Thunder v Loughborough Lightning at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester on June 3 (14h30)
Thunder signed-off their group stage for the ECB Charlotte Edwards Cup with a second win at Old Trafford, on a good pitch with quick outfield; on a dry day with occasional sunshine. Taking ‘5-fer’ 15 runs (5/15), Sophie Ecclestone enjoyed a ‘wonderful moment’ between innings, having taken three quick wickets to bowl Lightning All Out for 103. Thunder were playing at full strength with England’s Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross; and Daisy Mullan for Laura Marshall. Commentators included (former keeper) Warren Hegg, Keaton Jennings and Philip Harrison. Also broadcast via livestream, via Youtube (Lancashire Cricket) and social media (ESPN-cric-info.) Previously, Lightning won at Leicester by five-wickets on May 21. At that time, both Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross were playing overseas.
*Batting first, Lightning ‘got off to a flying start. Marie Kelly scored 21 from 8 balls, until clean-bowled by Alex Hartley after hitting her for ’six.’
*Sophie Ecclestone took two wickets during her first over, Ella Claridge went for a second ball duck, caught by Phoebe Graham. *Also Bethany Harmer (7) was caught by Daisy Mullan. *Bryce sisters (Kathryn and Sarah) took Lightning’s power play score to 45/3.
*A bowling change bought-on spinner Hannah Jones, Thunder’s leading wicket taker, starting the match with 8 wickets. *Hannah Jones took a high return catch from her third ball to dismiss Sarah Bryce 13(14); taking her tally to 9. *Commentators described the catch as ‘looking quite easy in slow motion.’
*Lightning also lost Bethan Ellis (5) before half-way. Ellis found a ‘top edge,’ and was caught on the leg-side from a one-handed catch by Phoebe Graham from Emma Lamb’s spin.
*At mid-way (10 overs) the run-rate had fallen and Lightning were 60/5. Hannah Jones second over claimed another wicket when Kathryn Bryce (13) was ‘run-out’ ‘quite far down the pitch’ with ‘a bit of hesitation.’ Commentators described Phoebe Graham’s throw and keeper Ellie Threlkeld ‘whipped off the bails’ at 65/6. Phoebe Graham scored a second ‘run-out’ during the sixteenth over, when Lucy Higham (16) was also run out as Piepa Cleary 9*(17) scampered for a run off Kate Cross, that wasn’t there. *At the 100 ball benchmark (16.4) Lightning were 95/7. *Lightning 100 runs came during the seventeenth over.
*Bowling her fourth over, Sophie Ecclestone took Lightning’s three remaining wickets. *Firstly, Sophie Munro 13(8) was ‘caught by Emma Lamb running backwards’ as the ball ballooned ‘upwards into the sunlight.’ *Sophie Ecclestone then came around the wicket to the left-handed Grace Ballinger – her third ball driven straight back at Kate Cross (Sophie Ecclestone’s fourth wicket.) *Next ball, Ellie Threlkeld stumped Josie Groves for a first-ball duck, (Sophie Ecclestone’s fifth wicket 5/15.) Thunder were all-out for 103.
*Between innings, Thunder’s commentators had said that there’d be ‘huge disappointment’ if Thunder ‘didn’t get the job done.’ *Top-scorer Emma Lamb 42(35) anchored Thunder’s reply, losing Kate Cross (9) and Sophie Ecclestone, who were promoted to bat higher up the order, sensing an early win.
*At the power play, Thunder were 36/3 (vs Lightning 45/3) and commentators said that ‘Lamb was in absolute control.’ *After ten overs – the half-way point, Thunder were 79/4 (vs 60/5); having just lost Emma Lamb 42(35) ‘leg before’ to Sarah Bryce.
*Commentators talked of ‘a great knock’ by Emma Lamb, whose dismissal ended a fifty-run partnership with Danielle Collins and ‘put Lightning back in the game.’
*Next over, Collins (12) fell ‘leg before’ to Josie Groves, at which point the match was paused for drinks. *Spirited resistance from Australian Piepa Cleary, who delivered ‘dot’ ball economy for Lightning, unlucky this time, not to take any of Thunder’s wickets. *Thunder indeed clinched victory sooner than expected after 15.2 overs (92 balls.)
*Summarising Thunder’s performance, Warren Hegg said that Sophie Ecclestone was ’star of the game.’ *Also that it was a wonderful moment for any bowler to collect a ‘5-fer’ in ‘perfect conditions’ at Old Trafford. *Hegg added that Ecclestone (not forgetting Kate Cross) had (both) ‘come back from international duty’ (in India.)
Commentators later added that Sophie Ecclestone (5/15) was a ‘headline act.’ *Turning to Thunder’s keeper Ellie Threlkeld, Hegg (as a former keeper himself) described Threlkeld’s performance as ’superb.’ Thunder TV commentators said that ‘Emma Lamb was in absolute control,’ until the half-way point. Emma Lamb’s fifty-run partnership with Danielle Collins ‘put Thunder back in the game.’ Thereafter, skipper Ellie Threlkeld 12*(18) and Daisy Mullan 9*(10) steered Thunder home without further loss. Thunder’s five-wicket victory turns-the-tables on Lightning, for their earlier five-wicket defeat.
Result: Thunder Women 104/5 (15.2overs, target 104) beat Loughborough Lightning Women 103/10 (18 overs) by 5 wickets and with 28 balls remaining
Lightning 103/10 (18/20 overs, 5.72 runs-per-over): Marie Kelly 21(8), Lucy Higham 16(18), Sarah Bryce 13(14), Kathryn Bryce 13(24), Sophie Munro 13(8), Piepa Cleary 9*(17); Thunder bowling: Sophie Ecclestone 5/15, Emma Lamb 1/3, Hannah Jones 1/18, Alex Hartley 1/22; Fow 1-27, 2-28, 3-29, 4-46, 5-54, 6-65, 7-86, 8-101, 9-103, 10-103; Thunder 104/5 (15.2/20 overs, 6.78 runs-per-over, target 104): Emma Lamb 42(35), Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Threlkeld 12*(18), Danielle Collins 12(18), Daisy Mullan 9*(10); Lightning bowling: Kathryn Bryce 2/24, Grace Ballinger 1/10, Josie Groves 1/20, Marie Kelly 1/21; Fow 1-6, 2-15, 3-24, 4-75, 5-81.
Scorecard & statistics at URL https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/charlotte-edwards-cup-2022-1298049/thunder-vs-lightning-group-a-1298071/full-scorecard
Match highlights at https://cricket.lancashirecricket.co.uk/match-centre/thunder-vs-loughborough-lightning-charlotte-edwards-cup/
Entire match, is free-to-view courtesy of Lancs TV live stream, via Smart TV (3h21m50s starting from 33m30s) and Youtube at URL youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFBd8ElYatI
