Lancashire Thunder vs The Blaze at Manchester, Emirates Old Trafford on 2 June 2024 @16h00
Blaze chalked-up their fifth ‘convincing victory,’ chasing-down Thunder’s relatively low-score on account of a ‘sedate start’ to their power-play; followed by three ‘brilliant’ stumpings by Scotland’s Sarah Bryce. Thunder came beefed-up with Sophie Ecclestone who was one of four Thunder batters fortunate to reach double-figures. Often revered as the World’s No.1 bowler, Sophie Ecclestone provided home-crowd entertainment by hitting the only ’six’ of the day. Separately, for Blaze, fellow England team-mate Tammy Beaumont (pictured) performed a top-score cameo [34*not out (from 45 balls).] The match reached its climax when South Africa’s Nadine deKlerk despatched the winning ‘four’ from her second delivery to seal Blaze’s fifth back-to-back win from 94 balls by a ‘comfortable margin’ of five overs to spare. Arriving at the competition’s half-way marker with 21 points also as the only unbeaten side, Blaze remain strong contenders for the next-stage play-offs. Commentators were Scott Reid with Michael ‘Mike’ Perkins (Sports journalists); with guest Polly Starkie (‘HerGameToo’ regional cricket champion & co-host ‘Noughtie Child Podcast’.) Also pitch-side, with presenter Fraser Danson. Weather: Mainly cloudy but dry, 17-20C.
*Thunder’s innings: skipper Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Threlkeld; with Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone & Emma Lamb (England), Seren Smale (England ‘A’), Ailsa Lister (Scotland), *Without Georgia Voll (Australia big-bash – injured); [*Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze]; *Commentators’ curse struck after beefing-up Fi Morris for her previous all-round performance, when during the power-play Fi Morris was caught at ‘backward point’ by Josie Groves, from Kirstie Gordon’s first ball; *During the 6th over, Seren Smale was stumped by Sarah Bryce, from sister Kathryn; *’Sedate start’ with ‘nothing too concerning’ after 6 overs power-play, 22/2; *Commentators’ curse struck again when Emma Lamb was caught at ‘long-off’ by Marie Kelly, from Kirstie Gordon; *44/3 by mid-way; *Thunder’s 4th wicket between Ellie Threlkeld and Danni Collins added 43; *Ellie Threlkeld was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Kirstie Gordon from Lucy Higham; *Ailsa Lister was caught at ‘long-off’ by Marie Kelly from Lucy Higham; *Attempting ‘reverse-sweep,’ Danni Collins was stumped by Sarah Bryce from Lucy Higham; *Three wickets fell to Kirstie Gordon’s death over; *Firstly Kate Cross was stumped by Sarah Bryce; *Two balls later, Sophie Ecclestone was bowled ‘into the woodwork;’ *Next ball, Phoebe Graham was stumped by Sarah Bryce for a golden duck, placing Kirstie Gordon on a hat-trick with her next competition ball; *Thunder’s batting: Danni Collins 30(32), Sophie Ecclestone 20(15), Ellie Threlkeld 20(21), Emma Lamb 20(24); *Blaze’s bowling: Kirstie Gordon 5/12, Lucy Higham 3/24, Kathryn Bryce 1/23;
*Blaze’s innings *skipper Kirstie Gordon (England A’), Tammy Beaumont (England), Josie Groves (England u19s), Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland) *Also with Nadine deKlerk (from Rep. South Africa) *Without Sarah Glenn or Nat Sciver-Brunt (England) or Michaela Kirk (from Rep. South Africa) *Georgie Boyce (injured) [*Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Thunder]; *Teresa Graves steepled a catch to ‘mid-off,’ taken by Tara Norris from Sophia Morris; *After six overs power-play 46/0 (vs 22/2) & *73/1 (vs 44/3) by mid-way; *Kathryn Bryce was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Tara Norris from Fi Morris; *Sarah Bryce was caught at ‘cover’ by Seren Smale from Kate Cross; *Nadine deKlerk was undefeated, as was Tammy Beaumont who carried her bat (as mentioned above); *Blaze’s batting: Tammy Beaumont 34*not out (45), Teresa Graves 29(24), Kathryn Bryce 21(17); *Thunder’s bowling: Kate Cross 1/16, Fi Morris 1/18, Sophia Morris 1/26;
*Match result: The Blaze 112/3 (@7.1 runs-per-over, from 15.4/20 overs; target 112 from 20/20 ov); beat Lancashire Thunder 111/9 (@5.5 runs-per-over, from 20/20overs); by seven wickets with 26 balls remaining
*Scorecard courtesy of ECB @url: https://www.ecb.co.uk/charlotte-edwards-cup/match-centre/104390#scorecard AppleMac users may need to scroll down on left margin to select a match
*Video highlights (34) courtesy of Lancashire Thunder & NV Play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#v264cb579-60d0-46fc-8a2e-10d6934142e0
*Full match free-to-air courtesy of Lancashire Thunder & Lancs TV (via NV Play) on YouTube<02h56m25>@url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9csQilBSb18&t=6s& https://cricket.lancashirecricket.co.uk/news/2024-news/live-lancashire-thunder-vs-the-blaze-charlotte-edwards-cup/
