Summary

  • South East Stars reach 139-5 to win final by five wickets

  • Alice Capsey's 40 not out sees them home after slump from 71-0 to 85-4

  • Northern Diamonds totalled 138-4 in the final after opting to bat first

  • Skipper Hollie Armitage top scored for Diamonds with 59 not out off 48 balls

  • Earlier, Diamonds beat Southern Vipers by 18 runs in eliminator game

  • England's Lauren Winfield-Hill hit 65 off 49 balls for Diamonds

  • Jenny Gunn made 22 not out in their score of 135-6

  • Vipers were bowled out for 117; Gunn taking 4-26

  1. Stars 88-4 - target 139published at 11 overs

    Capsey 7, Davidson-Richards 2

    Alice Davidson-Richards is under way with a couple from the final ball of the over - 51 from 54 balls needed by Stars. The equation is still in their favour, but they can't afford to throw away more wickets.

  2. Postpublished at 18:10 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Robbie James
    BBC Radio Solent commentator

    Quote Message

    There's something going on here for the Stars. It all started with Aylish Cranstone who was playing so well before she went. We said that their heart rate would be on the increase but it really will be now.

  3. wicket

    WICKET Franklin c Gunn b Levick 0published at 10.4 overs

    Stars 85-4 v Diamonds 138-4

    GunnImage source, Rex Features

    What on earth was Phoebe Franklin thinking?

    She tries to launch only her second ball faced into orbit and it drops into the welcoming hands of Jenny Gunn at long-on.

    From a position of control for Stars, the match is now back in the balance.

  4. Postpublished at 18:05 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Jemma Green
    Former Hampshire Women player

    Quote Message

    I think from this stage it looks to be going very much in the stars favour. The opening partnership certainly broke the back of this run chase.

  5. wicket

    WICKET Gibbs c Winfield-Hill b Levick 3published at 10.1 overs

    Stars 84-3 v Diamonds 138-4

    Unnecessary.

    Anyone who watched the earlier eliminator game could tell you that if you're going to hit it into the air near a Diamonds fielder, don't choose Lauren Winfield-Hill.

    Sure enough, the England player makes no mistake and Grace Gibbs is gone.

  6. Stars 84-2 - target 139published at 10 overs

    Capsey 5, Gibbs 3

    Diamonds were 67-3 at the half-way stage of their innings, so Stars are well ahead by that measure.

    New batter Grace Gibbs has the luxury of being able to 'take a look' and keeps the strike with a single off Linsey Smith's final delivery of the over.

  7. wicket

    WICKET Smith b L Smith 37published at 9.1 overs

    Stars 81-2 v Diamonds 138-4

    Bryony Smith tries to cut, but there isn't room for that stroke and she chops it into her stumps.

    Both Stars openers gone now - well bowled for that one, Linsey Smith.

  8. Stars 81-1 - target 139published at 9 overs

    Smith 37, Capsey 5

    Alice Capsey is immediately away with a boundary and, showing the confidence of youth, steps away to leg for a cover drive which only brings her a single.

    A poor ball follows and Bryony Smith belts it through mid-off for another boundary. The loss of Aylish Cranstone's wicket clearly isn't going to cramp her style - 58 from 66 balls needed.

  9. Postpublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Robbie James
    BBC Radio Solent commentator

    Quote Message

    Stepped on her stumps. Cranstone goes. Regardless of that, she's got her side off to a great start here. It's an end that's opened up and we know it's difficult to start on this pitch.

  10. wicket

    WICKET Cranstone hit wicket b MacDonald 35published at 8.1 overs

    Stars 71-1 v Diamonds 138-4

    Cranstone outImage source, Rex Features

    Has anyone trodden on their own stumps in a limited-overs final before?

    Feel free to consult the record books.

    Aylish Cranstone cannot believe what she has done - but there is an understandable mood of relief among the Diamonds team.

  11. Stars 71-0 - target 139published at 8 overs

    Smith 32, Cranstone 35

    Diamonds captain Hollie Armitage didn't bowl in the earlier eliminator game - but she's bowling now.

    A long hop is hammered away for four by Bryony Smith, who clubs the next one straight back over the bowler's head. A shot straight out of the baseball coaching book that one.

    Armtiage tries her luck from round the wicket and Smith doesn't make contact with a couple of agricultural heaves, but expends far less effort in sweeping the final delivery for four.

    South East Stars are cruising at the moment.

  12. Postpublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Test Match Special

    Quote Message

    Bryony Smith has also been impressive. She has seen that Cranstone is dominating and has just taken her foot off the gas to play sensibly.

  13. Stars 58-0 - target 139published at 7 overs

    Smith 20, Cranstone 34

    Aylish CranstoneImage source, Getty Images

    Can Alex MacDonald force a breakthrough for the Diamonds?

    Not like that, as Aylish Cranstone sweeps her away for four.

    Cranstone then gets right underneath a slower ball, but it falls to earth safely with no-one placed at an orthodox mid-wicket.

  14. Postpublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Test Match Special

    Quote Message

    Aylish Cranstone has been really impressive. If you look at the strike rate, 139.1, that's been as impressive as anything we've seen on the day.

  15. Stars 50-0 - target 139published at 6 overs

    Smith 19, Cranstone 28

    The umpire is unmoved when keeper Bess Heath claims a catch as Aylish Cranstone attempts a slog-sweep.

    Undeterred, she tries the shot again and a top edge brings her two runs to mid-wicket before a single brings up 50 for the Stars.

    They'll be pretty content with this start - 89 needed now off 14 overs, that's only just above a run per ball and all 10 wickets are still intact.

  16. Postpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Test Match Special

    Quote Message

    The Diamonds will be desperate to break this partnership. At the moment, all the plans to stem the flow of runs have been in vein.

  17. 6 runs

    Stars 46-0 - target 139published at 5 overs

    Smith 18, Cranstone 25

    CranstoneImage source, Getty Images

    Aylish Cranstone swings Linsey Smith away and an undistinguished fielding effort by Katie Levick gifts her four runs.

    The first maximum of the innings follows as Cranstone clears the rope at mid-wicket.

    Was that a chance to end the over? If it was, Levick is unable to take cleanly as she sprawls forward.

  18. Postpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Jemma Green
    Former Hampshire Women player

    Quote Message

    I would fancy the South East Stars feel like they've got the upper hand at this stage.

  19. Stars 34-0 - target 139published at 4 overs

    Smith 17, Cranstone 14

    Timing has to be spot on against Katie Levick because the amount of loop in her bowling. Aylish Cranstone takes one with a well-timed sweep, but the only other addition is a wide as Bryony Smith cannot find a way through the off-side field.

  20. Postpublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Test Match Special

    Quote Message

    She may feel as though she has missed out here, Bryony Smith, because a couple have sat up really nicely to be hit, but she's not managed to get them away.