The Blaze women vs Somerset women – (match 32) – at Loughborough (University) Haslegrave Ground on Tuesday 20 May 2025 (10h30)
The Blaze women made domestic women’s cricket history by chasing-down the second highest ‘List A’ run-chase, needing to score more than three hundred runs. Batting first, Somerset women set the challenge. Somerset women’s skipper Sophie Luff posted top score [72 runs (from 76 balls)] in a partnership with newbie Bex Odgers who scored her second ‘fifty.’ Reflecting on The Blaze’s success, skipper Kirstie Gordon said it was ‘really pleasing’ and paid tribute to NZ international Maddy Green (pictured) [97runs (from 90 balls)] who provided a platform, partnered by Scotland’s skipper Kathryn Bryce who scored ‘fifty.’ Separately, Georgia Elwiss [75*not out] was mentioned by team-mate Lucy Higham for her ‘reliability, composure and experience’ needed to complete the run-chase successfully. Commentator was James Carr as visiting Regional Director of Women’s Cricket for (part of the) North of England; with guest player Lucy Higham (The Blaze.) Weather was bright and breezy 16C.
Somerset women wearing black with white logos and plum helmets *skipper Sophie Luff *[Sarah Brycekeeping wicket for The Blaze] *international player Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia ‘A’); *Debutante ‘rookie’ Olivia Barnes; *By 10 overs ‘power-play’ 58/0; *Scoring ‘fifty,’ Rebecca Odgers was sent back by Emma Corney and ‘run out’ by Maddy Green’s throw from ‘mid-wicket’ to Kathryn Bryce at the non-striker’s end; *Facing ‘extra flight,’ Emma Corney was stumped by Sarah Bryce, from Josie Groves’ ‘beautiful comeback delivery’; *By mid-way 139/2; *Fran Wilson was caught aerial at ‘mid-off’ by Kirstie Gordon, from Georgia Elwiss’ ‘off-cutter,’ played too early with ‘pace taken off;’ *Katie (gaffed as ‘Hannah’) Jones lost her middle stump, when bowled by Grace Ballinger’s yorker; *With a ‘well-composed’ innings, Alex Griffiths was bowled, with bales sent flying by Kirstie Gordon; *Next over Sophie Luff who scored ‘fifty’ was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Maddy Green, from Kathryn Bryce; *Chloe Skelton was ‘run-out’ by Kirstie Gordon’s throw to Grace Ballinger at the non-striker’s end, when attempting a fruitless second run from the final innings ball; *Amanda-Jade Wellington was ‘not out;’ Somerset women batting: Sophie Luff72(76), Rebecca ‘Bex’ Odgers 50(57), Amanda-Jade Wellington48*not out 25, Emma Corney 38(54), Fran Wilson28(30), Alex Griffiths25(32), Chloe Skelton13(11); Blaze women bowling: Georgia Elwiss 1/20, Kirstie Gordon 1/53, Kathryn Bryce 1/55, Josie Groves 1/65, Grace Ballinger 1/71;
The Blaze women wearing orange with vertical ‘paper tiger’ stripes over black with half-white stripes; *skipper Kirstie Gordon *[Katie Jones keeping wicket for Somerset]; *with international player Maddy Green (NZ) replacing Orla Prendergast (ROI); *with Scotland’s Kathryn & Sarah Bryce; *Georgie Boyce was ‘run out’ when called but then sent back by Maddie Green – with Sophie Luff’s direct hit from ‘mid-off’ to the striker’s end, from Mollie Robbins. *By 10 overs ‘power-play’ 50/1 (vs 58/0); *Century second-wicket partnership between Maddie Green and Kathryn Bryce; *By mid-way 146/2 (vs 139/2); *’Huge wicket’ when mis-timing a ’sweep,’ as Kathryn Bryce was bowled ‘around her legs’ by left-arm spinner Olivia Barnes; straight after being cursed as ‘a good find;’ Sarah Bryce was ‘castled,’ when bowled by Alex Griffiths *Facing a slower ball, top-scorer Maddy Green was bowled by Ellie Anderson; *Ella Claridge was caught by Ellie Anderson, from Olivia Barnes; *Starting the fortieth over, Michaela Kirk went ‘leg-before’ to Amanda-Jade Wellington; No more wickets fell; *Scoring ‘fifty,’ Georgia Elwiss remained ‘not out;’ Kirstie Gordon hit the winning ’single;’ Blaze women batting: Maddy Green97(90), Georgia Elwiss75*not out (68), Kathryn Bryce59(63), Kirstie Gordon25*(27) Michaela Kirk12(16); Somerset women bowling: Olivia Barnes 2/49, Alex Griffiths 1/44, Ellie Anderson 1/51, Amanda-Jade Wellington 1/57;
*Match result: The Blaze women 305/6 (@6.9 runs-per-over, from 49 overs/target 305 from 50 overs) beat Somerset women 304/7 (@5.2 r-p-ofrom 50 overs) by four wickets
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m1c317f5a-71af-41a0-a853-78797807fa2a
BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225548 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/the-blaze-v-somerset-women/scorecard/bce83377-0e2c-5ddd-a252-876705d34250
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of The Blaze (nv play) via YouTube [07h26m22s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHTz2Jpi6EM&t=2s
*Kirstie Gordon Post match interview vs Somerset courtesy of The Blaze via YouTube [02m23s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqgERmHApuo
*Secret Life of Wello (behind the scenes) courtesy of Amanda-Jade Wellington via YouTube @url: https://www.youtube.com/c/Secretlifeofwello
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/03/04/metro-bank-league-one-fixtures-for-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/03/05/metro-bank-one-day-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-2025/
