# 2021 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy

The 2021 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy was the second edition of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, an English women's cricket 50-over domestic competition, which took place between 29 May and 25 September 2021. It featured eight teams playing in a round-robin group, followed by a knock-out round. The holders were the Southern Vipers, who won the inaugural competition in 2020. It ran alongside the Charlotte Edwards Cup. The tournament was named after former England captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint, Baroness Heyhoe-Flint, who died in 2017.
Southern Vipers finished top of the group stage, and as a result, they qualified automatically for the final. Northern Diamonds and Central Sparks finished second and third respectively, and so contested the playoff, which was won by the Diamonds to qualify for the final. In the final at the County Ground, Northampton, Southern Vipers won their second Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in two years, beating Northern Diamonds by 3 wickets with 2 balls to spare.

## Background and format

The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy was a 50-over cricket tournament created in 2020 so that English women's cricket could be played in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. A full season was scheduled for 2021, and, due to the popularity of the decision to name the trophy after Rachael Heyhoe Flint, the name was retained. The fixtures took place in two blocks, with the inaugural Charlotte Edwards Cup and The Hundred taking place in between.
The competition featured eight teams that represent regional hubs. Teams played each other once in a group of eight, with the top three qualifying for the knock-out stage. The second-placed team played the third-placed team on the 22 September, with the winner advancing to play the first-placed team in the Final on the 25 September. The Final was played at the County Cricket Ground, Northampton.

## Teams

The teams were as follows:
* Central Sparks (representing Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire)
* Lightning (representing Loughborough University, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire)
* Northern Diamonds (representing Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland)
* North West Thunder (representing Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria)
* South East Stars (representing Surrey and Kent)
* Southern Vipers (representing Hampshire, Sussex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Isle of Wight and Oxfordshire)
* Sunrisers (representing Middlesex, Essex, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Norfolk and Suffolk)
* Western Storm (representing Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Cornwall, Devon, Wiltshire and Cricket Wales)

## Standings

Teams received 4 points for a win. A bonus point was given where the winning team's run rate was 1.25 or greater times that of the opposition. In case of a tie in the standings, the following tiebreakers would be applied in order: highest net run rate, team that scored the most points in matches involving the tied parties, better bowling strike rate, drawing of lots.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | NR | BP | Pts | NRR |
| 1 | Southern Vipers (Q) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 0.417 |
| 2 | Northern Diamonds (Q) | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 1.182 |
| 3 | Central Sparks (Q) | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 0.822 |
| 4 | Lightning | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0.274 |
| 5 | South East Stars | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | −0.226 |
| 6 | Western Storm | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | −0.462 |
| 7 | North West Thunder | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | −0.620 |
| 8 | Sunrisers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1.598 |
advanced to Final  advanced to the Play-off

