Yorkshire Diamonds fall to defeat after disputed run-out in opener

Yorkshire Diamonds were struck down by Loughborough Lightning, who beat them by 43 runs with 17 balls remaining at Headingley in the first match in the new women's Kia Super League.
Yorkshire Diamonds' captain Lauren Winfield (Picture: James Hardisty).Yorkshire Diamonds' captain Lauren Winfield (Picture: James Hardisty).
Yorkshire Diamonds' captain Lauren Winfield (Picture: James Hardisty).

In front of a crowd approaching 1,000, Lightning had to work hard for their 128-9 in 20 overs but it was easily defended after Diamonds’ captain Lauren Winfield was controversially run out after a rapid 23 from 13 balls with five fiercely struck boundaries.

It appeared that if she may have been impeded by the bowler, Ellyse Perry, when turning for a second run and she was unable to make her ground in time.

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Winfield spoke to the umpires but they were happy that she had been fairly dismissed.

Diamonds were 37-2 in only the fourth over when Winfield left the field but they were never able to regain their early momentum against tight bowling and were all out for 85.

Rebecca Grundy finished with 3-21 from her four overs while Sophie Devine and Georgia Elwiss had two apiece.

The experienced Katherine Brunt managed 16 before being fifth out, bowled by Elwiss, and Danielle Hazell hit a couple of boundaries in her 15 but her dismissal off Devine brought the game to an early conclusion.

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Four of the wickets fell to lbw decisions and there were two stumpings late in the innings for Amy Jones.

After winning the toss, Lightning’s New Zealand’s vice-captain Devine (52) played the major innings of the match, reaching 50 off 35 balls including two sixes and five fours.

She put on 55 for the third wicket with Perry, who was run out with the score on 85 after making 17 from 20 balls, including two fours.

Lightning’s progress was slowed by Jenny Gunn, whose well-controlled flight was hard to combat and she earned figures of 2- 20 from her four overs.

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Lightning lost five wickets for 11 runs in three overs but had sufficient runs on the board.

Devine said: “I was really nervous after a winter in New Zealand and a bit scratchy at the start but it was nice to be able to get some runs on the board.

“I thought we may have been 15-20 runs short of the score we needed and Yorkshire came out really hard at us and the run out probably helped us.

“It was a great team win and our bowling performance was very good. Our fielders did well on the big outfield and we took a couple of great catches.”

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Winfield said: “It was very disappointing to lose because I thought we did a lot right and we were in a good place at the interval.

“I was not too unhappy with their total and we got a decent start but fell away in the middle. It is important that we learn from the performance. We probably hit the self-destruct button after losing a few early wickets.

“I felt I may have been obstructed by the bowler when going for a second run and I had a word with the umpires but it was just one of those things. Perhaps if there had been the chance to see it again I may not have been given out but it was a situation which couldn’t be changed.”