At Manchester (Emirates Old Trafford) Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy on July 23
Following a delayed start for rain at Old Trafford, Thunder were ‘all smiles’ after chalking-up their first win, confirmed by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. Commentators said that Emma Lamb’s 68 runs (from 69 balls) top-score for Thunder; and taking 3/26 made a ‘match-winning performance,’ given challenging playing conditions. Sparks’ Abi Freeborn made top-score-of-the-day; and Emily Arlott took a ‘4-fer,’ albeit on the losing side. Setting the scene, skipper Ellie Threlkeld (pictured right), and Alex Hartley were both known to be disappointed for Thunder following their third round defeat, despite Alex Hartley bowling her second career best ‘6-fer.’ Commentators were Mike Perkins with first-timer Faith Florence, a Thunder fan on twitter @thefaithflo The match was also on social media (including youtube, NV play for highlights and ESPN-cric-info; please see below.)
Thunder’s Innings
*Emma Lamb, Kate Cross and Laura Marshall in place of Phoebe Graham Rebecca Duckworth, Nat Brown. *Umpires docked two overs per side, following pitch inspection for a late start (14h50) *Sparks won the toss and chose to field. *Power play bowlers were Grace Potts paired with Emily Arlott. *Opener Georgie Boyce was caught-and-bowled by Emily Arlott for a fourth-ball duck. *Facing 22 dot balls in unfavourable conditions, WIndies star Deandre Dottin 8(25) was ‘leg before’ from Grace Potts. *After ten overs with drying outfield, Thunder were 28/1, improving to 77/2 after 100 balls (16.4 overs.) Laura Marshall quickened the run-rate. *Scoring at around one-run-per-ball, Marshall 41(47) partnered Emma Lamb for an hour, the pair adding ninety runs; until caught-and-bowled by Georgia Davis. *At mid-way (reduced from 25 to 24 overs) Thunder were 120/3.
*After thirty overs, Emma Lamb 68(69) was ‘leg before’ to Hannah Baker’s spin. *Partnering skipper Ellie Threlkeld, the pair’s fourth wicket partnership added forty runs: total 154/4 (after 30 overs.) *Shachi Pai went for a fourth ball duck, caught by Thea Brookes, from Eve Jones. *Kate Cross 38 (40) chalked-up Thunder’s 200 runs with a single during the fortieth over. No more ‘fours’ were scored after Cross was caught by Ami Campbell from Grace Potts (220/6.) *Emily Arlott and Grace Potts returned to skittle tail-enders. *Skipper Ellie Threlkeld 46(66) was clean-bowled by Arlott, who also caught-and-bowled Daisy Mullan (2) two balls later. *Finally Hannah Jones (6) was caught by Eve Jones from Arlott; leaving Laura Jackson (6*) and Alex Hartley (1*) ’not out.’
Sparks’ Innings
*Amy Jones, Issy Wong and Sarah Glenn were missing (England duties.) *Further adjournments for rain between innings reduced Sparks’ reply by another five overs; although one over proved unnecessary. *Sparks’ power play bowlers were Kate Cross paired firstly with Laura Jackson, then Deandre Dottin. *After ten overs Sparks were (34/0 vs 28/1.) *During an eventful twelfth over, skipper Eve Jones 26(42) launched Deandre Dottin (1/41) for ‘six’ and was clean-bowled three balls later *Beyond which point spinner Alex Hartley replaced Kate Cross, as Dottin continued bowling from the other end. *After 24 overs Sparks were 98/1 vs 120/3.) *Disaster struck during the twenty-eighth over when Hannah Jones firstly had opener Davina Perrin 46(85) stumped by Ellie Threlkeld. *Secondly, Ami Campbell was caught inside the boundary by Laura Marshall, for a second-ball duck.
*Paired with Deandre Dottin, Emma Lamb’s (3/26) third, fourth and fifth overs each took tail-enders’ wickets. *Firstly, Emily Arlott (12) was caught by Alex Hartley from Lamb; *Secondly Thea Brookes (0) was stumped by Ellie Threlkeld from Lamb for a fourth-ball duck; *Thirdly, Ria Fackrell was caught by Georgie Boyce (2) also from Lamb. *Replacing Dottin, Alex Hartley (2/46) had Georgia Davis caught by Kate Cross (4) from Hartley and top-scorer Abi Freeborn 72(72) was caught by Laura Marshall also from Hartley. *Finally, Kate Cross bagged Sparks’ last two wickets to seal Thunder’s first win. *Elizabeth Russell (5) snicked from Cross to keeper Ellie Threlkeld; and Hannah Baker (0) went ‘leg before’ to Kate Cross for a ‘golden duck’.
Summary
Bagging their first win, Thunder move out of last place. England’s Emma Lamb put in a ‘match-winning’ performance scoring top score 68; also taking three wickets with the ball, that needed constant towelling. Lamb was partnered by Laura Jackson adding ninety runs for Thunder’s third wicket; followed by skipper Ellie Threlkeld adding forty runs for their fourth wicket. For Sparks’ innings Emma Lamb’s spin was paired with Deandre Dottin’s seam. Lamb’s (3/26) took three tail-ender’s wickets. Thunder’s win was sealed by England’s Kate Cross, who took Sparks’ last two wickets in two balls, leaving an eight-ball margin-of-safety.
Result: Thunder Women 236/9 (48 overs) beat Central Sparks Women 191/10 (41.4/43 overs) by 28 runs (DLS Method)
Thunder’s batting: 236/9 (48/48 overs, 4.91 runs-per-over): Emma Lamb 68(69), Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Threlkeld 46(66), Laura Marshall 41(40), Kate Cross 38(40); Sparks’ bowling: Emily Arlott 4/36, Grace Potts 2/46, Eve Jones 1/20, Georgia Davis 1/44, Hannah Baker 1/50; Fow 1-2, 2-24, 3-114, 4-154, 5-155, 6-220, 7-223, 8-224, 9-234.
Sparks’ batting: 191/10 (41.4/43 overs, 4.58 runs-per-over): Abi Freeborn 72(72), Davina Perrin 46(85), Eve Jones 26(42), Emily Arlott 12(18); Thunder’s bowling: Emma Lamb 3/26, Kate Cross 2/23, Hannah Jones 2/30, Alex Hartley 2/46, Deandre Dottin 1/41; Fow 1-45, 2-111, 3-111, 4-138, 5-150, 6-165, 7-170, 8-181, 9-191, 10-191.
Scorecard and statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2022-1297659/thunder-vs-central-sparks-1297941/full-scorecard
Edited highlights courtesy of ECB (NV play) at https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m624377f1-80e5-4056-8429-59389c7ed2df
Entire match, is free-to-view courtesy of Lancs TV live stream via Youtube and Smart TV (starting from 51m00/7h49m10s) at URL youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c31xdJIzAyM
