Playing their first home game in the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy behind closed doors, Lightning opted to bowl first after captain, Kathryn Bryce won the tip off toss.
Lightning had an amazing start but the same couldn’t be said for Diamonds. Kathryn Bryce opened the bowls, getting a quick wicket on her second ball, dismissing Lauren Winfield-Hill. The move was quickly followed by Sophie Munro striking Diamonds with another wicket dismissing Sciver. Bryce continued a wicket run totalling 4 for 16. On a roll, it was not looking good for the Diamonds during their batting as a change of bowler saw Teresa Graves quickly dismiss two Diamonds. The final wicket dismissals coming from Lucy Higham (2) and Yvonne Graves (1) with Lightning leaving all Diamonds out for 151, the home women now needing 152 to win.
After the innings break, we saw Tammy Beaumont and Sarah Bryce open the batting on the home side with 152 needed to win. However, with an unfortunate start, Diamonds caused a quick out for Bryce after a wicket by Brunt for 0. Taking her position, sister Kathryn Bryce was also dismissed quickly, being caught behind and dismissed for 1. Lightning’s strongest partnership of the day Tammy Beaumont and Abbey Freeborn added 44 for wicket 3 before leaving Freeborn caught behind and dismissed.
But the Lightning girls were not leaving without a fight. With Beaumont and Higham out Shachi Pai and Michaela Kirk took the bats with a clean session, Pai achieving 9 runs before dismissal. Kirk and Teresa Graves created a partnership seeing them add on a total of 17 runs before Kirk’s dismissal.
With now 60 left to win, a twin partnership began as both Yvonne and Teresa Graves took to batting, achieving 17 and a Yvonne and Kirstie Gordon partnership adding 30. Unfortunately, although Lightning were able to close the gap quickly, the run rate was not enough. The game came to an end with a Wicket by Beth Langston knocking out Gordon.
The result; Lightning 145, Diamonds 151 winning by 6 runs.
Hoping to bounce back, Lightning will now get back to training before playing North West Thunder away on June 6th.