Georgia Elwiss hit a match-winning half-century as Southern Vipers edged ahead of Sunrisers at the top on the return of the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy.
While Sunrisers, Northern Diamonds and The Blaze all won too as 50-over cricket took over again after a month of 20-over Charlotte Edwards Cup action, it was Vipers’ seven-wicket victory over Western Storm that lifted the four-times winners into top spot.
Mary Taylor and skipper Georgia Adams each took three wickets as Southern Vipers bowled out Western Storm in just 37 overs for 156, of which Fran Wilson top scored with 34.
But the Vipers made short work of it, largely thanks to a second-wicket stand of 73 between Ella McCaughan (49) and Elwiss.
Adams went cheaply, but Elwiss stayed on to hit 10 fours as Vipers won off the fourth ball of the 30th over.
Sophie Munro produced a stunning spell on her RHF Trophy debut for Sunrisers as they edged to a tense 30-run win over Lancashire Thunder at Chelmsford.
The home side made 253, which might have been higher but for a middle-order collapse after an opening stand of 94 from skipper Grace Scrivens (51) and Jo Gardner (63).
Left-arm spinner Hannah Jones took 4-50 to become the tournament’s joint highest wicket-taker with 14.
Naomi Dattani’s knock of 36 seemed likely to steer Thunder home, but Sunrisers lost six wickets for 52 to be bowled out for 224.
Seamer Munro, on loan from The Blaze, took 5-25, including three wickets in four balls and the key scalp of ex-Sunrisers player Dattani, as she helped earn a first victory over Thunder in any format.
