Emily Arlott takes four wickets in six balls as Southern Vipers suffer first ever Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy loss to Central Sparks at Hove

The 23-year-old Worcestershire seamer trapped Maia Bouchier (1) on the crease with the first ball of her fourth over before claiming her hat-trick with the fourth, fifth and sixth deliveries, writes BRUCE TALBOT.

Georgia Elwiss (0) was also leg before, Charlie Dean superbly caught by the diving Amy Jones behind the stumps and Ella McCaughan bowled through the gate to leave Vipers 17-5.

It was Vipers’ first ever defeat in the RHF Trophy, having won all seven of their matches in 2020 and the first two of this year’s campaign.

Arlott, watched by England head coach Lisa Keightley, could have had a sixth wicket had Gwen Davies not dropped Danni Wyatt when she was on four. The England international went on to make 61, her third successive half-century, but Vipers were dismissed for 104 in 27.5 overs. Arlott finished with 5-29 - the best bowling figures in this year’s RHF Trophy so far.

It was a bad day for the hosts who dropped four catches and donated 34 extras including 29 wides. Sarah Glenn scored 11 off one ball from Tara Norris, hitting a no ball for four and the subsequent free hit for six in her 40 off 37 balls, which helped Sparks to a total of 224 from 49.2 overs.

Vipers seemed to have control in the 18th over when Jones, who had scored 114 and 163 not out in her previous two games, lost her off stump to Dean’s off break for five and Sparks were 57-3.

But skipper Eve Jones and Gwen Davies put on 71 in 16 overs with Jones hitting eight fours before she was run out for 55 by McCaughan’s direct hit from backward point.

Davies was sixth out for 45 but Sparks scored 67 off the last ten overs thanks to some clean hitting by Glenn. On a slow pitch, off-spinner Charlotte Taylor took 3-22 from her ten overs while Dean had 3-37.

Vipers would have fancied their chances of chasing 225 but Wong and Arlott offered control and got the bounce and carry which had eluded Vipers’ seam attack.

Wyatt hit eight fours and doubled the score in an eighth wicket stand of 52 with Carla Rudd (10) before Arlott returned in the 26th over to have Rudd leg before.

Wong finished things off with two wickets, including Wyatt who was bowled through the gate.

Vipers coach Charlotte Edwards said: ‘We just weren't good enough but it's not often that I can say that about the team.

‘They are a resilient bunch and I fully expect them to come back strongly against Western Storm next week.

‘They probably got 40 runs too many on that pitch and we were blown away by Wong and Arlott, who bowled really well.

‘Danni Wyatt played exceptionally well to keep us in the fight but we can't have any complaints.’

Vipers are down to fourth in the eight-team group on run-rate - they have the same points as second-placed Northern Diamonds - and return to action against Western Storm at Taunton next Saturday.