Northern Diamonds 290 for 6 (Kalis 100, Langston 58, Winfield-Hill 50) defeated Lancashire Thunder 204 (Jones 57, Turner 6-20) by 86 runs.
Sterre Kalis notched her maiden List A century, and Phoebe Turner secured her first five-wicket haul, leading Northern Diamonds to an 86-run victory over Lancashire Thunder and propelling them to the top of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy standings.
With 37 points, the Diamonds are on the brink of securing a semi-final spot, sitting 14 points ahead of fifth-placed The Blaze, who have three games remaining. Meanwhile, this loss puts Lancashire Thunder's chances of reaching the knockout stages in jeopardy.
Lauren Winfield-Hill and Emma Marlow set a solid foundation with a 95-run opening partnership. Kalis and Beth Langston then added a crucial century stand for the fifth wicket, taking the Diamonds to a formidable 290 for six—a target that proved too steep for Thunder, who were bowled out for 204 despite a century partnership between Eve Jones and Seren Smale.
Thunder began their chase energetically, with Alice Clarke and Emma Lamb scoring 38 runs in the first five overs. However, Rachel Slater shifted the momentum by trapping Clarke lbw for 14 and bowling Lamb for 19.
Jones and Smale then rebuilt the innings, guiding Thunder to 130 for two at the halfway mark, needing another 161 runs. But just as the Thunder pair reached their 100-run partnership, Turner struck, bowling Smale for 48. Langston followed with a double-wicket maiden, dismissing Eve Jones for 57 and then clean-bowling captain Ellie Threlkeld on her second delivery.
The game swung dramatically in favour of the Diamonds, with Thunder slipping to 166 for five by the 31st over. Turner capitalised on this momentum, tearing through the rest of the Thunder lineup with a brilliant second spell, finishing with six wickets for 20 runs and securing a five-point win for the Diamonds.
Earlier, after being sent in to bat, Winfield-Hill and Marlow provided the Diamonds with a strong start, scoring 48 runs during the powerplay and building a 95-run partnership by the 20th over. Thunder fought back, taking two wickets in four balls, including Winfield-Hill, who had been dropped on 14 but otherwise played a flawless innings of 50 from 59 balls before being bowled by left-arm spinner Hannah Jones. Just four balls later, captain Hollie Armitage was bowled for a duck by Naomi Dattani.
Phoebe Graham kept the pressure on by dismissing Marlow for 45 immediately after the 25-over drinks break, and overseas all-rounder Erin Burns, returning from the Caribbean Premier League, was dismissed for 10, leaving the Diamonds at 136 for four after 30 overs.
Kalis and Langston revived the innings with a crucial 111-run partnership in just 17 overs. Kalis reached her fifty off 64 balls and, after being dropped on the next delivery, powered on to secure her maiden List A century off 94 balls before being caught at cover by Seren Smale off Dattani. Langston played aggressively in the closing overs, including a six off Graham, finishing with a vital 58 from 53 balls to take the Diamonds to 290 for six—a total that proved decisive.