The defending champions Surrey Stars started their season with a 9 run victory over Yorkshire Diamonds at Emerald Headingley on tuesday.
Natalie Sciver after winning the toss decided to bat on a slow track. Lizelle Lee and Smith started the proceedings with the bat. Lee started with a couple of boundaries in the first over before she was trapped lbw by the leggie Fenby for 9. Her partner Smith was out caught after a breezy innings of 20 by Armitage on the bowling of Fenby.
Later the experience duo of Sarah Taylor and Skipper Natalie Sciver took the responsibilities of building the Innings , the duo had a partnership of 40 plus runs before the skipper Sciver miscued a leg spinner straight to Kasperek on 24.
Sarah Taylor, who had to withdraw from the later part of the Ashes due to Anxiety problems ,made a good comeback by scoring 43 before she was decieved by a slower one from Kasperek. With the departure of Taylor, it lead to the collapse of Surrey stars to 130 at the end of 20 overs.
The young leg spinner Helen Fenby was the pick of the bowlers from Yorkshire Diamonds , who was well supported by another leggie Leigh Kasperek.
Yorkshire diamonds chasing 131 were off to a great start with the help of Alyssa Healy who looked in a great touch scoring 31 of just 17 balls sadly miscued to Niekerk on the bowling of spinner Mady Villiers. On the other side skipper Lauren Winfield tried to build the Innings , she did not get any support from the middle order batters . All credits to the experienced spinner Laura Marsh who got the wickets of Armitage and Jemimah Rodrigues quickly.
At the halfway stage Diamonds were 75 for 3. It looked like an easy chase , but the collapse started when the skipper Winfield got out trying to scoop in the bowling of Sciver. From 75 for 3 in 10 overs , Diamonds finished their Innings at 121 all-out. Which clearly says the temperament and experience was missing in the middle.
Brief Scores :
Surrey Stars 130/9 (Sarah Taylor 43 , Fenby 4 /20)
beat
Yorkshire Diamonds 121/ 10 ( Healy 31, L Marsh 3 /17 ) by nine runs.