The Blaze vs Lancashire Thunder at Loughborough (Haselgrave Ground) on 26 May 2024 at 14h30
Blaze chalked-up their third straight win, lying second only to Sparks, whereas Thunder faced their second successive defeat. England’s Emma Lamb carried her bat and made top-score (63*not out) for the visitors, adding 73 runs for Thunder’s fifth wicket with Scotland’s Ailsa Lister. Fellow Scot, Blaze skipper Kathryn Bryce – pictured was top-scorer with ‘fifty’ for the winning team [61 runs (from 51 balls).] Kathryn Bryce mustered three consecutive ’sixes’ from Thunder’s spin attack, to pass her ‘fifty’ in 45 balls. Earlier, when bowling, sister Sarah Bryce stumped Danni Collins, also from Kathryn Bryce (1/29.) Undefeated cameo from Ella Claridge scoring 18*not out (from 10 balls) saw Blaze to victory during the penultimate over. Thunder’s pace bowler Mahika Gaur took a 3-fer (3/39.) Separately, recent announcements by each team saw Sophie Munro (Blaze) loaned to Sunrisers; and Naomi Dattani (ex Thunder) transferred:- also to Sunrisers. Livestream commentators unannounced. Weather was described as mainly overcast and ‘breezy,’ with Thunder’s innings adjourned for rain, as noted below; 10-15C.
*Thunder’s innings: skipper Ellie Threlkeld; with Emma Lamb (England), Mahika Gaur & Seren Smale (England ‘A’), Ailsa Lister (Scotland), Without Georgia Voll (Australia big-bash – injured); Kate Cross rested. [*Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze];*Missing an aerial ‘slog’ across-the-line, Fi Morris was bowled ‘middle-and-leg’ by Grace Ballinger; *Next over, Seren Smale was ‘run-out’ by Lucy Higham’s throw to keeper, from Kirstie Gordon; *After 6 overs power-play, 40/2; *Next over, Ellie Threlkeld was bowled by Kirstie Gordon ‘top-of-middle;’ *On 55/3, rain stopped play, match adjourned for seventy minutes; *By mid-way, 71/3; *Danni Collins was stumped by Sarah Bryce from Kathryn Bryce; *Emma Lamb and Ailsa Lister partnership added fifty with 35 balls (total 73 from 50); *Ailsa Lister went aerial, caught at ‘long-on’ by Marie Kelly from Nadine deKlerk; *Daisy Mullan was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Michaela Kirk, from Grace Ballinger; *Emma Lamb made top-score and carried her bat; *Thunder’s batting: Four batters made double-figures: Emma Lamb 63(50), Ailsa Lister 44(30), Fi Morris 11(8), Danni Collins 10(11); Blaze’s bowling: Grace Ballinger 2/25, Nadine deKlerk 1/28, Kathryn Bryce 1/29, Kirstie Gordon 1/32;
*Blaze’s innings *skipper Kirstie Gordon, Josie Groves (England u19s) Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland) *Also with Nadine deKlerk & Michaela Kirk (from Rep. South Africa) *With Mahika Gaur (England & England ‘A’); *Without Sarah Glenn or Nat Sciver-Brunt (England); *Georgie Boyce (injured) without Tammy Beaumont (England); [*Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Thunder]; *Marie Kelly was caught by Danni Collins at ‘deep-square,’ from Mahika Gaur; *Teresa Graves lobbed a ‘dolly’to ‘mid-wicket,’ caught by Fi Morris from Mahika Gaur; *After six overs power-play 43/2 (vs 40/2); *Sarah Bryce ‘off-cut’ to Ailsa Lister, caught at ‘backward point’ from Tara Norris; *Blaze were 64/3 (vs 71/3) by mid-way; *Yop-scorer Kathryn Bryce was stumped by Ellie Threlkeld, from Phoebe Graham; *Nadine deKlerk was caught by Hannah Jones at ‘fine-leg’ from Mahika Gaur; *Ella Claridge’s undefeated cameo claimed victory; *Blaze’s batting: Kathryn Bryce 61(51), Nadine deKlerk 25(22), Sarah Bryce 24(20), Ella Claridge 18*not out(10); *Thunder’s bowling: Mahika Gaur 3/39, Phoebe Graham 1/13, Tara Norris 1/31;
*Match result: The Blaze 152/5 (8.0 runs-per-over, from 18.5/20overs target 152 from 20ov.) 4 points; beat Lancashire Thunder 151/6 (@7.5 rpo, from 20/20 ov); by five wickets and 7 balls remaining.
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @URL https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/match-centre/106175#scorecard AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin to select a match
*Video highlights (57) courtesy of The Blaze & NV Play @URL https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#vdb9b5aa1-0d30-4b8a-aa05-da221ca4f5c4
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of The Blaze (via NV Play) on YouTube<02h33m42s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/live/-Y1uW_6gZy8
*Pre-match interview with Josie Groves @url https://www.trentbridge.co.uk/news/2024/may/groves-hails-the-blazes-battling-spirit-ahead-of-thunder-visit.html
