Vipers and Sparks progress to Finals Day
Charlie Dean was playing only her third game of this season's Charlotte Edwards Cup for Southern Vipers
- Published
England's Charlie Dean and Amy Jones hit half-centuries as Southern Vipers and Central Sparks made certain of places at Finals Day in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.
Dean reached 50 off only 29 balls and finished unbeaten on 64 as Vipers, trophy winners for the past two seasons, beat Northern Diamonds by five wickets at the Utilita Bowl.
Jones found the boundary from the final two balls of the game at Edgbaston as Sparks won by eight wickets against Thunder in a thrilling finish.
Jones (67 off 45 balls) and Abbey Freeborn (71 off 57) shared an unbroken stand of 128 after 19-year-old Seren Smale made the highest score in this season's competition of 88 not out off 61 balls in Thunder's 146-6.
Thunder's defeat means second-placed South East Stars will join Vipers and Sparks at Derby on 22 June along with unbeaten group leaders The Blaze, who were already guaranteed to progress to Finals Day.
Dynamic Dean rescues Vipers
Vipers went into their game against the bottom-of-the-table Diamonds with England batter Danni Wyatt in their side, but Hollie Armitage celebrated her 27th birthday with an unbeaten 69 off 60 balls as the visitors posted 145-4.
She shared stands of 66 and 58 with Sterre Kalis and Bess Heath, who made 32 and 31 respectively, while England's Lauren Bell took 2-31.
Maia Bouchier was bowled third ball by Rachel Slater as Vipers began their reply and Wyatt was starved of strike, facing only three deliveries in the first four overs.
Wickets fell at regular intervals and when she was caught off Armitage for 28, they were 67-5 in the 11th over, with Diamonds on course for only their second win.
But Dean hit three fours in a row off Katherine Fraser as she raced to her 50 and a couple of runs off Erin Burns saw them to 146-5 with seven balls to spare.
Hollie Armitage's half-century was in a losing cause for Northern Diamonds
Thunder hopes disappear
Thunder made a bad start against a Sparks side minus regular skipper Eve Jones, who was unable to play because of concussion protocols, as Fi Morris and Katie Mack departed for ducks to leave them 3-2.
Emma Lamb (25) helped Smale - who had an early let-off when she edged Grace Potts between the keeper and first slip - steady the innings as they put on 61 in nine overs and the youngster reached her maiden T20 fifty off 41 balls.
Chasing a target of 147, Sparks lost Ami Campbell the first over as she skied a catch off Kate Cross and they were 22-2 in the sixth as Sophie Ecclestone turned one past Davina Perrin's bat and she was stumped.
Jones and Freeborn rose to the challenge, and the former hit a beautiful straight six off England spinner Ecclestone, as Sparks stayed in the hunt, with 10 needed off the last over.
Phoebe Graham began it with a wide, and four singles followed before Jones settled the outcome with back-to-back fours to mid-off and extra cover.
Saturday fixture
The Oval: South East Stars v Sunrisers (14:30 BST)
Sunday fixtures
Worcester: Central Sparks v Southern Vipers (10:30)
Headingley: Northern Diamonds v Western Storm (11:00)
Derby: The Blaze v South East Stars (12:00)