A game in three parts but ultimately, Emma Lamb stole the show

ELIZABETH BOTCHERBY AT EMERALD HEADINGLEY: In a match littered with pivotal moments, Emma Lamb took the glory, walking off at the end with 58 runs, four wickets for just 13 runs, and, most importantly, a win for Thunder

Headingley: Thunder 118-6, Northern Diamonds 106-9 - Thunder won by 12 runs

Scorecard

Sometimes in sport, the end result hinges on one defining moment which alters the atmosphere like a switch being flicked. Zinedine Zidane’s sending off against Italy in the 2006 World Cup final, Mike Gatting’s mistimed reverse sweep in the 1987 Cricket World Cup final, Frank Pietrangelo’s one-handed stop to deny Peter Šťastný a certain goal in the first round of the 1991 Stanley Cup finals, a moment so earth-shattering it is simply known as 'The Save' in Pittsburgh Penguins folklore.

However, at Emerald Headingley in the opening round of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, we were treated to three pivotal moments, none of them likely to enter the same hallowed category as the above examples but each of game-shifting importance for the outcome of Northern Diamonds versus Thunder.

Pivot one: Katie Levick returns to the attack.

Heading into the 17th over, Thunder, or more specifically, Emma Lamb, were beginning to purr. Two overs prior, the opener, who scored a North Group-leading 233 runs in the Women’s T20 County Championship and an unbeaten 134 in a warm-up game against Lightning, had brought up her half-century off 38 balls, hitting six of them for boundaries. Her seventh four of the day, struck in the 16th over, was an audacious – and oh, so glorious – ramp shot over fine leg.

Desperate to abort Thunder’s momentum, Diamonds captain Hollie Armitage turned to Levick, the all-time leading wicket-taker in the Women’s County Championship. She delivered with the first ball of her second spell, forcing Lamb into an ugly edge which sailed into the eager hands of Sterre Kalis at backward point.

It was less a flicked switch and more of a power outage for Thunder. Lamb departed for a 43-ball 58, the scoreboard ticked quietly over 107 for 4, and thanks to some tidy death bowling from Phoebe Graham, Linsey Smith and Beth Langston, Thunder finished their innings on a disappointing 118 for 6, scoring just 11 runs and losing two wickets off the final 23 balls.

Indeed, Thunder’s whole innings had a stop-start feel to it. After losing Georgie Boyce for a four-ball duck in the second over, Lamb and Ellie Threlkeld motored through the powerplay, reaching 41 for 1 off 5.5 overs before Thunder’s number three sent a routine delivery from Jenny Gunn skywards. When it came down, covered in a light dusting of snow, Helen Fenby was underneath it and made no mistake with the catch to remove the Thunder 'keeper for 13.

Rebecca Duckworth fell eight balls later, bowled for one by Smith, and was replaced by Nat Brown, who added 63 runs with Lamb for the fourth-wicket before the latter was smartly removed by Levick. Brown followed six balls later, caught on the boundary by debutant Leah Dobson off the bowling of Graham for 25, before Langston removed Laura Marshall for two off the penultimate ball of the innings.

Emma Lamb: They thought I was the scorer, now I’m a professional

And so, we arrive at pivot two: injury to Sarah Taylor.

Having survived the previous 19.5 overs with nothing but a fine diving catch to prevent four overthrows to report, the 'keeper, unsighted by Danielle Collins' swing and miss, was caught in the face by a straight delivery from Langston. The multiple World Cup winner went down, much to the concern of both sides, and while she walked from the field unaided, her race was run. Rachel Hopkins entered the batting order as a concussion sub and the Diamonds faithful were left wondering how the loss of Taylor's 2,177 T20I runs would impact their side’s chase.

Of course, the significance of Taylor’s absence wasn’t initially apparent. In pursuit of a very achievable 119, Armitage got her side off to a flying start, crunching four boundaries off the first two overs, including three off the bowling of Laura Jackson, to steer Diamonds to 22 for 0 off 12 balls. Two overs later, Diamonds were 31 without loss, a short afternoon seemingly on the cards.

WE WIN!!! 12-run victory over @North_Diamonds gives us a Roses win in the Charlotte Edwards Cup opener. Diamonds, chasing 119, finish on 106-9. Take a bow @EmmaLamb236 - you superstar

💥#ThunderIsComing

— Thunder Cricket 💥 (@NW_Thunder) June 26, 2021

Pivot three: Hartley brings Lamb on to bowl.

As captain you want your bowling changes to have an immediate impact. Well, this decision from Hartley was a tactical masterstroke. Six balls, two wickets – Hollie Armitage and Ami Campbell pinned lbw for 20 and 0, respectively – and the scoreboard showing 31 for 2.

Three overs later, Sophia Turner received a just reward for her tight opening spell, dismissing Dobson for eight. And into whose hands did the ball fly? You’ve guessed it, Emma Lamb, who accompanied the catch with a little jig of delight.

After that, Diamonds lost their shine. Jenny Gunn and Kalis were powerless against the bowling of Turner, Hartley, Brown and Hannah Jones – an 11-run over off Hartley a rare highlight – and following their respective departures in the 14th (Gunn, bowled Jones) and 18th overs (Kalis, stumped Threlkeld), the home side were 91 for 5 and down for the count. Now you see the importance of Taylor’s absence.

Lamb had a hand in four wickets in the penultimate over, bowling Hopkins and Langston (caught Hartley), and combining with Turner to run out Smith and Fenby as Diamonds collapsed to 94 for 9, and while Levick and Graham each scored a four in the final over, it wasn’t enough to see their side home.

Thunder triumphed by 12 runs, Lamb finished with 58 runs and figures of 4 for 13, and the appreciative spectators were left with their heads well and truly in a spin.