## Group stage

Source:
* 29 May 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Northern Diamonds 279 (49.2 overs) | v | Central Sparks 283/8 (48.2 overs) |
| Lauren Winfield-Hill 110 (126) Issy Wong 5/49 (10 overs) | | Amy Jones 114 (114) Linsey Smith 3/54 (9 overs) |
* Central Sparks won by 2 wickets Headingley, Leeds Umpires: Hassan Adnan and Jasmine Naeem
* Central Sparks won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Central Sparks 4, Northern Diamonds 0
* 29 May 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| North West Thunder 291/8 (50 overs) | v | Western Storm 295/9 (50 overs) |
| Emma Lamb 121 (105) Anya Shrubsole 3/29 (10 overs) | | Heather Knight 91 (90) Kate Cross 3/35 (10 overs) |
* Western Storm won by 1 wicket County Ground, Bristol Umpires: Sarah Bartlett and Yvonne Dolphin-Cooper
* Western Storm won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Western Storm 4, North West Thunder 0
* 29 May 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| South East Stars 324/7 (50 overs) | v | Sunrisers 189 (39.2 overs) |
| Sophia Dunkley 104* (93) Kelly Castle 3/40 (7.4 overs) | | Naomi Dattani 47 (61) Tash Farrant 5/33 (8 overs) |
* South East Stars won by 135 runs County Ground, Chelmsford Umpires: Joanne Ibbotson and Sue Redfern
* Sunrisers won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: South East Stars 5, Sunrisers 0
* 29 May 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Lightning 214/9 (50 overs) | v | Southern Vipers 215/6 (46.5 overs) |
| Tammy Beaumont 57 (91) Tara Norris 3/47 (10 overs) | | Danni Wyatt 53 (57) Kirstie Gordon 4/35 (10 overs) |
* Southern Vipers won by 4 wickets Rose Bowl, Southampton Umpires: Sophie McLelland and Tom Lungley
* Lightning won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: Southern Vipers 4, Lightning 0
* 31 May 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Northern Diamonds 151 (45.5 overs) | v | Lightning 145 (48.1 overs) |
| Jenny Gunn 40 (77) Kathryn Bryce 4/16 (8 overs) | | Tammy Beaumont 21 (34) Katherine Brunt 4/23 (10 overs) |
* Northern Diamonds won by 6 runs Kibworth Cricket Club New Ground, Kibworth Umpires: Joanne Ibbotson and Mark Newell
* Lightning won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Northern Diamonds 4, Lightning 0
* 31 May 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Central Sparks 295/7 (50 overs) | v | Western Storm 254/9 (50 overs) |
| Amy Jones 163* (114) Lauren Filer 2/21 (6 overs) | | Lauren Parfitt 91 (122) Ria Fackrell 4/34 (9 overs) |
* Central Sparks won by 41 runs Edgbaston, Birmingham Umpires: Sue Redfern and Yvonne Dolphin-Cooper
* Western Storm won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Central Sparks 4, Western Storm 0
* 31 May 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| South East Stars 137 (39.5 overs) | v | Southern Vipers 138/3 (28.4 overs) |
| Bryony Smith 41 (38) Charlotte Taylor 4/21 (8 overs) | | Danni Wyatt 64* (88) Bryony Smith 2/25 (4 overs) |
* Southern Vipers won by 7 wickets County Cricket Ground, Beckenham Umpires: Robert White and Sarah Bartlett
* Southern Vipers won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Southern Vipers 5, South East Stars 0
* 31 May 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| North West Thunder 247/9 (50 overs) | v | Sunrisers 211 (45.2 overs) |
| Georgie Boyce 91 (117) Sonali Patel 4/40 (7 overs) | | Fran Wilson 50 (45) Sophie Ecclestone 3/28 (9.2 overs) |
* North West Thunder won by 36 runs Boughton Hall Cricket Club Ground, Chester Umpires: Jasmine Naeem and Neil Pratt
* North West Thunder won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: North West Thunder 4, Sunrisers 0
* Sonali Patel (Sunrisers) took a hat-trick.
* 5 June 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Western Storm 245/8 (50 overs) | v | South East Stars 249/4 (43.1 overs) |
| Heather Knight 73 (87) Tash Farrant 4/58 (10 overs) | | Alice Davidson-Richards 92 (99) Nicole Harvey 2/43 (7 overs) |
* South East Stars won by 6 wickets The Oval, London Umpires: Sophie McLelland and Tom Lungley
* South East Stars won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: South East Stars 4, Western Storm 0
* 5 June 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Sunrisers 53 (29.1 overs) | v | Northern Diamonds 54/1 (7.4 overs) |
| Amara Carr 17 (43) Jenny Gunn 3/10 (6 overs) | | Hollie Armitage 14* (19) Kate Coppack 1/14 (3 overs) |
