Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy: Storm v Diamonds - LIVE
REPORT
Hollie Armitage registered her first professional hundred as Northern Diamonds beat Western Storm by 104 runs to secure their place in the knockout stages of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy on a record-breaking day at the Cooper Associates Ground in Taunton.
Diamonds won the toss, elected to bat first and ran up a mammoth competition-best total of 334-6, eclipsing the previous record score of 224-7 achieved by South East Stars against Sunrisers at Chelmsford in May 2021.
Armitage top-scored with a superb run-a-ball 131 not out, accruing 10 fours and a six and sharing in stands of 125 and 132 with Lauren Winfield-Hill and Bess Heath for the second and fifth wickets respectively as the visitors took full advantage of a flat deck to claim a bonus point win. England international Winfield-Hill contributed a fluent 74 from 77 balls, while Heath struck an eye-catching 70 from just 46 balls as Diamonds surpassed their previous highest 50-over score of 294, made against Thunder at Chester-le-Street in September last year.
It was a chastening experience for Storm’s bowlers, only off spinner Chloe Skelton, who claimed 2-39 from 10 overs, emerging with any real credit on a day when bat dominated ball.
Danni Gibson restored a modicum of lost pride in a defiant innings of 76 and Sophia Smale posted a gritty 59, but Katie Levick claimed 4-41 and Linsey Smith and the ubiquitous Armitage took two wickets apiece as Storm were dismissed for 230 in 45.4 overs.
There was no sign of the onslaught to come when Smith clipped Claire Nicholas meekly to short third man and departed for a duck in the second over. But Winfield-Hill and Armitage quickly set about putting the record straight, their partnership yielding 50 from 48 balls as Diamonds posted 56 during the opening 10-over powerplay. Scoring freely either side of the wicket, Winfield-Hill raised 50 from 56 balls, pulled Lauren Filer for four to bring up the hundred partnership and looked set to realise three figures when she inadvertently holed out to long-on off the bowling of Skelton in the 23rd over, having helped herself to 9 fours.
Hitherto cast in the role of chief support, Armitage went to 50 via 69 balls, while Sterre Kalis and Leah Dobson came and went in quick succession at the other end as Storm worked hard to restrict the scoring and maintain a foothold in the game.
But that all changed with the advent of Heath with the score at 169-4 in the 33rd over. Going on the attack from the outset, the 21-year-old from Chesterfield combined finesse with raw power to help almost double the score during a blistering 14-over sojourn which left Storm on their knees. Heath and Armitage added 50 from 31 balls as the home side came under sustained pressure, Skelton the only bowler to avoid a mauling.
Once again playing second fiddle to a faster-scoring partner, Armitage went to a maiden hundred for Diamonds from 110 balls, while the century partnership occupied 66 deliveries, Heath finding the boundary with impressive regularity as Diamonds surpassed their previous highest score in the 50-over competition.
Driving and pulling with murderous intent, Heath had a century firmly in her sights when she drilled the ball straight to Nicholas at short fine leg in pursuit of a ninth boundary, permitting Lauren Filer a much-needed success. Thereafter, Armitage and Lizzie Scott combined forces at the death to usher Diamonds to a record-breaking total.
Required to hit the ground running if they were to have any chance of discomfiting their opponents, Storm instead lost Alice Griffiths and talismanic captain Sophie Luff inside nine overs as the powerplay failed to ignite. When Fran Wilson drove Smith to cover in the twelfth over, the home side were 37-3 and in danger of running up the white flag.
Levick then struck twice in as many overs with her leg breaks to remove Nat Wraith for 19 and Emma Corney for 29, the latter at least making a decent fist of opening the batting for the first time at Taunton. But there was no way back from 80-5 and, an entertaining interlude in which Gibson and Smale added 106 for the sixth wicket apart, Yorkshire grit continued to hold sway.
Gibson matched fire with fire and provided the home crowd with something to cheer in a knock that was illuminated by 9 fours and a six until, having garnered 76 from 59 balls, she hit Armitage to cover. Smale’s brave rearguard action yielded a 59-ball 50, but it proved no more than a silver lining.
At the close of play, Sophie Luff said: “They batted exceptionally well and put a really big score on the board. We probably lost it by losing three or four wickets quite early in our chase, but the partnership between Danni Gibson and Sophia Smale was outstanding. Gibbo looked to take the game on, which is something we talk about a lot, while Sophia is still only 17 and learning the game.
