Diamonds win thriller to seal spot in Trophy semis

Rebecca Duckworth reached a maiden 50-over half-century for Northern Diamonds

Northern Diamonds sealed a place in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy semi-finals with a thrilling last-ball victory over three-time winners Southern Vipers at Headingley.

Captain Georgia Adams scored 57 and took 4-30 for Vipers but Rachel Slater hit two runs off Rebecca Tyson's final delivery to long-on as the Diamonds reached 241-9 to win by one wicket.

South East Stars moved above Vipers into second place in the group table as they defeated Central Sparks by 20 runs, thanks mainly to Kira Chathli (80) and Alice Davidson-Richards (70).

The Blaze climbed into the top four with a 24-run win at Lancashire Thunder, while Sunrisers dropped to fifth after losing to bottom-of-the-table Western Storm.

Diamonds secured a home semi-final at Headingley with their win - they have 41 points from 13 games, six clear of the Stars, with Vipers one point further back.

The Blaze, meanwhile, will look to beat Central Sparks on Friday, with Vipers and Sunrisers set for a potential win-or-bust showdown the following day.

The semi-finals will be played on 14 September, with the final at Leicester following seven days later.

Adams effort in vain for Vipers

Southern Vipers went into the first v second game against group leaders Diamonds on the back of two defeats but Adams laid the foundation for a competitive total with her third half-century of the competition.

She put on 76 with Georgia Elwiss (31) before being bowled by leg-spinner Katie Levick in the 35th over, but loan signing Naomi Dattani raced to 34 off 31 balls as Vipers finished with a score of 240-8.

The Diamonds soon lost opener Lauren Winfield-Hill in reply, but Rebecca Duckworth (51) and Emma Marlow (52) added 91 for the second wicket.

When Marlow was bowled by an Elwiss off-cutter, they were 122-4 and later still needed 76 from the final 10 overs of their innings.

Slater and Levick came together as their final pair in the 47th over with 25 still needed, but held their nerve to see the Diamonds side home in dramatic style.

Ballinger spell paves way to Blaze win

Grace Ballinger's new-ball spell reduced Thunder to 24-4 in the 11th over

At Sale CC, Charlotte Edwards Cup winners The Blaze stayed in contention for a possible double with a 24-run win over Lancashire Thunder that was less comfortable than appeared likely at one stage.

Blaze's innings fell away after a good start which saw them reach 101-2 after 22 overs, with the two Bryces, Sarah and Kathryn, making 34 and 31 respectively.

Fi Morris produced some superb bowling for figures of 6-35, as The Blaze were all out for 195, but a new-ball spell of 4-13 from seven overs by left-armer Grace Ballinger undermined the run chase.

Seren Smale was caught off Orla Prendergast for 13, leaving her just three runs short of 500 in this year's competition, while Tara Norris did her bit to keep Thunder in the hunt with three sixes in an unbeaten 53.

But she ran out of partners as the hosts were bowled out for 173 in the 46th over, Ballinger finishing with 4-23.

Chathli continues excellent form

South East Stars were 76-3 at Moseley CC in Shirley after being put in by Central Sparks before Chathli - who scored her third 50 in four innings - and Davidson-Richards shared 127 for the fourth wicket.

Davidson-Richards' 68-ball knock included two sixes and five fours, while Chathli hit nine boundaries and remained at the crease until the 47th over, despite Katie George's 4-26, before Stars were finally all out for 270.

Youngster Tilly Corteen-Coleman then removed the Sparks openers but Davina Perrin made a sparkling 50 off 51 balls.

When she was caught off Dani Gregory, Chloe Brewer (54) and Bethan Ellis (57) added 103 for the sixth wicket, but both fell to Alexa Stonehouse (3-26) and Sparks could only reach 250-9, leaving the Stars on the brink of qualification.

At Radlett, Sunrisers reduced Western Storm to 84-6 after winning the toss and opting to field first.

Sophie Munro claimed 3-42 but an unbeaten 45 off 42 balls by Amanda-Jane Wellington enabled the Storm to reach 180 all out.

Sunrisers looked on course for their seventh win when Cordelia Griffith (39) and Lissy Macleod (48) were together, only to lose their last six wickets in the space of nine overs for just 20 runs, all out for 150 with Chloe Skelton taking 5-29.

Friday fixture

Chesterfield: The Blaze v Central Sparks

Saturday fixtures

Chester-Le-Street: Northern Diamonds v South East Stars

Utilita Bowl: Southern Vipers v Sunrisers

Taunton: Western Storm v Thunder