Beth Langston scores six runs to lead Diamond past Sunrisers

Before this match, Beth Langston had only made one appearance for the Diamonds since the end of July 2022. Due to difficulties from a ruptured ACL in his knee, he hadn’t taken a 50-over wicket since September of the previous year.

With an exhilarating four-wicket victory over Sunrisers at York, Northern Diamonds resumed their march towards the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy semi-finals. Six-time England fast bowler Beth Langston made a fairytale comeback from her injury nightmare with a brilliant six for 24.

But she came back to Clifton Park to end the Sunrisers’ run of bad luck, as they were bowled out for 109 in just 31 overs, setting up a home victory that saw the Diamonds fall to 32 for four in pursuit. Erin Burns, an Australian living abroad, completed the victory with a perfect 35.

With five games remaining, Diamonds virtually locked themselves a spot in the semi-finals by outperforming their rivals and moving up to second position in the standings after their seventh consecutive victory.

Despite dropping their third straight game, Sunrisers are still comfortably in the top four.

Without actually participating in the 2017 World Cup, Beth Langston, 31, was a member of England’s victorious squad that won the tournament at home.

After rupturing her right ACL during the Northern Superchargers 2022 Hundred, she has had difficulty getting back into shape.

This season, she participated in just one T20 match. However, she returned with ease, taking wickets in stints of six overs and four overs from the Pavilion End.

On a steamy, wicket-filled Minster City day, Hollie Armitage chose to bowl. Langston took advantage of the favourable conditions – sideways movement was evident – to set her side up for their fifth consecutive 50-over victory.

Beth Langston entered the fray to bowl the fifth over after fellow pacer Lizzie Scott removed visiting skipper Grace Scrivens from the game in the second over.

She was soon getting the hang of things, as in the ninth she had opener Jo Gardner caught for 21, and in the eleventh she had Jodi Grewcock leg before wicket, leaving Sunrisers at 43 for three.

After a mix-up with Lissy MacLeod, Mady Villiers was run out. They were contemplating a three-out to deep cover strategy when MacLeod was caught behind off Phoebe Turner’s seam.

And Beth Langston really put a dent in the opposition his route to the best stats this summer for any bowler playing in regional cricket.

Beth Langston first six-over session delivered four wickets for nine overs, but the late away swing did for Flo Miller caught behind before Amara Carr was bowled next ball offering no shot – 54 for seven in the fifteenth over.

She didn’t, however, lose sight of the ball or the wickets for very long.

By the time Armitage brought her back to bowl the 23rd, Sunrisers were up to 85 for seven.

In the 25th over, she dismissed Eva Grey with nary a blow and then Amu Surenkumar, leaving the Sunrisers at ninety-nine for nine.

Only Gardner, the opener, passed 20, as the Sunrisers staggered beyond 100. As the Diamonds shone, off-spinning all-rounder Burns struck once in addition to seamers Scott and Turner.

Not that the energetic Sunrisers were done. Their seamen, Kate Coppack, impressed, just like Langston.

In the nine overs of their chase, she took three of the four wickets that Diamonds lost, including Rebecca Duckworth’s scalp, and removed openers Lauren Winfield-Hill and Emma Marlow.

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Burns and Armitage shared 43 to settle the ship; the former made 33 and then clubbed Sophie Munro’s seam to mid-on, 75 for five.

Although Langston also fell for eight, it was evident that Burns was an experienced player. There were still 25.2 overs left when she won.