Hollie Armitage's spectacular unbeaten century propelled Northern Diamonds to a six-wicket triumph over Western Storm, utilising the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method in a thrilling Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy match at Cheltenham.
Chasing a revised target of 199 due to rain interruptions, the visitors achieved their goal with 16 balls remaining. Armitage's captain's knock of 101 from 76 balls, including nine fours and a six, was pivotal in narrowing the gap on leaders Southern Vipers.
Sterre Kalis provided crucial support with 34 runs in a third-wicket partnership of 71, while Australia’s Erin Burns added an unbeaten 21 in an unbroken 67-run stand for the fifth wicket. Western Storm had their chances to shift the game's momentum but dropped Armitage twice on 23 and 53.
Earlier, Fran Wilson's well-crafted 61 off 63 balls helped Western Storm recover from a shaky start to post 200-5. Emma Corney contributed 40, Nat Wraith struck a brisk 34, and Amanda-Jade Wellington added a rapid 27 towards the end. Abi Glen was the standout bowler for the Diamonds, taking 2 for 24 from six overs.
The Diamonds, opting to bowl first on a drying pitch, quickly reduced Storm to 26 for 2 in the power play, with Glen and Rachel Slater dismissing Sophia Smale and Sophie Luff, respectively. Corney responded by driving Glen for two boundaries in the ninth over, and Storm reached 50 within two overs.
Wilson, adept at finding gaps, partnered effectively with Corney, and the pair accelerated the scoring when Katie Levick’s leg breaks came into play. Despite a slow outfield, they ran hard and capitalised on the short boundaries at the College Ground.
Corney, on 40 from 54 balls, miscued a shot off Sophia Turner to Kalis at a point just before a heavy rain shower interrupted play, with Storm at 87 for 3 after 17 overs.
When play resumed, with four overs lost, Wilson and Wraith increased the tempo. Wraith quickly scored 34 off 28 balls, including the innings’ first six, while Wilson brought up her fifty off 57 deliveries. Wellington then hit Levick for a six and Burns for a four, amassing 27 off 14 balls. Wilson also struck a massive six off Phoebe Turner, boosting Storm’s total.
In response, Storm made early inroads, with Ellie Anderson dismissing Lauren Winfield-Hill and Smale removing Emma Marlow. Wellington dropped a crucial catch of Armitage on 23, which proved costly as Armitage hit a Wellington full toss for six, putting the visitors ahead on DLS before another rain delay.
Chasing a revised target of 199 from 40 overs, Armitage continued her assault, reaching her fifty off 41 balls with a boundary off Wellington. Although Niamh Holland bowled Kalis for 34, reducing the visitors to 127 for 3, Armitage received another reprieve when dropped on 53 by Issy Wong.
Alex Griffiths managed to catch Bess Heath for 10, reducing the Diamonds to 132 for 4, but Armitage ensured there were no further setbacks. Her consistent boundaries and Burns’ composed 21 not out from 13 balls guided the Diamonds to victory, capitalising on Storm’s missed opportunities.