Image source, Getty Images

Following defeats in the first two Heyhoe Flint finals, it was third time lucky for Northern Diamonds as they beat Southern Vipers by two runs on the grandest stage of them all at Lord's.

England's Lauren Winfield-Hill made 65 off 87 balls as they posted 215-9 despite a mini-slump from 114-1 to 119-5, but Vipers made a slow start in reply before Georgia Adams and Maia Bouchier put on 81 for the third wicket.

Skipper Adams made 70 but was out in the 48th over and needing 13 to win from the last, Vipers came up short on 213-9 as Charlotte Taylor could only score two from the final delivery, bowled by Katie Levick.

It was the first time 2021-2022 winners Vipers had been beaten in a knockout final, having also lifted the Charlotte Edwards Cup three months earlier.

Image source, Getty Images

Today's Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final is the second to be staged at Northamptonshire CCC in the competition's four-year history.

Southern Vipers were also involved on that occasion in 2021, when they took on Northern Diamonds in a game which ended with a thrilling finish.

Diamonds won the toss but struggled to 183 all out despite 60 from Ami Campbell as Vipers captain Georgia Adams took 4-35. But both Vipers openers went for ducks and when they slumped from 93-4 to 109-7, it looked like their hopes of repeating their 2020 triumph were fading.

Step forward Emily Windsor and Tara Norris. Windsor played the anchor role as she made 47 not out from 93 balls and number nine Norris hit 40 from 44 balls and they got home with just two balls to spare as Windsor struck the winning boundary off Beth Langston.

Good news - the toss will take place at 10:30.

No official starts time yet, but we'll keep you posted.

Jemma Green
Former Hampshire Women player

"The locals have assured me it (the weather) is going to get better."

When play does get under way, we will have live coverage for you from Wantage Road, with the voices of BBC Radio Solent's Kevan James, former Hampshire player Jemma Green, BBC sport reporter Rita Green and sport broadcaster/journalist Melinda Farrell.

All you need to do is click the Radio Solent link at the top of the page, but we will also be reporting on the action with regular text updates.

Rule 12.1.1: "Unless otherwise agreed by ECB, normal hours of play for daytime matches will be 10.30am - 5.20pm, consisting of two sessions of play of 3 hours and 10 minutes each. 30 minutes of extra time is allocated to the final on both scheduled day and reserve day to make up for any time lost. One reserve day is allocated to the final."

Rule 12.2.2: "To constitute a match, a minimum of 10 overs (20 overs in the final) has to be bowled to the side batting second, unless a result has been achieved earlier.

"In the Final where a reserve day exists, if it is not possible to constitute the match on the first scheduled day then it shall be continued on the reserve day.

"For the avoidance of doubt any previously effected reduction in the length of the innings in progress (and any applicable Duckworth Lewis Stern target) will still apply at the start of the reserve day."

BBC Weather forecast for the Northampton area:

"Today will start cloudy and will see a few spells of lingering rain in the morning. Sunny spells will develop in the afternoon and it will turn dry. A mild day. Breezy."

Image source, BBC Weather

Image source, Rex Features

This is not what we wanted to see.

It's cup final day - Southern Vipers v The Blaze, with the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy the prize on offer for the winners.

It has been raining overnight and the early part of the morning at Northampton, where England's one-day international against Sri Lanka Women had to be abandoned 12 days ago, so a delayed start is inevitable.