The second match of the day saw Northern Diamonds facing off against Lightning at Chester-le-Street. Northern Diamonds won their last game against Central Sparks while Lightning lost their game against Thunder. Northern Diamonds won the toss and opted to bat first. They again had Lauren Winfield, Nat Sciver, and Lauren Smith in their ranks for this match. On the other hand, Lightning had Tammy Beaumont and Kirstie Gordon on the side.
Northern Diamonds were in all sorts of trouble early on, set back by Kathryn Bryce as they lost their first 4 wickets for just 24 runs including that of Lauren Winfield and Katherine Brunt. Nat Sciver held one end together and formed a partnership with Jenny Gunn worth 54 runs. Jenny Gunn departed for 20 with the score on 79/5, Bethan Ellis breaking the partnership. She also took the wicket of Bess Heath soon after and Diamonds were reduced to 84/6. Alex Macdonald joined Nat Sciver as she completed her half-century off only 62 balls. Together, she forged a partnership of 84 runs as they tried repairing the damage. Teresa Graves came on and broke the partnership, taking Macdonald’s wicket when she was on 28. Linsey Smith made a quick-fire 22-ball 23 in a bid to accelerate the scoring as Nat Sciver completed a century off 106 balls. Smith was dismissed by Sophie Munro with the score now at 210/8 with Sciver following soon after. They batted out their remaining overs to reach 226/9. Nat Sciver scored 104 off 116 balls while Kathryn Bryce picked up 5 wickets for 29 runs from the Diamonds side.
With 227 runs to get in 50 overs, Lightning built an excellent platform with an opening stand worth 117 at around the half-way mark. Tammy Beaumont scored a half-century but departed in the same over while Sarah Bryce departed soon after for 57. Kathryn Bryce was playing solidly at one end but Nat Sciver picked up another 2 wickets in the same over to leave them at 152/4 in the 37th over. Kathryn Bryce played well for her half-century off 66 balls, but the innings had already been stalled with Ria Fackrell scoring only 8 runs in the 23 balls that she faced and was dismissed by Jenny Gunn with the score at 204/5 in the 48th over. With 13 needed from 16 balls, it was virtually anyone’s game but Jenny Gunn and Katherine Brunt put the brakes on their scoring as Lightning fell short by 9 runs. Kathryn Bryce remained unbeaten on 71 runs off 81 balls as they ended on 217/7 in their 50 overs. Among the bowlers, Nat Sciver, Jenny Gunn, and Linsey Smith took 2 wickets each.
With Diamonds winning both games, they reached the top of the table as the Lightning are languishing at the bottom. They next face each other on 5th September with Lightning looking to settle the score.
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Brief Scores
Northern Diamonds – 226/9 in 50 overs (N Sciver – 104, K Bryce – 5/29)
Lightning – 217/7 in 50 overs (K Bryce – 71, S Bryce – 57, T Beaumont – 51, N Sciver – 2/30, L Smith – 2/36, J Gunn – 2/47)
Northern Diamonds won by 9 runs