Sarah Taylor, Jenny Gunn shine as Northern Diamonds trump Sunrisers by eight wickets

Diamonds captain Hollie Armitage won the toss and invited Sunrisers to bat first, and their opener Alice Macleod opened the innings with 13 runs in Phoebe Graham’s first over. But, in the very next over Gunn removed the other opener Naomi Dattani and Grace Scrivens within three balls. By the end of the powerplay, the Sunrisers were in a disarray at four for 26.

Speed joined Gardner at the crease at the precarious position of six for 48 in the 12th over. Early in their partnership they were watchful and took some time to settle. Their partnership - 64 runs from 47 balls - took the Sunrisers to a respectable total of seven for 116 in 20 overs. Gardner scored 44 of 30 balls including two sixes, while Speed, in a supporting role, scored run-a-ball 26. For Diamonds, Gunn took three wickets, while Graham and Katie Levick took two wickets each. Gardner’s wicket in the final over was Gunn’s 150th T20 wicket.

In the chase, captain Armitage went after Mady Villiers in the very first over scoring 14 runs off five balls including two fours and a six. But, that aggression was undone by wicket-keeper Amara Carr’s impressive stumping on the final ball of that over. Diamonds’ number three Ami Campbell could not add much to the total and perished, shortly after.

Playing her first match of the CE Cup, it looked like Taylor never left the T20 game. She started by beautifully driving the full-toss offered by Scrivens for four. In the very next over she decisively pulled a short ball for another boundary. She scored 42 off just 35 balls including five boundaries. She was ably supported by Dobson at the other end who patiently scored 44 of 52 balls. The pair of experience and youth formed a partnership of 87 runs to guide Diamond home in the 17th over.

Diamonds are now placed third in Group “B” behind Thunder and Sunrisers. In Group “B”, Diamonds will next face Western Storm on July 10 at Taunton while Thunder will host Sunrisesres on July 9 at the Old Trafford.

Brief Score: Sunrisers 116/7 in 20 Overs (Joanne Gardner 42, Katherine Speed 26*; Jenny Gunn 3/25) lost to Northern Diamonds 117/2 in 16.2 Overs (Leah Dobson 44*, Sarah Taylor 43*; Mady Villiers 1/22, Grace Scrivens 1/22) by eight wickets.