Emily Windsor, Tara Norris rally Vipers to name defence

Duo percentage unbroken stand value 78 after Diamonds put them at the ropes

Southern Vipers 187 for 7 (Windsor 47*, Norris 40*, Gunn 3-31) beat Northern Diamonds 183 (Campbell 60, Adams 4-35) via 3 wickets

Emily Windsor and Tara Norris staged a past due rally as Southern Vipers stole victory from Northern Diamonds in a dramatic Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Ultimate at Wantage Street.

Vipers regarded for the entire global like they’d arise quick of their pursuit of 184 when Katie Levick, who took 1 for 20, and Jenny Gunn, with 3 for 31, lowered them to 109 for 7.

Then again, Portsmouth-born Windsor scored an unbeaten 47 and Norris – who had previous returned 2 for 36 – used to be 40 now not out to trump the Diamonds with an unbeaten stand of 78 because the reigning champions sneaked house via 3 wickets with two balls to spare.

All this got here after Ami Campbell’s 60 – her 2nd half-century in 4 days – dragged Diamonds from 116 for 8 to 183 all out, Vipers captain Georgia Adams taking 4 for 35.

It supposed extra heartbreak for Diamonds, who misplaced to Vipers in ultimate 12 months’s ultimate and who had been bridesmaids on the Charlotte Edwards Cup showpiece previous this month.

Diamonds despatched Linsey Smith in to open, however hopes that she would pinch-hit proved unfounded, although Hollie Armitage used to be first to move, bowled via Paige Scholfield.

Smith limped to 31 from 65 balls earlier than changing into the primary of Adams’s sufferers, sparking a cave in the place 3 wickets fell for a unmarried.

Bess Heath struck the primary boundary for 11 overs earlier than Norris trapped her lbw, replays suggesting the ball pitched outdoor leg stump. Every other cave in adopted, 4 wickets tumbling for 4 runs, and at 116 for 8 Diamonds had been in dire straits.

Campbell although refused to move quietly, hanging 4 limitations to achieve 50 in 63 balls and by the point she holed out within the ultimate over the past two wickets had mustered 67.

Their overall of 183 regarded value extra when Beth Langston bowled Adams and Ella McCaughan, each for nought, to go away Vipers 6 for two.

Maia Bouchier, launched from the England squad to play within the ultimate, struck the sport’s first six – a simple pull over sq. leg – however Phoebe Graham got rid of Georgia Elwiss stuck at the back of.

Bouchier solid on, taking two fours from one Graham over handiest be stumped via Heath off the spin of Levick, who in corporate with Smith slowed the run chase to a move slowly.

With the drive mounting, Jenny Gunn castled Gaby Lewis, earlier than having Scholfield stunningly stuck via Armitage and trapping Carla Rudd first ball.

However Norris stored the hat-trick and so started the match-winning stand.

“A dramatic recreation of cricket with a large number of ups and downs,” Norris mentioned. “I believed we bowled in reality neatly initially and we knew it used to be an achievable overall to chase down.

“Once I walked out I simply mentioned to Winny [Windsor] ‘we have now were given to take it deep, if we bat the 50 overs we win the sport’. So it used to be about conserving our nerve simply that little bit longer, taking part in our standard cricket, not anything prime chance. I suppose it used to be simply natural need.”

Gunn mentioned: “I do not in reality assume it will have to have were given that shut with simply two balls left and that simply presentations how neatly we bowled, but in addition it is traumatic that they had a 78-run partnership on the finish.

“It is irritating not to win a last, however what are you able to do? That is cricket and why we play recreation. It is not as though we did not give it the whole lot, I am pleased with the entire women.”