Lauren Winfield-Hill’s swashbuckling 98 gave Northern Diamonds a record Charlotte Edwards Cup total as they started their campaign with a crushing 32-run win over Western Storm.

It dwarfed the previous highest total, 183-5, set by South East Stars in 2022.

Storm lost wickets with regularity in an aggressive chase, losing despite a valiant 52 from opener Danielle Gibson.

Having been beaten finalists in 2021, Diamonds failed to reach Finals Day last year – and they have targeting this competition to add to their 2022 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy win.

On this evidence they have real potential to take the crown. A bold start had wicketkeeper-batter Winfield-Hill smashing 21 runs off the opening two overs, and reaching her half-century after just 30 deliveries.

But the wicketkeeper was caught at deep mid-wicket off Chloe Skelton two short of a remarkable century.

Just as effective was Armitage, who hit six sixes in a brutal 36-ball 74, taking Diamonds 35 runs clear of the previous best total in the competition.

Storm, boosted by the return from injury of talismanic captain Sophie Luff, played as if they had nothing to lose in chasing down the mammoth total.

However, the game was lost when Danielle Gibson fell for an impressive half-century off 30 balls, to leave the visitors 121-5.

Despite solid contributions from Alex Griffiths (31) and Lauren Filer (21), two wickets each for Lizzie Scott and Katie Levick, plus two more on debut for Grace Hall, meant Storm could not keep up with Diamonds’ run-rate, allowing the hosts to start this year’s T20 competition with a statement win.