NORTHERN Diamonds gained revenge for their 2020 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final defeat by beating Southern Vipers to reach the Charlotte Edwards Cup final.

England international Lauren Winfield-Hill’s 65 laid the foundation for a competitive total of 135 before legendary quick Jenny Gunn’s four for 26 capped an all-around magnificent bowling display.

Vipers, who were without key batters Danni Wyatt, Maia Bouchier and Charlie Dean due to international call-ups, fell 18 runs short – as they could not win the trophy bearing her name for their head coach.

After Diamonds had won the toss, opening batter Leah Dobson and mid-off Ella McCaughan engaged in an early battle, firstly the latter spilt a catch before running the former an over later.

Bess Heath had her middle stump knocked back by Lauren Bell, as the Diamonds recorded their lowest powerplay score of the tournament – 30 for two –but Winfield-Hill and Armitage provided the backbone of a competitive total with a 59-run stand.

Runs never came by the bucket load on a hybrid pitch but rarely did fewer than six runs come off each over – with both Winfield-Hill and Armitage’s strike-rates teetering around 100.

Armitage fell for a season-high 25 when she chipped to mid-off, before Sterre Kalis was bowled attempting a ramp.

Winfield-Hill reached a 41-ball half-century with a ramped four and exploded with a six and a four before Georgia Adams bounced back to bowl her.

Veteran Gunn led a late flurry of runs with two sixes, and although Linsey Smith departed in the last over, Diamonds reached a strong score.

In response, Vipers lost both openers in the powerplay, with McCaughan stumped after hitting the ball into her foot and failing to get back and Adams clothed a pull to short midwicket.

Paige Scholfield hammered Alex MacDonald down the ground but was undone by a perfect leg cutter next ball and Georgia Elwiss top-edged to deep midwicket.

A spell of 43 barren balls without a boundary meant running between the wickets needed to be exemplary, something Windsor led.

Windsor had been dropped on three but made the most of her life with an energetic 32 – although her team-mates couldn't assist with the run-scoring as the required rate skyrocketed.

Tara Norris holed out to wide long-on before Gunn had Alice Monaghan lbw and Lauren Bell bowled in successive balls, Windsor was caught and bowled and Ella Chander was run out.

Carla Rudd whacked the last delivery straight to deep midwicket as Vipers were bowled out for 117.

Later that day in the final, Alice Capsey shrugged off a collapse to smash 40 off 26 balls to hand South East Stars the inaugural Charlotte Edwards Cup with a five-wicket victory over Northern Diamonds

The 17-year-old Capsey, a Hundred sensation with victors Oval Invincibles, arrived in the midst of four wickets falling in 14 balls to both steady the ship and take her side to the finish line.

Stars were chasing 139 to win as Diamonds captain Hollie Armitage collected an unbeaten 59 and had a 71-run platform set by their openers Bryony Smith and Aylish Cranstone.

But it was Capsey who once again underlined her big-game temperament to take Stars over the line with two overs to spare in front of 1,270 at the Ageas Bowl.