Sapphires shine despite gloom

The victorious Sapphires side

Sapphires were crowned Super 4s champions after the final round of fixtures fell victim to the miserable weather.

The side, which was captained by Alexia Walker and included Vodafone Women's Player of the Year Claire Taylor, lost their penultimate game of the season on Saturday to Diamonds but nearest rivals Emeralds could not take advantage, losing by 14 runs to Rubies.

Those two results, plus Sunday's wash-out, meant Sapphires could not be denied winning the Super 4s for the second time since the competition began.

Ebony Rainford-Brent hit the highest score of the season to condemn Sapphires to their first defeat this year.

Mark Lane with tournament MVP Lydia Greenway

She cracked 19 boundaries in her 133 as Diamonds posted a daunting 299 for eight from their 50 overs. England captain Charlotte Edwards contributed a quickfire 75 from just 60 deliveries - promising form ahead of Friday's one-day international against the West Indies.

All the Sapphires bowlers were expensive with Katherine Brunt, who finished with 2-31 from ten overs, the only exception.

In reply the eventual champions were kept in check by Australia international Charlotte Anneveld who topped and tailed the innings to finish with 4-33. She picked up the crucial wicket of Taylor, a dismissal the batting side never recovered from.

Leah Poulton, another Australian, top-scored with 59 to finish as the competition's highest run-scorer while Walker also chipped in with a half-century but, with England all-rounder Beth Morgan claiming four wickets, they fell 56 runs short.

In Saturday's other game, Emeralds blew the chance to challenge for the title when they lost by 14 runs to Rubies.

Rubies won the toss and batted first - a decision which looked spot on as openers Alex Blackwell and Caroline Atkins put on 49 for the first wicket.

England coach Mark Lane (left), Sapphires skipper Alexia Walker and coach Paul Shaw

When Blackwell was dismissed for 26, Atkins held the innings together to finish unbeaten on 95 - agonisingly close to the century she deserved. England pair Nicky Shaw and Laura Marsh were the pick of the Emeralds attack.

Seven of the top eight Emeralds batsmen reached double figures in reply but none could go on and make that crucial big score. Heather Knight and Jenny Gunn hit 35 and 31 respectively but it was not to be.

For Rubies, left arm spinner Holly Colvin was the undoubted star of the show as she reeled off six maidens to finish with 2-5 from ten miserly overs.

Diamonds' Lydia Greenway was awarded the player of the series while her team-mate, teenager spinner Georgia Elwiss, won the most improved player award after taking nine wickets at just 10.33.

Click here (464 KB) to see this season's Super 4s scores.

Mark Lane with rising star Georgia Elwiss