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. Postpublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Robbie James
    BBC Radio Solent commentator

    Quote Message

    It's that question now as to whether or not it's a plus to have played the semi-final and already have a game under your belt, or whether you want to be the fresh South East Stars side.

  2. Postpublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Kalea Moore to share the new ball then with Alice Capsey as she opens from the Hotel End...

  3. Diamonds 4-0published at 1 over

    First three balls from Alice Capsey are driven straight back to her by Leah Dobson before the right-hander then lofts a drive over the infield for a couple.

    It was in the air for a while and Stars were interested, but away in goes.

    Bess Heath gets off the mark from the final ball with a full toss pulled into the legside.

    Steady start from both sides.

  4. Let's play!published at 15:59 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Bryony Smith leads out the South East Stars past the trophy that's on offer for these two sides.

    Bess Heath and Leah Dobson stride out to open yet again for Northern Diamonds and we're all set to go in this final.

    Alice Capsey will open the bowling for Stars from the Pavilion End...

  5. Postpublished at 15:57 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    South East Stars v Northern Diamonds (16:00 BST)

    AgeasImage source, BBC Sport

    "Home" side Southern Vipers may well have lost out in the eliminator earlier, but that's not deterred anyone from heading home early here.

    In fact, the numbers have swelled with some vocal South East Stars supporters also in attendance now.

    The weather has certainly played ball for these finals, so fingers crossed the cricket matches it.

  6. Listen live to every ball of the finalpublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    As earlier, we've got live ball-by-ball commentary of this final available for you on the BBC Sport website and app from our colleagues at BBC Radio Solent and Test Match Special.

    Henry Moeran and Robbie James will be joined by former Hampshire women's player Jemma Green.

    Tap or click the play icon at the top of this page to hear it.

  7. Player to watch - Jenny Gunnpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    South East Stars v Northern Diamonds - play starts 16:00 BST

    Jenny GunnImage source, Rex Features

    At the opposite end of the age scale to Alice Capsey is 35-year-old former England all-rounder Jenny Gunn.

    How many more big occasions she has left in her career remains to be seen, but as she showed in Diamonds' win over Southern Vipers earlier this afternoon, she still has plenty to offer any side.

    She is their leading wicket-taker with 13 and her unbeaten 22 off 14 balls against the Vipers, including two final-over sixes, showed she has the power than can make a difference.

    If Diamonds are to lift the trophy, it will be surprise if Gunn doesn't make a significant contribution at some point during the final.

  8. Player to watch - Alice Capseypublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    South East Stars v Northern Diamonds - play starts 16:00 BST

    Alice CapseyImage source, Rex Features

    Alice Capsey of South East Stars may be young, but she is certainly not afraid of responsibility.

    Batting at number three in the order and opening the bowling, the 17-year-old was a key figure as they advanced to the Charlotte Edwards Cup final as group winners.

    She contributed 163 runs, including an excellent 61 off 46 balls against Southern Vipers, and took seven wickets at a respectable economy rate of 5.35.

    Capsey has already been a member of one Trophy-winning team this summer - with Oval Invincibles in The Hundred.

  9. A little earlier....published at 15:48 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Eliminator: Diamonds beat Vipers by 18 runs

    In case you weren't with us earlier on, read how Lauren Winfield-Hill's 65 and runs and wickets from Jenny Gunn set up Diamonds for a win against Vipers and a meeting with South East Stars in this final.

    Diamonds see off Vipers to reach final

    Northern Diamonds beat Southern Vipers by 18 runs to set up a final showdown with South East Stars in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.

    Read More
  10. Diamonds win toss and bat firstpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    South East Stars v Northern Diamonds (play starts 16:00 BST)

    Diamonds skipper Hollie Armitage wins the toss again and again she chooses to bat first.

    Bryony Smith says she would've also batted first had South East Stars won it, but after qualifying automatically for the final, she's confident of getting the job done.

    Stars are without England internationals Tash Farrant, Freya Davies and Sofia Dunkley for this match.

