Southern Vipers succumbed to a thrilling seven-run defeat to Central Sparks at Edgbaston.

Vipers looked well set to strengthen their qualification bid when they restricted their hosts to 142 for nine. Amy Jones scored a fluent 45 (34 balls) but no-one else stayed beyond the cameo stage against a disciplined attack led by the skilful off-spin of Charlie Dean (three for 27).

Defending that moderate total was a tough assignment for a Sparks attack missing Issy Wong and the injured Grace Potts and Emily Arlott, but they held the Vipers to 135 for eight. Danni Wyatt made an accomplished 68 (49 balls) but Erin Burns took three for 24, and pressure was added by spells from Ellie Anderson (4-0-14-1) and Hannah Baker (4-0-20-0).

Sparks still need to win their remaining games and hope that other results go their way. Despite the setback, Vipers know that winning at least one of their last two fixtures will still send them through.

Sparks chose to bat and started at a gallop with 17 from the first over including three sumptuous cover-driven fours by Eve Jones off Lauren Bell. Eve and Amy Jones added 41 from 27 balls but the Vipers struck back hard with three wickets for five runs in nine balls.

Dean made the vital breakthrough when she flighted one beautifully into Eve Jones’ stumps. Two balls later she bowled Davina Perrin through a cross-bat heave and Burns was then well-held at deep mid-wicket by Wyatt off Linsey Smith.

Dean delivered that T20 rarity, a maiden (her eighth in the format) and though Amy Jones batted with familiar elan, she perished in pursuit of a seventh four when she lifted Georgia Elwiss to mid-off. Elwiss also ended a dangerous counter-attack by Abbey Freeborn (23 from 24 balls) when she hit middle stump. Katie George advanced to 17 from 14 balls but became Dean’s third victim when she made room to cut and missed.

Bethan Ellis (16 not out from 15 balls) offered some late impetus, but the innings had faltered badly: 41 without loss from the first 27 balls then 101 for nine from the next 93.

Vipers were given a perky start by the in-form Ella McCaughan (26 from 23 balls) before she was bowled by Anderson. Just as in Sparks’ innings, the first wicket was quickly followed by two more as, in the space of four balls, Nicole Faltum and Georgia Adams were superbly held at deep mid-wicket by Katie George off Erin Burns.

That was 52 for three and a good-sized crowd really started to get behind Sparks. They were celebrating again when Ellis struck with her first ball, Elwiss slicing to backward point.

When Dean lifted Burns to deep mid-wicket, pressure was growing on Vipers who needed 60 from eight overs with half their wickets gone. Wyatt completed a classy, 34-ball half-century but when she fell to a fine catch at long on by Burns off Ellis, the Vipers’ sting had been drawn.