Summary

  • Northern Diamonds beat Southern Vipers by two runs at Lord's

  • Vipers won toss and put Diamonds in

  • Opener Lauren Winfield-Hill makes 65 off 87 balls before being run out

  • Bess Heath made 44 as Diamonds posted a total of 215-9

  • Captain Georgia Adams top-scored with 70 for Vipers

  • Needing 13 off the final over, they finished on 213-9 to lose by two runs

  • Vipers were seeking hat-trick after 2020 and 2021 victories

Live Reporting

Ben Kosky and Paul Grunill

  1. wicket

    WICKET Bouchier c Smith b Armitage 48

    Vipers 98-3 (target 216)

    Hollie Armitage dismisses Maia BouchierGetty Images

    That pressure has paid off for Diamonds as Maia Bouchier, itching to reach her half-century, pounces on a Hollie Armitage full toss and slaps it straight to midwicket!

    Emily Windsor is the new batter.

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  2. Vipers 98-2 (target 216)

    Diamonds are trying to squeeze the batting side now by bringing back Linsey Smith, who conceded just eight from her first six overs.

    The left-arm spinner, now operating from the Pavilion End, sends down a maiden to begin her second spell

  3. Vipers 98-2 (target 216)

    Hollie Armitage almost sneaks one through Maia Bouchier buts she drops the bat on it at the last second.

    The umpire turns down an lbw appeal to end the over, but it is a maiden.

  4. Vipers 98-2 (target 216)

    Maia Bouchier strokes the ball through the covers and a faulty pick-up by Leigh Kasperek allows her to take three.

    Georgia Adams flicks the next fine for four runs. A good over for Vipers who need 118 more from 26 overs.

  5. Vipers 88-2 (target 216)

    Hollie Armitage reins in the scoring. Just two from that over.

    Maia Bouchier is 45 not out, Georgia Adams has 24 and they have added 71 since the dismissal of Georgia Elwiss by Lizzie Scott.

  6. Vipers 86-2 (target 216)

    Lauren Winfield-Hill claims a leg-side catch off Emma Marlow, but the umpires says there was no contact with Maia Bouchier's bat.

    Vipers settle for singles in that one.

  7. Vipers 82-2 (target 216)

    Hollie Armitage reacts by bringing herself on to bowl and her first delivery is a double-bounce no-ball. Not an auspicious start.

    Don't be fooled by that, though, she is a canny bowler.

    No boundaries in that over for Vipers.

  8. Vipers 76-2 (target 216)

    Maia BouchierPA Media

    Maia Bouchier is warming to the task now and pulls a short one from Leigh Kasperek away to mid-wicket for four.

    She gives the final ball more air and Bouchier slams it in a similar direction for four more.

    How will Diamonds react to this? Bouchier is now 41 not out.

  9. Vipers 66-2 (19 overs)

    Was that a chance? Maia Bouchier hits it straight back at Katie Levick but she is unable to take it as she falls to her left. Diamonds could certainly have done with a wicket there.

    Katie LevickGetty Images

  10. Vipers 63-2 (target 216)

    Four dot balls then Maia Bouchier is down the track and lofts elegantly over mid-off for four. A single follows as she retains the strike.

    Bouchier is 30 not out and Georgia Adams has 15.

  11. Vipers 58-2 (target 216)

    BBC Radio Solent commentator Melissa Story

    “The run-rate is almost 4.8… they almost need to rotate the strike a bit better, which is something they haven’t quite done yet against the slower bowlers.”

  12. Vipers 57-2 (target 216)

    Maia Bouchier drives Katie Levick down the ground for her second boundary. The two batters now like they are looking a bit more animated in their running to try and put the fielders under pressure.

  13. Vipers 51-2 (target 216)

    Leigh Kasperek is into the attack as Diamonds keep the emphasis on spin. Just four runs from it as the Vipers total passes 50 with a Georgia Adams single. They'll be happy with that.

  14. Vipers 47-2 (target 216)

    Decent over by Katie Levick, but Georgia Adams takes three from the final delivery to retain the strike. She is 11 not out and Maia Bouchier has 18.

  15. Vipers 41-2 (target 216)

    Finally, a boundary for Vipers as a full toss by Emma Marlow is thumped down the ground by Maia Bouchier.

    There are a couple of wides too, but the spinner redeems herself with two dot balls to finish the over.

  16. Vipers 31-2 (target 216)

    Linsey Smith takes a break after an excellent six-over spell.

    Experienced leg-spinner Katie Levick takes over and only a diving save by Leigh Kasperek at third man denies her a boundary.

    There certainly is some turn there and once again eager fielding denies Maia Bouchier runs as she clips the final ball to mid-wicket.

  17. Vipers 26-2 (target 216)

    Emma Marlow starts with a leg-side wide - perhaps a few nerves there? It would be understandable.

    She drops short but the deep mid-wicket fielder keeps Maia Bouchier to one.

    Bouchier is again frustrated as she fails to penetrate the cover field from a full toss.

  18. Vipers 20-2 (target 216)

    Just two from the latest Linsey Smith over. Vipers really need to find a way to get the scoreboard moving a bit quicker. Maia Bouchier is eight not out from 23 balls and Georgia Adams has two.

    The first change arrives as Emma Marlow replaces Lizzie Scott.

  19. Vipers 18-2 (target 216)

    For once, Lizzie Scott loses her length but Georgia Adams can't beat the long leg fielder with her full and has to settle for one.

    A powerful drive by Maia Bouchier ends the over but good fielding denies her even a single.

  20. Vipers 17-2 (target 216)

    BBC Radio Solent commentator Kevan James

    “That’s the ball of the game!

    “We’ve seen some balls that have moved – Paige Schofield got a few to do that – but for me that is late reverse swing, probably about the latest possible!

    “Vipers are struggling to get the innings going.”