Durham Women’s Academy edge past Warwickshire by one run before securing a tie in a dramatic T20 double header with Trudy Johnson and Emily Whiting in the runs.
Durham were inserted into bat by the hosts and despite losing Charlotte Stubbs early to Hannah Hardwick’s bowling, they put themselves in a strong position as Harriet Robson (43) and Emily Whiting (38) shared an 81-run stand
After losing both set batters alongside Emma Thompson in the space of 20 balls, Trudy Johnson made 32 but struggled for support as the hosts limited Durham to 153/6 in their 20 overs.
Hardwick and Erin Tweats claimed two wickets apiece back up by two scalps shared by B Gillgrass and Lauren Kenvyn.
Rachel Hopkins’ side put the pressure on the hosts early in their chase as they reduced Warwickshire to 20/3 with 6.1 overs gone with Freya Rook taking 2/13 from her four overs.
The Bears steadied thing with a third wicket partnership of 56 but soon found themselves in further trouble at 97/6, as Olivia Miller struck twice- including the key dismissal of Sophie Beech for 41.
Kenvyn and Matilda Atherton-Gater came together in the middle, requiring 55 from the final 5.4 overs. The pair put on 37 at a pace to leave the hosts requiring 19 to win from the final two overs.
After scoring eight off Laura Trotter in the penultimate over, it was down to Johnson to defend 11 runs in the final over. Johnson conceded just six runs from five deliveries, to leave the Bears requiring six from the final ball.
Atherton-Gater pulled the final delivery for four as Durham claimed a dramatic final ball win by just one run.
After an uncontested toss, Durham started positively with the ball in the second encounter, restricting the hosts to 38/2 in the powerplay.
Warwickshire put on 59 for the third wicket but Durham claimed the key wicket of Hardwick for 48 in the 13th over with the hosts on 87- half of their eventual score.
The Bears began to up the ante, adding 21 from the next 11 balls despite. The Ds claimed two wickets but Warwickshire continued to score at a rate with 68 runs coming in the final six overs.
Trudy Johnson claimed two wickets with Freya Rook, Charlotte Stubbs, Amelie Butterwick and Naomi Silva all taking one each as Warwickshire posted 174/6.
Durham had an outstanding start to their chase of 175 as Emily Whiting (64) and Trudy Johnson (61) shared 142 for the opening stand but the hosts hit back with three wickets inside two overs, with Durham requiring 24 from the final three overs.
Harriet Robson struck two fours as Durham took 17 runs from the first two remaining overs, with seven needed from the last.
Durham began the final over with three from the opening three balls before losing Harriet Robson to Erin Tweats. After claiming a single from the penultimate ball, Charlotte Stubbs and Olivia Miller scampered through for two to end the game in a dramatic tie.