“We’re a very young team and we’re blooding some inexperienced players, some of whom are stepping up from Academy level. It’s a big step up and it will take time for them to find their groove. But we have to stick with them and, if we do, the future is exciting.
“We felt we were right in the game at four down, but Bess Heath had that big partnership with Hollie Armitage and they took the game away from us. We didn’t execute our skills as well as we could have done at that point, but we learn from this and move on to the next game.”
LIVE
5:01 – Wicket: Sophie Smale top edges Levick To Kalis and Western Storm all out for 230. Diamonds win by 104 runs and claim the bonus point victory. Thank you for joining us today and congratulations to Diamonds.
4:54 – Wicket: Western Storm 233/9. Chloe Skelton is stumped off the bowling of Levick for 13.
4:48 – 50 for Sophia Smale from 59 balls.
4:45 – 10 overs to go and Western Storm are 208/8. Storm need 127 from 60 balls.
4:35 – Wicket: Western Storm 201/8. Lauren Filer is bowled by Kasperek for 2.
4:33 – 200 on the board for Storm in the 37th over.
4:30 – Wicket: Western Storm 198/7. Katie George chips Armitage to Kalis at point and goes for 1. Lauren Filer is the new batter. 137 needed of 14.1 overs.
4:22 – Dani Gibson’s excellent innings comes to an end. She goes for 76 and Western Storm are 286/6. Katie George is the new batter and she will be joined by Sophie Luff as a runner. 149 needed off 16 overs.
4:19 – 100 partnership. That’s the 100 partnership between Dani Gibson and Sophia Smale. Western Storm 180/5 in the 34th over.
4:12 – That’s huge! Dani Gibson has just hit a big six straight back over Leigh Kasperek’s head. 12 runs off the over. Storm 166/5. The required run rate is back under 9.
4:10 – 30 overs gone and Western Storm are 154/5. 181 runs needed off 20 overs.
4:07 – 150 on the board! Western Storm 151/5 in the 30th over.
4:05 – 50 for Gibson. That’s 50 for Dani Gibson off 42 balls. Western Storm 148/5 in the 29th over.
3:57 – 50 partnership! That’s the 50 partnership between Dani Gibson and Sophie Smale from 47 balls. Western Storm 131/5 in the 27th over.
3:50 – 25 overs gone and Western Storm are 124/5.
3:35 – Western Storm 85/5 after 20 overs.
3:29 – Wicket: Western Storm 80/5. Emma Corney is caught at cover by Armitage off the bowling of Levick for 29.
3:22 – Wicket: Western Storm 69/4. Nat Wraith is caught by Kalis off the bowling Levick for 19. 266 needed off 33.1 overs.
3:16 – 50 on the board for Storm in the 15th over.
3:05 – Wicket: Western Storm 37/3. Fran Wilson is caught by Armitage at cover off the bowling of Smith for 5,
3:01 – Western Storm are 35/2 after 10 overs. 300 needed off 40 overs.
2:56 – Wicket: Western Storm 30/2. That’s the one that the Diamonds want. Sophie Luff is caught behind off Lizzie Scott for 5.
2:43 – Wicket. Western Storm 22/1. Linsey Smith finds Alex Griffiths’ outside edge and the opener is caught behind for 3. Sophie Luff is the new batter.
2:40 – Western Storm 22/0 after 5 overs.
2:23 – Western Storm 0/0. Emma Corney and Alex Griffiths will open the batting. 335 needed.
1:47 – LUNCH
1:46 – The Diamonds have reached 334/6 from their 50 overs. That is a record total in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy. Hollie Armitage finishes unbeaten on 131.
1:43 – Diamonds 323/6 from 49 overs.
1:33 – WICKET!! Diamonds 302/6. Leigh Kasperek is run out for 1. Katie George has been outstanding in the field today and it’s her throw that enables Nat Wraith to remove the bails.
1:31 – WICKET!! Diamonds 301/5. Claire Nicholas takes a good catch off Lauren Filer to remove Bess Heath (70). It’s hit hard and straight at her and she reacts well to hold on to it.
1:30 – 300 on the board for Diamonds in the 47th over.
1:23 – 5 overs to go and Diamonds are 286/4.
1:18 – 100 partnership between Armitage and Heath.
1:16 – 100 for Hollie Armitage from 110 balls. Diamonds 268/4.
1:13 – 50 for Bess Heath from 31 balls. Diamonds 264/4 in the 43rd over.
1:02 – Diamonds 234/4 after 40 overs.
12:58 – Diamonds 224/4. A top edged six over long leg from Armitage brings up the 50 partnership for the 5th wicket from 37 balls.
