Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast and everything else you need to know ahead of the next round of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy...
Fixture: Northern Diamonds v Thunder
Venue: Emirates Riverside, Chester-le-Street
Dates: Sunday, September 12, 2021
Start time: 10.30am
What's the lowdown?
Northern Diamonds are second in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy table, sitting just one point behind table-toppers Southern Vipers. Since losing their opening game of the season to Central Sparks, Northern Diamonds are unbeaten in four matches, most recently cruising to a seven-wicket victory over Western Storm with 119 balls to spare.
Thunder have won two and lost three of their five matches this season, most recently suffering a three-wicket defeat at the hands of Vipers after being bowled out for 110, and sit sixth in the table. They're a huge nine points behind third-placed Central Sparks and with two matches left in the season, Alex Hartley's team require nothing short of two bonus-point victories and a lot of favourable results to reach the playoffs.
These sides are yet to meet in a 50-over match in 2021 but shared the spoils in the T20 format, Thunder triumphing by 12 runs at Headingley and Northern Diamonds taking revenge at Filkin's Lane with an eight-wicket victory.
Who should I watch out for?
Diamonds spinner Linsey Smith is one of the form players on the women's domestic circuit. The 26-year-old has taken 16 wickets in her past 10 matches in all formats and wreaked havoc with Storm's batters on Friday, taking 5 for 34 from her 9.1 overs.
With the bat, Hollie Armitage and Sterre Kalis both demonstrated pleasing returns to form against Storm, scoring 68 not out (69 balls) and 32 (44), respectively. However, Bess Heath is the player to watch. The young 'keeper has already bludgeoned Thunder's bowlers in a T20 this season, smashing 58 not out off 40 balls at Filkin's Lane, and showed similarly destructive form in her first 50-over outing of the season, scoring an unbeaten 32 off 33 balls.
For Thunder, whether they win or lose largely depends on the performance of allrounder Emma Lamb. The 23-year-old has scored 237 runs at a strike rate of 87.45 and taken three wickets in the competition to date and, like Heath, has already put in a match-winning performance against her hosts. In the first game of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, Lamb scored 58 runs (43 balls) and took 4 for 13 with the ball.
What's the team news?
Both teams are likely to be without a number of England players. Diamonds opener Lauren Winfield-Hill and Thunder allrounder Kate Cross have been recalled to the ODI squad ahead of England's 50-over clash with New Zealand on Thursday, September 16. Nat Sciver, Katherine Brunt (both Diamonds) and Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder) are also in England's 15-woman squad.
Northern Diamonds squad: Hollie Armitage, Sterre Kalis, Leah Dobson, Bess Heath, Beth Langston, Linsey Smith, Phoebe Graham, Ella Telford, Ami Campbell, Rachel Hopkins
Thunder squaad: Emma Lamb, Georgie Boyce, Ellie Threlkeld, Seren Smale, Nat Brown, Laura Marshall, Laura Jackson, Alice Dyson, Alex Hartley, Hannah Jones, Daisy Mullan
Latest Northern Diamonds news: Click here
Latest Thunder news: Click here
What's the weather forecast?
Cloudy conditions are forecast in Durham with temperatures peaking around 15 degrees Celsius.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Chester-le-Street: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Northern Diamonds will offer live coverage of the match via their website: Click here
Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry updates of the game.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and reports from every Women's Regional Competition match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our Women's Regional Hub for more.
Going to the game?
Tickets
Adults are £5, juniors are £1.
Click here to buy through the Durham box office.
Travel
Address: Durham County Cricket Club, Emirates Riverside, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, DH3 3QR
By car: The ground is situated a mile outside Chester-le-Street. There are two car parks at the ground.
The Emirates Riverside has a designated drop-off and pick-up point for all cars and taxis.
A road closure may be in place on B1284 Rotary Way immediately play finishes. The club say it is advisable for vehicles to be at the pick-up point approximately 15 minutes before close of play. All vehicles must turn left when exiting from the pick-up point.
Details regarding road closures for major events will be made available on the Durham CCC website two to three weeks prior to the event taking place.
By public transport: Chester-le-Street rail station is served by Northern Rail, CrossCountry & First TransPennine trains. The station is a 20-minute walk from the ground. East Coast services stop at both Durham and Newcastle instead.
There is a shuttle bus service available from Durham Station to and from Emirates Riverside.
Several buses beginning their journeys in Newcastle stop near the Riverside.
Prediction?
Northern Diamonds have winning momentum behind them and will be too strong for Thunder. Home win.
OTHER MATCH PREVIEWS
Central Sparks v South East Stars
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