Nadine de Klerk fired her side to a four wicket win in a low scoring thriller against Northern Diamonds, claiming the best figures in the history of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and ensuring The Blaze maintained their unbeaten start to the season.  

The South African overseas finished with figures of 7-34, while her new ball partner Grace Ballinger claimed 3-23 in a frenzied first innings at Seat Unique Riverside, with the Diamonds bowled out for 62 in 18.1 overs.

De Klerk twice took two wickets in two balls, including the scalp of her international teammate Chloe Tryon, having opened her account by dismissing the dangerous Lauren Winfield-Hill. 

The Blaze endured a wobble with the bat, slipping from 25-0 to 58-6, before the away side tipped over the line to stretch their side’s record to three wins in their opening three playable games. 

Having won the toss, Kirstie Gordon elected to field and that decision was soon vindicated with the early wicket of Winfield-Hill, caught at cover looking to drive aerially, albeit not before the hosts had whistled to 19/0 off two overs. 

And Sterre Kallis, alongside captain Hollie Armitage kept the visitors at bay for another four overs before Diamonds slipped from 30/1 to 47/6. 

The latter first feathered de Klerk to Sarah Bryce, before Phoebe Turner took the proteas all-rounder for fours through mid-wicket the covers. 

The seamer had her revenge, though, trapping Turner in front and dismissing Tryon with the next ball shortly after Ballinger had Kallis pinned lbw for her first wicket. 

The left-arm seamer then snuck an inswinging delivery through the defenses of Katherine Fraser for her second, prior to a brief spell of respite. 

Bess Heath and Abi Glen weather three overs, including a welcome boundary for the former, before a spurt of wickets fell again. 

The Diamonds’ demise was catalysed by the final ball of de Klerk’s eighth over, albeit she had Beaumont to thank for the dismissal of Heath, the England batter sprawling to claim the catch at Gully. 

Ballinger had her second with the next ball, Glen bowled, before de Klerk wrapped up the innings with scalps of Katie Levick and Lizzie Scott.

Marie Kelly cracked 14 off the opening over to start The Blaze’s reply in imperious fashion, but she was the only batter to pass double figures as Tryon’s left-arm spin caused havoc.

Her first wicket was that of Kelly, caught at mid-on, with Georgie Boyce departing the same way. 

Between, Beaumont was caught on the square leg boundary looking to force the issue. 

Katie Levick then added her name to the wicket column, Sarah Bryce given out lbw and de Klerk bowled, with Tryon’s final wicket - that of Kathryn Bryce - the last for the Diamonds, as Glenn and Lucy Higham guided the visitors home.