There were contrasting fortunes at the Fischer County Ground, Leicester, as Lightning won their second game in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, beating a spirited Central Sparks side by 55 runs.
Whereas Lighting had no chance of advancing to the final, there was a slim chance of Central Sparks making it to the showpiece fixture at one of their home bases, Edgbaston.
Surrey beat Middlesex to lift the London Cup for the first time in the annual competition as elite women's cricket returned at last.
There were some reassuring signs at the Kia Oval. While the spectators were absent, the pigeons feasted on the edge of the square and the busy sounds of South London carried on outside the ground.
The England and Wales Cricket Board have promised professional women's cricket will be played this summer, although no decision has yet been made on the date or format.
A new domestic competition based on eight regional teams was due to start earlier in the year but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. After announcing the return of county cricket for men on 1 August, ECB...
