Southern Vipers 231 (Adams 80, Windsor 37) beat Northern Diamonds 193 (Kalis 55, Taylor 6-34) by 38 runs
Charlotte Taylor's game-changing six-wicket haul ensured the Southern Vipers defended 232 to beat Northern Diamonds by 38 runs and claim the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy title at Edgbaston.
An enthralling game which swung back and forth throughout saw the Diamonds well placed at 74 for 1 in the 15th over of their chase, only to slip to 96 for 6 in the 23rd as brilliant off-spinner Taylor struck the decisive blows.
She had opener Hollie Armitage caught at backward point for 26, Alex MacDonald out hit wicket, Jenny Gunn trapped lbw and Bess Heath caught at deep mid-wicket.
The Diamonds were later bowled out for 193 inside 43 overs, with 26-year-old Taylor also trapping Beth Langston lbw and having Netherlands international Sterre Kalis caught at mid-on for 55 on the way to a fabulous 6 for 34 from her 10 overs - the best return from any bowler in the competition. Kalis became her sixth wicket shortly after reaching 50 in the 37th over, and Taylor finished with a competition-high 15 wickets in five appearances.
Taylor, who was drafted into the Vipers' side after the competition had already started, was thrilled with her performance, and the result.
"That's the best I've ever bowled," Taylor said. "I couldn't have asked for anything better. I'm proving to myself week in and week out that I can play at this level.
"Armitage, [Lauren] Winfield-Hill and Kalis got them off to a good start, but we took wickets at key times, and I'm so happy I was able to contribute. Lots of people wouldn't have seen me play too much cricket, and I think that works to my advantage, especially with my bowling.
"This team is so young. Myself, Georgia (Adams) and Carla (Rudd), we're some of the oldest at 26. And some of these girls are 16, even 15. So for us to win seven games out of seven with such a young side, it's really impressive and bodes well for the future."
Vipers' captain Georgia Adams continued her stunning form with 80 off 102 balls, including eleven fours, at the top of the order as she underpinned 231 all out and moved to 500 competition runs in the process.
She shared a century opening partnership with Ella McCaughan, who posted 35, having been inserted, only for the Diamonds to drag things back impressively as leg-spinners Katie Levick and Armitage shared five wickets.
After Adams and McCaughan shared 100 inside 24 overs, their side's fourth century opening stand in seven games, the South Coast side were in a dominant position at 150 for 1 in the 32nd over. Adams was particularly strong square of the wicket, reaching 50 for the fourth time in this competition off 68 balls.
Maia Bouchier, however, looked more fluent at the crease and was punishing through the covers and over the top on the way to 28. Together with Adams - they shared 50 inside eight overs after McCaughan had feathered left-arm spinner Linsey Smith behind - a total nearing 300 was not unrealistic on a pacy and true surface with a fast outfield.
But things changed in a flash. Diamonds captain Lauren Winfield-Hill, back from England's T20 bubble, brought Armitage into the attack, and she struck first ball with a long hop which Bouchier pulled head high to mid-on, leaving the score at 150 for 2 in the 32nd.
Almost 12 overs later, the Vipers were 191 for 8, with Armitage striking again plus three wickets for Levick, who trapped Charlie Dean and Carla Rudd lbw and removed Adams, caught at deep mid-wicket. Levick's first two overs had cost her 19 and she finished with 3 for 49 from eight.
Miserly former England seamers Langston and Gunn both contributed significantly in dragging things back and finished with a wicket apiece.
However, there was to be a late twist as the Vipers were boosted by an industrious 37 off 48 balls from Emily Windsor to ensure they went beyond 230.
Winfield-Hill rued a number of what she called "soft dismissals" for her side.
"A lot of people got themselves out rather than being got out," she said. "But we'll learn from that. We just need to be playing in these finals and find a way to win.
"They started well with that big partnership up top before we clawed it back in the middle and kept them to a score. At one stage we thought it was a 260 pitch, but in the end they probably got 20 or 30 too many with people down the order chipping in. That proved to be the difference."