12:48 – Diamonds 201/4 after 36 overs.
12:32 – WICKET!! Diamonds 169/4. Leah Dobson skies Chloe Skelton into the safe hands of Katie George.
12:24 – Diamonds 158/3 after 30 overs.
12:16 – WICKET!! Diamonds 150/3. Kalis is caught behind off the bowling of Alex Griffiths for 8.
12:13 – Diamonds 147/2. Alex Griffiths is into the attack at the River End.
12:11 – 50 for Hollie Armitage from 69 balls.
12:06 – 25 overs gone and Diamonds are 137/2.
11:58 – WICKET!! Diamonds 128/2. Winfield-Hill goes big again but Dani Gibson takes an outstanding diving catch in front of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion and the England batter goes for 74.
11:41 – Another boundary from Winfield-Hill brings up the Diamonds’ hundred and the hundred partnership.
11:38 – Diamonds 96/1. A change of ends for Lauren Filer. She has the ball in her hand at the River End.
11:36 – That’s 50 for Lauren Winfield-Hill from 56 balls. Diamonds 95/1 in the 17th over.
11:20 – Diamonds 70/1. A brilliant piece of fielding by Katie George. Her full length dive prevents a certain boundary.
11:12 – That’s close! A big appeal for a run out from Western Storm as Nat Wraith removes the bails, but Winfield-Hill just makes it in time. A direct hit and she would have gone!
11:09 – 10 overs gone and the Diamonds are 56/1.
11:07 – 50 on the board for the Diamonds in the 10th over. That’s also the 50 partnership for the second wicket between Winfield-Hill and Armitage.
11:02 – Diamonds 47/1. Sophia Smale is on at the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End.
10:59 – Diamonds 41/1. Katie George is into the attack at the River End.
10:35 – WICKET! Diamonds 3/1. Linsey Smith top edges Claire Nicholas and Chloe Skelton runs around to take the catch.
10:34 – Diamonds 2/0 – Claire Nicholas will bowl the second over of the innings.
10:30 – Lauren Filer will open the bowling from the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End. Lauren Winfield-Hill will face the first delivery.
10:00 – Northern Diamonds win the toss and elect to bat.
THE MATCH
Western Storm take on Northern Diamonds in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy at The Cooper Associates County Ground tomorrow (Sunday September 11th).
This 50-over match will get underway at 10:30am.
Before the match, a minute’s silence will be observed followed by the national anthem. All players and coaches will wear black armbands.
Tickets for this match are available now.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Gates will open at 9:30am.
Entry will be via the Sir Viv Richards Gates (Priory Bridge Road) and Jack White Gates (St James Street) only.
Seating will be available in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion, the Ondaatje Stands and on Gimblett’s’ Hill.
Refreshments will be available in Stragglers Coffee House and in the concession unit in the lower tier of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
This match will be live streamed and you can keep up to date via the Western Storm website.
In addition to this, a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.
HEAD TO HEAD
The two sides have met only once in this competition.
The fixture was in September 2021 at the Emirates Riverside and Northern Diamonds won by seven wickets.
The hosts won the toss and elected to field.
Sophie Luff top scored with 65 for Western Storm, but Linsey Smith took five for 34 as the visitors were restricted to 183 all out.
Stephanie Hutchins claimed two for 27, but 68 not out from Hollie Armitage helped to ensure that the Diamonds claimed a bonus point victory.
TEAM NEWS
Claire Nicholas and Lauren Parfitt return to the squad, and a starting XI will be named from the following players: Sophie Luff (c), Fran Wilson, Fi Morris, Katie George, Danielle Gibson, Claire Nicholas, Lauren Parfitt, Nat Wraith, Alex Griffiths, Nicole Harvey, Lauren Filer, Mollie Robbins, Sophia Smale, Niamh Holland and Bethan Gammon.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the game, Head Coach, Trevor Griffin said: “We all love playing at Taunton and it means a lot to all of us. We always get great support there and it’s a fantastic place for us to end our home matches in the competition this year.
“We always get quality wickets at Taunton and the ground staff support the women’s game really well. The staff at the Club really make us feel like a part of the family and that’s why we always look forward to playing there.
“It’s been a mixed season for us, but I’ve been impressed by the young players who have been given an opportunity and taken that chance.”
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Everything you need to know can be found at the at the Somerset CCC website
NEXT MATCH
Western Storm’s next fixture is in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy when we take on Thunder at Emirates Old Trafford
