Sunrisers 126 for 4 (Gardner 30*, Miller 20*, Corridor 2-36) beat Northern Diamonds 114 for six (Heath 37, Grey 2-24) by six wickets (DLS methodology)
The Northern Diamonds’ title defence within the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy is over – their destiny sealed throughout an exhilarating final-day group defeat towards Sunrisers at Durham.
The Diamonds wanted to beat the Sunrisers – additionally eradicated at present – on the Seat Distinctive Riverside to have any likelihood of development for the knockout levels subsequent week.
However different outcomes additionally wanted to go their approach, which they did not and have been confirmed because the Diamonds have been about to begin their defence of a revised goal of 126 in 18 overs, which got here right down to the guests needing 10 off the final over.
Sunrisers, who wanted a bonus victory amidst a bunch of different issues to go their strategy to end within the prime three locations, then hunted down their Duckworth Lewis Stern goal for the lack of 4 wickets with three balls to spare.
After visiting captain Grace Scrivens elected to bowl, Grey bowled key duo Lauren Winfield-Hill and Hollie Armitage with two stunning nip-backers, leaving Diamonds at 26 for two within the fifth over.
The one which bowled Winfield-Hill for 1 uprooted leg-stump and the one which eliminated captain Armitage for 13 flattened off.
The Diamonds, led by Netherlands worldwide opener Sterre Kalis, did fairly effectively to regular the ship in difficult circumstances – a gray sky, floodlights on and particular nip off the pitch. They reached 47 for two after 10 overs, with Kalis pulling a few crisp boundaries in 28.
Sadly for her, she fell within the eleventh when Kelly Fortress took a surprising one-handed catch peddling again from mid-off to assist leg-spinner Jodi Grewcock strike – 51 for 3.
Heath then got here in and confirmed important intent and went on to hit three fours and a six – the latter over midwicket.
She hammered Grewcock down the bottom for her first boundary, and it appeared as if she was making an attempt to up the speed for the Diamonds with the rain having returned.
Umpires Hasan Adnan and Gabi Brown referred to as for the covers to return simply after 3pm, with the Diamonds 68 for 3 after 13 overs.
Play resumed at 4.20pm, with the Diamonds batting for 5 extra overs. Heath hit her for six however was considered one of three batters who holed out as Fortress, Mady Villiers and Scrivens all struck.
On-loan seamer Sophia Turner then bowled an attacking Scrivens for 11, leaving Sunrisers at 20 for 1 within the fourth over of their chase.
Sunrisers steadied and stored in contact, as opener Ariana Dowse – a centurion earlier this week in victory over Blaze – made her strategy to 27.
However she fell as considered one of two wickets in three balls to seamers Grace Corridor and Phoebe Turner because the rating fell to 60 for 3 within the eleventh over.
Dowse miscued Corridor into the covers and Villiers discovered deep square-leg off Turner. It felt a giant second, however not so. Corridor struck once more when she bowled Amara Carr for 29, leaving the rating at 77 for 4 within the thirteenth over.
Sunrisers stored in contact due to some clear hitting, mainly from Gardner, who hoisted Corridor for six over long-on within the penultimate over. The sport was then sealed by a Lizzie Scott huge.
The Diamonds failing to qualify for the knockout levels means subsequent Sunday’s remaining at Northampton would be the first time in 4 years that this competitors’s showpiece will probably be contested by anyone else however the Diamonds and the Southern Vipers. The latter have certified, although.
The Diamonds suffered their seventh defeat, whereas the Sunrisers gained for the sixth time on this competitors. They hadn’t gained a 50-over in three seasons previous to 2023, so development for them is clear.
