Charlotte Edwards Cup: Central Sparks’ Emily Arlott takes hat-trick in win over South East Stars

Kathryn Bryce continued her impressive form with the bat, hitting her third half-century of the tournament to help The Blaze post a winning total of 159-7 against Northern Diamonds.

The Scotland international hit 54 from 39, sharing a second-wicket stand of 78 with Tammy Beaumont (45 from 33) before being caught at short third off Katie Levick (2-19).

Erin Burns took 3-20 for the Diamonds, who looked on course when Bess Heath (59 from 32) and Sterre Kalis (41 from 32) put on 76, but Glenn (3-33) made the breakthrough in her first game of the tournament and the home side faded to finish 146 all out in the final over.

Sophia Dunkley’s second half-century in three games appeared to have put South East Stars in a strong position against Central Sparks before Arlott intervened, dismissing her for 58 from 49 before removing Farrant and Ryana MacDonald-Gay to complete the hat-trick.

Katie George (2-31) also helped to ensure the Stars’ collapse from 110-2 to 122-8, with five wickets falling in eight balls – but Sparks struggled in response, with teenage spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman taking 3-14 as they slipped to 41-4.

Eve Jones (43) and Courtney Webb (31) shared a partnership of 59, but MacDonald-Gay claimed two quick wickets to leave Sparks 115-7 and needing eight from the final over.

However, Arlott stepped up to the plate, hitting Farrant’s first two deliveries to the rope to finish unbeaten on 19 from seven and clinch victory with four balls to spare.