* Northern Diamonds won by 9 wickets Fenner's, Cambridge Umpires: Joanne Ibbotson and Sarah Bartlett
* Northern Diamonds won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Northern Diamonds 5, Sunrisers 0
* 5 June 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Central Sparks 224 (49.2 overs) | v | Southern Vipers 104 (27.5 overs) |
| Evelyn Jones 55 (103) Charlotte Taylor 3/22 (10 overs) | | Danni Wyatt 61 (81) Emily Arlott 5/29 (8 overs) |
* Central Sparks won by 120 runs County Ground, Hove Umpires: Neil Pratt and Yvonne Dolphin-Cooper
* Central Sparks won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: Central Sparks 5, Southern Vipers 0
* Emily Arlott (Central Sparks) took a hat-trick.
* 6 June 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Lightning 259/5 (50 overs) | v | North West Thunder 125 (39.2 overs) |
| Tammy Beaumont 89 (101) Sophie Ecclestone 2/23 (10 overs) | | Emma Lamb 42 (58) Kirstie Gordon 4/23 (10 overs) |
* Lightning won by 134 runs Boughton Hall Cricket Club Ground, Chester Umpires: Jasmine Naeem and Sue Redfern
* Lightning won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: Lightning 5, North West Thunder 0
* 12 June 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| South East Stars 250/6 (50 overs) | v | Northern Diamonds 254/7 (49.2 overs) |
| Kirstie White 73 (90) Jenny Gunn 2/45 (9 overs) | | Sterre Kalis 76 (106) Danielle Gregory 2/31 (10 overs) |
* Northern Diamonds won by 3 wickets Headingley, Leeds Umpires: Jasmine Naeem and Tom Lungley
* South East Stars won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: Northern Diamonds 4, South East Stars 0
* 12 June 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Sunrisers 206/9 (50 overs) | v | Lightning 210/5 (40.2 overs) |
| Naomi Dattani 65 (92) Teresa Graves 4/39 (10 overs) | | Michaela Kirk 57 (66) Kelly Castle 2/24 (6 overs) |
* Lightning won by 5 wickets Haslegrave Ground, Loughborough Umpires: Hassan Adnan and Joanne Ibbotson
* Sunrisers won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: Lightning 4, Sunrisers 0
* 12 June 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Central Sparks 203 (49.5 overs) | v | North West Thunder 205/8 (48 overs) |
| Evelyn Jones 100* (150) Hannah Jones 3/33 (10 overs) | | Emma Lamb 39 (47) Georgia Davis 3/42 (10 overs) |
* North West Thunder won by 2 wickets New Road, Worcester Umpires: Rob White and Yvonne Dolphin-Cooper
* Central Sparks won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: North West Thunder 4, Central Sparks 0
* 12 June 2021 13:00 BST (D/N) Scorecard
| Western Storm 177 (49.3 overs) | v | Southern Vipers 178/2 (34.5 overs) |
| Katie George 37 (60) Charlie Dean 3/27 (10 overs) | | Georgia Adams 77 (101) Fi Morris 1/37 (6 overs) |
* Southern Vipers won by 8 wickets County Ground, Taunton Umpires: Mark Newell and Sophie McLelland Player of the match: Georgia Adams (Southern Vipers)
* Western Storm won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: Southern Vipers 5, Western Storm 0
* 10 September 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Western Storm 183 (38.1 overs) | v | Northern Diamonds 184/3 (31.1 overs) |
| Sophie Luff 65 (77) Linsey Smith 5/34 (9.1 overs) | | Hollie Armitage 68* (69) Steph Hutchins 2/27 (5 overs) |
* Northern Diamonds won by 7 wickets Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street Umpires: James Middlebrook and Lina Nenova
* Northern Diamonds won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Northern Diamonds 5, Western Storm 0
* 10 September 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| South East Stars 293/9 (50 overs) | v | Lightning 265 (49.2 overs) |
| Bryony Smith 84 (73) Yvonne Graves 3/43 (10 overs) | | Kathryn Bryce 87 (115) Bryony Smith 3/46 (10 overs) |
* South East Stars won by 28 runs County Cricket Ground, Beckenham Umpires: Neil Mallender and Sophie McLelland
* South East Stars won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: South East Stars 4, Lightning 0
* 10 September 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Sunrisers 204/7 (42 overs) | v | Central Sparks 208/4 (37.2 overs) |
| Cordelia Griffith 69 (95) Ria Fackrell 3/30 (6 overs) | | Marie Kelly 58 (63) Kelly Castle 1/22 (9 overs) |
* Central Sparks won by 6 wickets (DLS) Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood Umpires: Jasmine Naeem and Ian Ramage
