Tammy Beaumont, Suzie Bates star as Southern Vipers strike

This match was a particularly interesting one in relation to how significant losses for both sides would affect the teams’ performances. The Diamonds were without their skipper and in-form opener, Lauren Winfield, while the Vipers were also without their opener Danni Wyatt. The Vipers bowling unit also took a hit with Tash Farrant, Aaron Brindle and Katie George, all being unable to play.
Stand-in skipper for the Diamonds, Katherine Brunt won the toss and elected to field first, sending the Vipers into bat. Suzie Bates opened the batting with Tammy Beaumont, who had been promoted up the order in the absence of Danni Wyatt. The two got their team off to a flyer of a start, amassing 64 runs in the Powerplay, with no wickets lost.
Bates was the first wicket to fall when she was run out for 27 in the 7^th over by Brunt. From there, wickets fell at regular intervals as the Diamonds worked their way back into the game. Beaumont however, regained her form from the beginning of the tournament after missing a few games due to a concussion and hammered a Player of the Match award winning knock of 64 runs in 37 balls, anchoring her teams' innings. A handy cameo from Paige Scholfield of 22* off 10 helped her team reach the competitive total of 159-7.
For the Diamonds, Katie Levick starred with the ball, finishing with figures of 3-35. Alice Davidson-Richards and Thea Brookes chipped in with a wicket each, as well.
In reply, Beth Mooney started the second innings in style, scoring a quick-fire 10 in five balls, before Amelia Kerr claimed her wicket with the first ball of the second over. Sri Lanka international, Chamari Atapattu was dismissed soon afterwards by Bates. Thea Brookes (45 off 36) and Alice Davidson-Richards (29 off 32)- who was opening in the absence of Lauren Winfield- then steadied the innings with the 61 runs third-wicket stand to keep their team in the game. Delissa Kimmince (20 off 13) and Katherine Brunt (20 off 14) kept the momentum going but once their wickets fell, a catastrophic collapse ensued with the Diamonds falling from 140-6 to 143 all-out, to lose by 16 runs.
Bates did the most damage to the Diamonds line-up, finishing with figures of 4-26. Amelia Kerr claimed two wickets, while Fi Morris and Paige Scholfield took a wicket each.
Vipers now have two wins to their name from seven matches and find themselves elevated from the last place to second-to-last, while Diamonds now sit at the bottom of the ladder.