Northern Diamonds remain hopeful of making Charlotte Edwards Cup Finals Day

By Graham Hardcastle
Published 29th May 2022, 06:42 BST
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Previous fightbacks from positions of difficulty within games have given the Northern Diamonds confidence they can still reach next month’s Charlotte Edwards Cup Finals Day.

The Diamonds have lost two of their opening group fixtures to undermine their hopes of qualification.

This fightback would be on a grander scale than just recovering in one-off games, which they did on a number of occasions last season, but three successive wins would give them a good chance. Their task starts against Thunder at Headingley tomorrow morning (11am).

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“It’s been a narrative of the Diamonds, recovering from losing positions and clawing it back through the likes of Jenny Gunn, Beth Langston and Linsey Smith,” said Diamonds director of cricket James Carr.

Lauren Winfield-Hill is missing for Northern Diamonds through injury. Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.comLauren Winfield-Hill is missing for Northern Diamonds through injury. Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com
Lauren Winfield-Hill is missing for Northern Diamonds through injury. Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com

“The last two games have actually been a reverse of that. We’ve been in commanding positions and let them slip. But we are very determined to turn to put those wrongs right this weekend.”

Thunder and Diamonds, with five points apiece, share identical records in second and third in Group B and are separated only by the Thunder’s superior net run-rate. Only the top team in each of the two groups qualifies plus the best second-placed finisher.

With three games remaining and a maximum of five points for a win, they are nine behind leaders Southern Vipers (14). Group A is headed by Central Sparks on 13, while South East Stars – the reigning champions – are second with eight points.