* Central Sparks won the toss and elected to field.
* Central Sparks were set a revised target of 206 runs from 42 overs due to rain.
* Points: Central Sparks 4, Sunrisers 0
* 10 September 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| North West Thunder 110 (32.5 overs) | v | Southern Vipers 112/7 (33.5 overs) |
| Kate Cross 57 (86) Tara Norris 4/14 (7.5 overs) | | Ella McCaughan 41 (47) Hannah Jones 2/9 (5 overs) |
* Southern Vipers won by 3 wickets Rookwood Cricket Ground, Sale Umpires: Mike Burns and Joanne Ibbotson
* Southern Vipers won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Southern Vipers 5, North West Thunder 0
* 12 September 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Northern Diamonds 294/6 (50 overs) | v | North West Thunder 189/8 (50 overs) |
| Bess Heath 78* (65) Alex Hartley 2/57 (10 overs) | | Georgie Boyce 67 (100) Katie Levick 4/34 (10 overs) |
* Northern Diamonds won by 105 runs Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street Umpires: Hassan Adnan and Joanne Ibbotson
* North West Thunder won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Northern Diamonds 5, North West Thunder 0
* 12 September 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Central Sparks 229 (49.1 overs) | v | South East Stars 114 (31.3 overs) |
| Davina Perrin 43 (59) Ryana MacDonald-Gay 2/31 (9 overs) | | Alice Capsey 26 (33) Georgia Davis 4/26 (10 overs) |
* Central Sparks won by 115 runs New Road, Worcester Umpires: James Middlebrook and Lina Nenova
* Central Sparks won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: Central Sparks 5, South East Stars 0
* 12 September 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Western Storm 228/7 (50 overs) | v | Lightning 166 (41.2 overs) |
| Sophie Luff 70 (111) Kirstie Gordon 3/43 (10 overs) | | Ella Claridge 39* (48) Georgia Hennessy 2/22 (8 overs) |
* Western Storm won by 62 runs County Ground, Bristol Umpires: Anna Harris and Ian Ramage
* Lightning won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Western Storm 5, Lightning 0
* 12 September 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Southern Vipers 309/9 (50 overs) | v | Sunrisers 308/6 (50 overs) |
| Georgia Elwiss 112* (118) Sonali Patel 3/46 (10 overs) | | Cordelia Griffith 91 (82) Georgia Adams 2/36 (6 overs) |
* Southern Vipers won by 1 run County Ground, Chelmsford Umpires: Sarah Bartlett and Sophie McLelland Player of the match: Georgia Elwiss (Southern Vipers)
* Sunrisers won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Southern Vipers 4, Sunrisers 0
* 18 September 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Lightning 320/6 (50 overs) | v | Central Sparks 296/9 (50 overs) |
| Kathryn Bryce 162 (156) Issy Wong 3/61 (10 overs) | | Marie Kelly 62 (69) Sonia Odedra 2/56 (9 overs) |
* Lightning won by 24 runs Haslegrave Ground, Loughborough Umpires: Jasmine Naeem and Neil Pratt
* Central Sparks won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Lightning 4, Central Sparks 0
* 18 September 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| North West Thunder 185 (47 overs) | v | South East Stars 130 (35 overs) |
| Eleanor Threlkeld 70* (92) Danielle Gregory 2/23 (10 overs) | | Kalea Moore 35 (59) Hannah Jones 5/33 (9 overs) |
* North West Thunder won by 55 runs County Cricket Ground, Beckenham Umpires: Sarah Bartlett and Mark Newell
* North West Thunder won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: North West Thunder 5, South East Stars 0
* 18 September 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Western Storm 313/4 (50 overs) | v | Sunrisers 277 (44.3 overs) |
| Sophie Luff 157* (142) Mady Villiers 2/39 (10 overs) | | Cordelia Griffith 49 (42) Georgia Hennessy 2/45 (8 overs) |
* Western Storm won by 36 runs County Ground, Bristol Umpires: Yvonne Dolphin-Cooper and Tom Lungley
* Western Storm won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: Western Storm 4, Sunrisers 0
* 18 September 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Northern Diamonds 256 (48.3 overs) | v | Southern Vipers 260/5 (48.5 overs) |
| Bess Heath 71 (51) Lauren Bell 2/29 (10 overs) | | Georgia Elwiss 84* (77) Phoebe Graham 3/44 (10 overs) |
* Southern Vipers won by 5 wickets Rose Bowl, Southampton Umpires: Sophie McLelland and Ian Ramage
* Northern Diamonds won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: Southern Vipers 4, Northern Diamonds 0

