Charlotte Edwards Cup 2024 roundup: Hollie Armitage stars in Northern Diamonds win

The Cricketer reviews the best of the action from the latest round of the T20 competition in 2024

ECB Reporters Network | 16/06/2024 at 15:50

New Road: Southern Vipers 98, Central Sparks 99-5 - Central Sparks win by five wickets

Central Sparks defeated Southern Vipers by five wickets in the duel of already-qualified teams in the Charlotte Edwards Cup at New Road, Worcester.

With both sides already assured a place in Finals Day at Derby on June 22, Sparks showed their bowling strength in depth as they rested Hannah Baker and Emily Arlott but still bowled the visitors out for just 98 in 17.5 overs.

Grace Potts, Katie George, Bethan Ellis and Ria Fackrell took two wickets apiece as no Vipers batter reached 20, Rhianna Southby top-scoring with 19 from No.8.

Sparks then eased to 99 for 5 with 31 balls to spare as Davina Perrin launched their reply with an assertive 26 from 17 balls and Amy Jones saw them to the threshold of victory 26 from 29.

perrin160601

Davina Perrin was in the runs for Central Sparks (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Headingley: Northern Diamonds 146-3, Western Storm 118-7 - Northern Diamonds win by 28 runs

England hopeful Hollie Armitage hit a fabulous 97 off 64 balls – the highest score in this season's Charlotte Edwards Cup – as the Northern Diamonds beat Western Storm by 28 runs in a dead-rubber clash at Headingley.

A penultimate round group fixture between two regions with only a win apiece in this season's T20 competition saw the hosts post 147 for three and defend it comfortably.

Former England batter Fran Wilson top-scored with 42 in Storm's 118 for 7, but Scotland international Rachel Slater, Sophia Turner and Katie Levick all impressed with two wickets.

armitage160601

^{Hollie Armitage played superbly for Northern Diamonds (Paul Harding/Getty Images)}

Derby: The Blaze 84, South East Stars 89-5 - South East Stars win by five wickets

South East Stars will fancy themselves to lift the Charlotte Edwards Cup for a second time after an emphatic five-wicket victory over erstwhile favourites The Blaze at Derby.

Bryony Smith's 2021 champions shot out the East Midlands team – runners-up last year – for just 84, a first defeat in 16 points-table matches in the competition for Kirstie Gordon's team since they changed their name from Lightning to The Blaze two years ago.

The two could meet again in next Saturday's final on the same ground, both having already qualified for the semi-finals, to be played on the same day.