Lightning v Thunder at Leicester (The Uptonsteel County Ground) on May 21
Openers Georgie Boyce (71 runs from 56 balls) and Emma Lamb (56 from 49) made 40 runs from Thunder’s power play, reaching 71 by mid-way.
*At the 100 ball benchmark, Thunder were 130 without loss.
*Thereafter, both openers were caught behind by Kathryn Bryce within six balls of each other. Firstly Emma Lamb fell to Lightning’s Australian Spinner Piepa Cleary (3/34) – the first of her three decisive wickets. Secondly Georgie Boyce fell to Josie Groves (1/22). Piepa Cleary took two more wickets during Thunder’s nineteenth over when skipper Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Threlkeld was caught behind by keeper Sarah Bryce.
*The same combination struck next ball when Danielle Collins was stumped, placing Cleary on a ‘hat trick.’ Bowler-turned-batter Laura Marshall sent Cleary’s ‘hat trick’ ball for ‘four.’ Bowling the death over, Sophie Munro had Shachi Pai ‘run out’ by Lucy Higham, first ball.
*Sophie Munro’s remaining over went for ‘ones’ and ‘twos’ as Thunder closed on 152/5.
*Opening Lightning’s reply, Marie Kelly (8) scored two ‘fours’ from Laura Jackson’s seam, but fell ‘leg before’ (third ball) to former England spinner Alex Hartley (1/13). Following the power play, Lightning were 50/1 (compared to 40/0). Lightning lost another wicket before mid-way 83/2 (v 71/0): when Ella Claridge (24 from 18) was clean-bowled by Phoebe Graham (1/19.)
*During an eventful twelfth over, Tammy Beaumont (59 from 48) struck Laura Jackson (1/26) for three ‘fours’ and was caught by Danielle Collins.
*Sarah Bryce as the new batter, also struck Laura Jackson for ‘four’ taking the tally of runs scored from Jackson’s over to 18. A miserly over from Alex Hartley redressed the balance. Next over, Sarah Bryce (7) was stumped by Ellie Threlkeld, coming down the wicket to Hannah Jones’ spin.
*At the 100 ball benchmark, Lightning were level-pegging on 132/4 (v 130/0.)
*Kathryn Bryce (29 from 20) scored above par until caught behind by Ellie Threlkeld, from newbie Sophia Turner. Bethan Ellis scored two more ‘fours’ from the same over, to clinch victory.
In summary, both sides batters scored collectively at a strike rate of more than one-run-per-ball. The main difference was that Lightning’s star Australian Spinner Piepa Cleary took three decisive wickets whereas most Thunder bowlers took at least one wicket each.
Result: (Group A) Loughborough Lightning 155/5 (18.5/20 overs, target 153) beat Lancashire Thunder 152/5 (20 overs) by 5 wickets
Lightning 155/5 (18.5/20 overs, 8.23 runs-per-over) Tammy Beaumont 59 runs (from 38 balls), Kathryn Bryce 29(20), Ella Claridge 24(18), Bethan Ellis 19(14); Thunder bowling: Alex Hartley 1/13, Phoebe Graham 1/19, Sophia Turner 1/24, Laura Jackson 1/26, Hannah Jones 1/27;
Thunder 152/5 (20 overs, 7.6 runs-per-over) Georgie Boyce 71(56), Emma Lamb 56(49) Lightning bowling: Piepa Cleary’s (3/34), Josie Groves (1/22).
Scorecard and statistics at URL https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/charlotte-edwards-cup-2022-1298049/lightning-vs-thunder-group-a-1298061/full-scorecard
