Tag: Blaze

A Low Scoring Thriller in the Making

A look at developments in today’s Rachael heyhoe-Flint Trophy match between Diamonds and Blaze and a large photo gallery.

After a busy morning (a visit to the library, a visit to the bank to make a payment to the West Norfolk Autism Group and a visit to Well King’s Lynn on Loke Road for my spring Covid vaccination) I am enjoying the afternoon listening to commentary on the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy match between Diamonds and Blaze. This post looks at developments in that game so far.

THE DIAMONDS INNINGS

The Diamonds started appallingly and it took a late flourish from number nine Abigail Glen, who followed the maiden 50 she scored last time out with a robust 38 today, to boost their score even as high as 188, a total which on the face of it should not be defensible in a 50 overs per side match.

THE BLAZE REPLY

The Blaze started reasonably well, but it was the Diamonds spinners, Erin Burns of Australia and the vastly experienced Katie Levick, possibly the best female bowler in terms of documented domestic success to not have appeared at international level, who put the skids under the Blaze. Levick’s figures are barely credible for a professional limited overs match in the 2020s – she has bowled her full allocation and ended with 10-2-13-1. Burns has two wickets, Abigail Glen one, Jessica Woolston one, and Diamonds skipper Hollie Armitage has pulled of a direct hit run out. Blaze at 117-6 after 38 overs, needing 72 off the last 12 to win are definitely in some trouble. While I have been preparing this for publication three further overs have elapsed and Blaze are on to 135-6, needing 54 off nine overs to win.

PHOTOGRAPHS

With the arrival of the month of May some nice properly springlike weather has already arrived, so I have had plentiful opportunities to take photographs…

This pic and the three that follow were taken while performing an errand of mercy – in between taking the pictures I was ushering the wasp towards a window I had opened to enable it to escape into the outside where it belongs.
My first Holly Blue of the year (two pics)

The Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy Final

An account of the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy final which took place yesterday between Blaze and Vipers. Also a large photo gallery.

Yesterday saw the final of the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy, between Vipers, in their fourth final out of four (2 won, one lost going into yesterday) and the newly formed Blaze (a move from Loughborough to Nottingham and a name change). Vipers won the toss, and with cloud cover around which was expected to dissipate later in the day they decided to out Blaze into bat. Blaze skipper Kirstie Gordon claimed in response that she would have chosen to bat first anyway but my own suspicion is that not even she actually believed that, never mind anyone else.

THE BLAZE INNINGS

Batting was as difficult in the early stages as had been expected, and only the efforts of veteran opener Tammy Beaumont who fought her way to 76 before getting out trying to up the scoring rate at the death prevented Blaze fron sinking without trace. As it was only two other batters, both lower order players, topped 20 for the Blaze (extras, assisted by some indiscipline on the part of the Vipers bowlers, also did so). A late flurry took Blaze to exactly 200 from their rain-reduced 48 overs. Left arm spinner Linsey Smith was the pcik of the bowlers with 3-30 from her 10 overs.

THE VIPERS RESPONSE

The Vipers lost two very early wickets, before two Georgias, Adams and Elwiss, put on 96 together for the third wicket. Then young leg spinner Josie Groves claimed both set batters and Charlie Dean to reduce Vipers to 109-5. That brought Freya Kemp in to join Emily Windsor with 92 still required. Windsor and Kemp batted superbly, first averting the danger of a collapse, and then as the got settled in mounting an assault on a target that had never got remotely challenging in terms of required run rate. Windsor completed a fine half century, and then, living up to her billing

as ‘the finisher’ she made the winning hit, her ninth boundary in a final score of 57*. Kemp, busy but never flustered at the crease, had scored 32* (35) at the other end. Vipers were home by five wickets with 7.4 overs to spare, a comfortable victory, and yet another trophy as coach for Charlotte Edwards, whose second cricketing career is showing signs of outshining even her amazing playing career. This was Edwards’ third domestic trophy of 2023 alone, since she had coached Vipers to success and in the competition that bears her own name and had also been coach of the team that won The Hundred. The “keepers must be top line batters” brigade would do well to note that this trophy was lifted a team whose keeper, Rhianna Southby, was not required to bat, and who was officially scheduled to come in at number nine (she was impeccable behind the stumps for the record).

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…