TARA Norris admits her “pure desire” as Southern Vipers put on a late show in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, revealing her motivation to dig deep: “This was my third final and I’ve never won anything, I didn’t want to walk off until the game was over.”

Norris (40 not out) starred alongside Emily Windsor (47 not out) to put on an unbeaten stand of 78 and creep to final victory with three wickets and two balls to spare.

Norris also took two for 36 with the ball, as Ami Campbell (60) scored a half-century for the second time in four days to claw Northern Diamonds from 116-8 to 183 all out.

It meant a second successive success in this tournament, with a second successive victory over Diamonds in the final, too.

Speaking after the match, Norris said: "A dramatic game of cricket with a lot of ups and downs. I thought we bowled really well at the start and we knew it was an achievable total to chase down. I was glad I was there at the end with Winny (Emily Windsor) to see it home.

"When I walked out I just said to Winny we've got to take it deep. If we bat the 50 overs we win the game. So it was about holding our nerve just that little bit longer, playing our usual cricket, nothing high risk.

"I guess it was just pure desire. We spoke to Lotte (Charlotte Edwards) today and there was that hunger to win. This was my third final and I've never won anything so I didn't want to walk off the pitch until the game was over.

"I knew I had it in me and knew I wanted to do well for the team. I personally don't feel I've contributed enough in the 50 over comp, so today I saw a real opportunity to go out there and contribute to my team and do them proud.

"I was devastated not to have got over the line in the Charlotte Edwards Cup and I think that was in the back of my mind. I knew I didn't want to feel that way again."

Diamonds bowler Jenny Gunn, who posted three for 31, said: "I don't really think it should have got that close with just two balls left and that just shows how well we bowled, but also it's annoying they had a 78-run partnership at the end.

"I guess it was the same with our innings really where just having our partnerships at the end got us to a total we hoped to defend, but it wasn't meant to be and it just shows the depth of women's cricket at the moment.

"Ami can bat and fair credit to Katy Levick and Rachel Slater for staying with her and getting a score on the board because at one stage we weren't going to be competitive enough.

"It's frustrating to not win a final but what can you do. That's cricket and why we play sport. It's not as if we didn't give it everything, I'm proud of all the girls."