Recent Match Report – SE Stars vs Diamonds 18th Match 2023

Northern diamonds 178 7 (Kalis 66*, Winfield-Hill 45) to win Southeast stars 223 (Dunkley 101*, Woolston 5-37) by three wickets (DLS method)

Dutchman Kalis held his nerve amid the loss of three quick wickets as the Diamonds slumped from 146 for 2 to 150 for 5. But later, with four needed from Bryony Smith, Lizzie Scott hit the winner with two balls to spare. remaining.

The champion has now won three and lost two of his opening five games. The Stars have the same record but are a point better at 15 ahead of the start of the Charlotte Edwards Cup next week.

When Woolston took advantage of the extra bounce from the Peasholm Park End, Dunkley was braced before opening his shoulder late on. Dunkley hit three fours in a 60-ball fifty before reaching 100 off 100 balls, including four fours and a drawn six.

After calling a Stars punt, Woolston caught Aylish Cranstone – an overturned extra bounce – on Leah Dobson’s run to short half past the front edge, leaving the Stars trailing 9 to 1 in the third.

Captain Smith and fellow England all-rounder Alice Davidson-Richards then similarly dropped Woolston and pulled him to Abi Glen with a deep hand. The first catch was an excellent effort at head height after a particularly well struck shot. In between, opener Kira Chathli edged behind the same bowler.

The Davidson-Richards wicket was the first of two wickets to fall in the 11th over when the in-form Paige Scholfield caught and ran from Woolston’s leading edge.

Priced at 55 for five, the 20-year-old from Stockton-on-Tees enjoyed a day to remember in just his sixth senior appearance for the Diamonds.

Kalis then took an excellent low catch behind to help fellow Abigail Glen dismiss Phoebe Franklin for 26, ending a 45-run battle with Dunkley. And hope for the Stars’ recovery was now almost entirely in Dunkley’s hands.

The wires falling around him forced a more reserved approach. But after Woolston’s new ball partner Scott struck twice to remove Tash Farrant and Ryana Macdonald-Gay to leave Stars 154 for 8 in the 31st over, Dunkley decided to change his approach. He pulled Hollie Armitage’s leg-spinner for a six and hit three more boundaries on leg.

Early on the Diamonds had taken an excellent catch but Scott and Heath both gave simple wickets with Dunkley on 85 and 100.

Dunkley received significant support from her England team-mate Freya Davies, who contributed 15 wins to a ninth-ball 68.

The Diamonds then showed the value of a good start as openers Lauren Winfield-Hill and Kalis shared 88. With the threat of rain, they eased into Duckworth Lewis Stern’s course. Winfield-Hill led with 45 off 58 balls, including a drawn six off a full toss by Davidson-Richards. When the rain started to fall just before 4:15 p.m., he broke Macdonald-Gay’s seam. But the Diamonds were still ahead of the course.

Going on almost half an hour later their strong position was under threat despite an aggressive 33 from Bess Heath. She was the first of three quick falls, including Chloe Tryon’s run to a golden duck as the score fell to 150. 5 31. over.

Later the target became four off the last over with 174 for 6 and Smith’s bowling. But Scott picked him up midway through to secure a four-point lift.