    Chloe Brewer and Alexa Stonehouse, Ryana MacDonald-Gay are out from their group win against Central Sparks.

    Alice Capsey, Phoebe Franklin and Grace Gibbs are in.

    Diamonds are unchanged from their eliminator win against Vipers.

    South East Stars: Aylish Cranstone, Bryony Smith (capt), Kirstie White, Alice Capsey, Phoebe Franklin, Alice Davidson-Richards, Kira Chathli (wk), Kalea Moore, Emma Jones, Grace Gibbs, Dani Gregory.

    Northern Diamonds: Bess Heath (wk), Leah Dobson, Sterre Kalis, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Hollie Armitage (capt), Jenny Gunn, Rachel Hopkins, Alex MacDonald, Rachel Slater, Katie Levick, Linsey Smith.

  11. Postpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Let's not waste any time and bring you news of the toss from a short while ago and how these two sides will line up...

  12. Back at itpublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    South East Stars v Northern Diamonds (16:00 BST)

    Caught your breath yet? Been for a mid-finals stroll?

    Well just under an hour since the eliminator reached its conclusion, we're almost ready to go for the inaugural Charlotte Edwards Cup final.

    South East Stars v Northern Diamonds battling it out to be domestic T20 champions and it all starts in under 15 minutes....

  13. Postpublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    We are going to take a short break before the final between South East Stars and Northern Diamonds - but we'll be back with you from about 15:45 BST with all the build-up.

  14. 'Building partnerships' was key - Winfield-Hillpublished at 15:03 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Player of the match Northern Diamonds batter Lauren Winfield-Hill:

    "Winning the toss and batting first, we knew we'd have a good chance of getting in and posting a decent score.

    "We felt if we could build partnerships, we would be able to hang in there and post a good score.

    "We gave ourselves a chance and Jenny Gunn's big hits in the last over gave us the momentum.

    "The bowlers then came along and backed that up for us."

  15. Diamonds worthy finalistspublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Northern Diamonds beat Southern Vipers by 18 runs

    DiamondsImage source, Getty Images

    That was a really excellent all-round performance by Northern Diamonds and so it will be the two group winners who contest the inaugural Charlotte Edwards Cup final.

    One dropped catch apart, Hollie Armitage's side outplayed Southern Vipers in every aspect of the game.

    And it was a result that will be even sweeter after they lost to the same opponents at Edgbaston in last year's 50-over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final.

  16. DIAMONDS BEAT VIPERS BY 18 RUNSpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 5 September 2021
    Breaking

    Northern Diamonds 135-6 v Southern Vipers 117

    So Vipers coach Charlotte Edwards won't be seeing her team lift the trophy that bears her name.

    A disappointing run-chase comes to an end as Carla Rudd slogs a catch to Leah Dobson at deep mid-wicket and is out for five.

    Jenny Gunn finished with 4-26, to go with her unbeaten 22 off 14 balls at the end of the Diamonds innings.

    Star of the show, though, was England's Lauren Winfield-Hill with her composed innings of 65 off 49. It'll be South East Stars v Northern Diamonds in the final, starting at 16:00.

  17. wicket

    WICKET Chandler run out 4published at 19.2 overs

    Vipers 114-9 v Diamonds

    Ella Chandler tries to come back for two, but it's not even close as she is run out by Rachel Hopkins' throw. Will Vipers survive their 20 overs?

  18. Postpublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Test Match Special

    Quote Message

    There would need to be a major series of errors from Diamonds if they're not to make it to final from here.

  19. Vipers 111-8 - target 136published at 19 overs

    Rudd 4, Chandler 1

    A single to Ella Chandler, but Vipers need 25 from the final over.

    Even six successive fours would only be good enough for a tie.

  20. Postpublished at 14:47 British Summer Time 5 September 2021

    Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Test Match Special

    Quote Message

    It's one of those that either sticks or goes flying through the hands and on this occasion it sticks for Linsey Smith. Great moment.