Southern Vipers emerged victorious in a thrilling three-wicket triumph over Thunder, extending their winning streak to three matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Nancy Harman played a pivotal role in the victory, guiding her team to the finish line in a tense chase.
Thunder, batting first, struggled in the opening Powerplay, losing Shachi Pai early on. However, Seren Smale and Katie Mack steadied the innings with a 94-run partnership. Smale, in particular, showcased her class, reaching her third career fifty and narrowly missing out on a century after being run out on 99.
Vipers’ bowlers, led by Linsey Smith’s economical spell, kept Thunder in check throughout the innings. Smith claimed three wickets for just 19 runs, while Alice Monaghan and Mary Taylor also chipped in with crucial wickets.
In response, Vipers’ chase got off to a shaky start as Ella McCaughan and Charli Knott departed cheaply. Georgia Adams and Georgia Elwiss then steadied the ship with a solid partnership, but Elwiss’s dismissal and Emily Windsor’s quick departure put Vipers under pressure.
Adams, who reached her 15th half-century, played a crucial knock, but her dismissal left Vipers needing 72 runs with just 39 balls remaining. Harman, Southby, and Monaghan stepped up to the plate, guiding Vipers to victory with three wickets in hand.
Harman, in her first appearance of the season, played a match-winning innings, scoring an unbeaten 24 and ensuring Vipers’ unbeaten record against Thunder remains intact.
