Georgia Adams stars with bat and ball as Vipers cling on in thriller
Vipers 261 for 8 (Adams 82, McCaughan 47, Hall 4-46) beat Northern Diamonds 258 for five (Armitage 106*) by three runs
Georgia Adams starred with bat and ball because the Southern Vipers defeated the Northern Diamonds by three runs in a pulsating end to an entertaining Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy sport at South Northumberland Cricket Club.
Adams made 82 because the Vipers set a difficult complete of 261 for eight from their 50 overs however Diamonds skipper Hollie Armitage struck a high quality century to take her facet inside a whisker of their goal.
The end result retains the Vipers nicely in competition for a third-place end – and the ultimate play-off spot – whereas the Diamonds additionally stay the combination because the competitors heads in direction of an thrilling climax later this month.
Lauren Winfield-Hill and Sterre Kalis made a superb begin to the Diamonds run chase, posting 52 within the powerplay with Winfield-Hill hitting 5 boundaries to succeed in a run-a-ball 29 however fell lbw to Ava Lee from the penultimate ball of the tenth over.
Kalis struck the ball powerfully in making 37 earlier than falling lbw to Adams, with the Diamonds 98 for 2 within the nineteenth over however Armitage took over the run-scoring mantle to succeed in a 59-ball half century that stored the Diamonds within the hunt, and he or she discovered good assist from the center order because the hosts continued to shut in on their goal.
Emma Marlow lent nice assist in a third-wicket partnership of 61 earlier than she was brilliantly caught and bowled by Nancy Harman for 20 leaving the Diamonds needing 103 off 100 balls.
Rebecca Duckworth helped Armitage add 44 for the fourth wicket however pulled Alice Monaghan to Harman at deep midwicket for 23 with want 59 off 52 balls.
Leah Dobson chipped in with a worthwhile 20 in a 51-run partnership with Armitage who batted fantastically to succeed in her second Women’s List A century from 101 balls together with 11 fours.
The Vipers held on, taking key wickets at essential instances, to go away the match evenly poised with 8 runs required from the ultimate over.
And Georgia Elwiss clinched the victory with six wonderful deliveries, bowling Dobson off the second and solely conceding 5 singles with Armitage left unbeaten on 106.
The Diamonds made an early breakthrough after Adams had received the toss when Lizzie Scott produced an important supply that nipped again to bowl Abi Norgrove for six and have the Vipers on 18 for one within the fifth over.
The guests responded in optimistic style with Ella McCaughan and Adams compiling a superb 109-run partnership throughout 24 overs that shaped the bedrock of the Vipers innings.
McCaughan drove properly both facet of the wicket to maneuver alongside steadily alongside her skipper earlier than providing a return catch from a robust drive again to Grace Hall after making 47.
Adams was rapidly into her stride placing two boundaries from her first seven balls confronted, and commonly punished something brief or broad. Off spinner Katie Levick was pushed for a straight six so as to add to the eleven fours struck in a cultured innings of 82 off 91 balls.
It took a superb yorker from Phoebe Turner to finish Adams’ innings when she regarded well-set and depart the Vipers on 169 for 3 within the thirty seventh over, however some wonderful contributions from the center and decrease order noticed an additional 92 runs added from the ultimate 81 deliveries.
Elwiss made 22 earlier than edging an tried minimize off Hall to wicketkeeper Winfield-Hill whereas Emily Windsor stored the guests’ momentum going with a well-constructed 39 off 38 balls in the course of the closing overs and Rhianna Southby contributed an unbeaten 15 off 6 balls.
The Diamonds assault – who misplaced Jessica Woolston to damage after the seamer had solely accomplished 5 overs – bowled with commendable dedication on a swelteringly sizzling day and have been rewarded with late wickets because the Vipers completed on 261 for eight, with Hall taking 4 for 46 and Scott three for 33.
That complete regarded just below par and the Diamonds got here so near chasing it down.