia, and his partnership with Liam Trevaskis helped Leicestershire finish 70 runs ahead in their second innings when bad light ended the match.

Glamorgan found a glimmer of hope from an unexpected source as part-time offspinner Kiran Carlson took two crucial wickets, including the prized scalp of Ajinkya Rahane. Dan Douthwaite was the only other bowler to take a wicket on a challenging day as the hybrid pitch in Cardiff stubbornly held up.

Leicestershire’s survival hinged on their international stars, Rahane and Peter Handscomb, and they delivered during the morning session. Just before lunch, Rahane reached his century before edging a wide ball from Carlson, caught behind by Chris Cooke for 102. After the break, Carlson struck again, with a ball that lifted outside off stump, causing Rehan Ahmed to edge to Mason Crane in the deep gully.

Louis Kimber’s nervy start kept Glamorgan in the game. He provided a caught-and-bowled chance for legspinner Crane, who missed his fourth catch of the innings with a difficult one-handed attempt. Kimber also survived a close call when he left a ball from Timm van der Gugten that narrowly missed the stumps and was initially given out caught behind by Cooke, only for the umpires to overturn the decision after consultation.

Douthwaite eventually broke through when Kimber smashed a half-volley to Carlson at extra cover, who took a sharp catch. Meanwhile, Handscomb remained steady, reaching his century and continuing to anchor Leicestershire’s innings.

Glamorgan resorted to long spells of spin bowling, possibly due to poor light, and even tried creative field placements with eight close catchers in an arrowhead formation around the bat. However, Handscomb and Liam Trevaskis formed a solid partnership that saw out the remaining overs before bad light ended the day’s play.