<\/p>\n
The sun may have set on women\u2019s regional cricket, but Sunrisers pulled a fairytale win out of the bag at the last, beating South East Stars by 27 runs on DLS, after lightning and torrential rain forced a premature end to the match.<\/p>\n
Sunrisers spent three seasons struggling in the competition and failed to win a game in 2021 and 2022, but finally lifted the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in Leicester.<\/p>\n Their captain, Grace Scrivens, described it as \u201ca hell of a journey\u201d. \u201cIt\u2019s been mad, but we\u2019ve loved the journey we\u2019ve been on,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s been about sticking with players, giving them belief and trusting in them.\u201d<\/p>\n The rain fell at a fortuitous moment for the Sunrisers, shortly after off-spinner Kalea Moore took two wickets in the space of four overs \u2013 Cordelia Griffith driving into the hands of extra cover, and Jodi Grewcock bunting a return catch \u2013 to leave them 121 for three with 92 still needed.<\/p>\n But a sweetly-struck half-century from Griffith and a sensible unbeaten 39 from Scrivens ensured they were already well ahead of the DLS par when the weather intervened, 25 overs into their chase. Loud whoops could be heard from their dressing room as the umpires informed them of the result.<\/p>\n Griffith said: \u201cWe were the underdogs, but we\u2019re a team of fighters, and all the hard work has paid off over the years. Through those tough times we really stuck together as a group. To come out on top is such a special feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n The match marked the end of five seasons of regional cricket, which is being ditched partly due to consistently poor crowds. Only 200 people were present to witness a very soggy end to an era.<\/p>\n