## Play-off

Northern Diamonds and Central Sparks finished second and third respectively in the group stage, and so contested the playoff.
| Play-off | Play-off | Play-off | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 1 | Southern Vipers | 187/7 |
| 2 | Northern Diamonds | 176/4 | 2 | Northern Diamonds | 183 |
| 3 | Central Sparks | 175/7 | | | |
* 22 September 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Central Sparks 175/7 (50 overs) | v | Northern Diamonds 176/4 (32.5 overs) |
| Ria Fackrell 42* (80) Linsey Smith 2/25 (10 overs) | | Ami Campbell 76 (78) Emily Arlott 2/35 (9 overs) |
* Northern Diamonds won by 6 wickets North Marine Road Ground, Scarborough Umpires: Sarah Bartlett and Robert White
* Central Sparks won the toss and elected to bat.

## Final

Southern Vipers finished top of the group stage, and as a result, they qualified automatically for the final.
* 25 September 2021 10:30 BST Scorecard
| Northern Diamonds 183 (49.2 overs) | v | Southern Vipers 187/7 (49.4 overs) |
| Ami Campbell 60 (73) Georgia Adams 4/35 (10 overs) | | Emily Windsor 47* (97) Jenny Gunn 3/31 (10 overs) |
* Southern Vipers won by 3 wickets County Ground, Northampton Umpires: Jasmine Naeem and Neil Pratt Player of the match: Emily Windsor (Southern Vipers)
* Northern Diamonds won the toss and elected to bat.

## Statistics

* Highest score by a team: South East Stars – 324/7 (50 overs) v Sunrisers (29 May).
* Top score by an individual: Amy Jones – 163* (114) v Western Storm (31 May).
* Best bowling figures by an individual: Emily Arlott – 5/29 (8 overs) v Southern Vipers (5 June).

### Most runs

| Player | Team | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | HS | 100s | 50s |
| Sophie Luff | Western Storm | 7 | 7 | 417 | 69.50 | 157* | 1 | 3 |
| Kathryn Bryce | Lightning | 7 | 7 | 353 | 50.42 | 162 | 1 | 2 |
| Evelyn Jones | Central Sparks | 8 | 8 | 299 | 42.71 | 100* | 1 | 2 |
| Sterre Kalis | Northern Diamonds | 9 | 8 | 290 | 41.42 | 76 | 0 | 2 |
| Amy Jones | Central Sparks | 3 | 3 | 282 | 141.00 | 163* | 2 | 0 |
Source: ESPNCricinfo

### Most wickets

| Player | Team | Overs | Wickets | Average | BBI | 5w |
| Kirstie Gordon | Lightning | 70.0 | 16 | 15.43 | 4/23 | 0 |
| Hannah Jones | North West Thunder | 50.0 | 14 | 17.07 | 5/33 | 1 |
| Issy Wong | Central Sparks | 63.5 | 14 | 21.35 | 5/49 | 1 |
| Charlotte Taylor | Southern Vipers | 72.0 | 13 | 18.15 | 4/21 | 0 |
| Beth Langston | Northern Diamonds | 73.5 | 13 | 20.69 | 2/12 | 0 |
Source: ESPNCricinfo