Georgia Elwiss inspires Vipers as Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy returns

Wolverhampton's Georgia Elwiss hit her second Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy half-century of 2024

Georgia Elwiss hit a match-winning half-century as Southern Vipers edged ahead of Sunrisers at the top on the return of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

While Sunrisers, Northern Diamonds and The Blaze all won too as 50-over cricket took over again after a month of 20-over Charlotte Edwards Cup action, it was Vipers' seven-wicket victory over Western Storm that lifted the four-times winners into top spot.

Mary Taylor and skipper Georgia Adams each took three wickets as Southern Vipers bowled out Western Storm in just 37 overs for 156, of which Fran Wilson top scored with 34.

But the Vipers made short work of it, largely thanks to a second-wicket stand of 73 between Ella McCaughan (49) and Elwiss.

Adams went cheaply, but Elwiss stayed on to hit 10 fours as Vipers won off the fourth ball of the 30th over.

Sophie Munro produced a stunning spell on her RHF Trophy debut for Sunrisers as they edged to a tense 30-run win over Lancashire Thunder at Chelmsford.

The home side made 253, which might have been higher but for a middle-order collapse after an opening stand of 94 from skipper Grace Scrivens (51) and Jo Gardner (63).

Left-arm spinner Hannah Jones took 4-50 to become the tournament’s joint highest wicket-taker with 14.

Naomi Dattani’s knock of 36 seemed likely to steer Thunder home, but Sunrisers lost six wickets for 52 to be bowled out for 224.

Seamer Munro, on loan from The Blaze, took 5-25, including three wickets in four balls and the key scalp of ex-Sunrisers player Dattani, as she helped earn a first victory over Thunder in any format.

At the bottom of the table, a week on from beating South East Stars in the 20-over format to win the Charlotte Edwards Cup final for the first and maybe only the time, The Blaze maintained their dominance over the longer 50-over distance.

In a slightly rain-affected 44-over game at Beckenham, The Blaze won by 133 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

Sarah Bryce top-scored with 81, Ella Claridge made a career-best 71 from 45 balls and Marie Kelly weighed in with 52 as the visitors ran up 318- 8, their highest List A score.

Heather Graham then took 6-39 as the Stars were bowled out for 185, despite a defiant 44 from Alice Davidson-Richards.

Northern Diamonds made it five wins in seven games as they beat Central Sparks by four wickets at Scarborough.

Katie Levick took 4-46 as Sparks posted 239-8 at North Marine Road, helped by half-centuries from Katie George (52) and Davina Perrin (50).

Bess Heath then led the way with an unbeaten 58, backed by good efforts up top from Emma Marlow (55) and Lauren Winfield-Hill (46) as the Diamonds got home with six overs to spare.