Durham Cricket women vs Lancashire Thunder women (match 6 league one ‘double-header’) at Chester-le-Street, Banks Homes Riverside on Sunday, 1 June 2025
Northern derby won by Thunder women whose bowlers took unprecedented double-wickets during four single overs. Home-team commentators realised that certain players were missing, either ‘preparing for The Hundred,’ or recovering from injury. The visitors came beefed-up with Sophie Ecclestone, who ‘needed more county matches under her belt;’ but without Kate Cross or Emma Lamb. No sooner had Thunder’s skipper Ellie Threlkeld – pictured made top-score [48runs (from 45 balls)], that light drizzle arrived. The hosts reply was accentuated by ‘four double-wicket overs’ – as mentioned above. Firstly, Sophie Morris bowled both Katherine Fraser and Hollie Armitage. Five overs later, Grace Potts took two ‘big hitters’ wickets when Suzie Bates was stumped and Bess Heath was caught by Tara Norris. At that point, commentators felt the the match swing in the visitors favour. Thirdly, Grace Potts took another two wickets [4-fer] when Phoebe Turner was caught by Fi Morris and bowled Mia Rogers three balls later. Finally, Sophie Ecclestone took two decisive wickets when Trudy Johnson was caught by Fi Morris and bowled Katie Levick three balls later; to seal Thunder women’s impressive win. Interviewed post-match, Ailsa Lister thought that Thunder ‘pulled back’ (match advantage) well, after the hosts made a ‘decent start’ – please see link below. Commentators were Andy Sixsmith (host) and former Durham cricketer Ashley ‘Ash’ Thorpe (with detectable Australian accent) with guest player Emily Windsor. Weather was cloudy, with light drizzle between innings 14C.
Thunder women wearing rose-red with thin dark blue shards; *skipper Ellie Threlkeld; *[Bess Heath keeping wicket for Durham Cricket]; *International player Katie MacK (Australia ‘A’); *with Ailsa Lister(Scotland) *with Sophie Ecclestone, without Kate Cross or Emma Lamb (England call-up) *with Tilly Kesteven for Eve Jones; *Left-hander Tilly Kesteven was caught ‘at mid-wicket’ (to the left-hander) by Grace Thompson, from Trudy Johnson; *Two wickets fell next over, Seren Smale edged a ‘good length’ ball, caught behind by keeper Bess Heath, for a ‘golden duck’ from Grace Thompson; *Following a ‘wide,’ Fi Morris was caught at ‘extra cover’ by Hollie Armitage, for a ‘golden duck’ from Grace Thompson; *By 6 overs ‘power-play’ 35/3; *By mid-way (10 overs) 60/3; *Next ball after mid-way, Katie MacK mis-timed a ‘square-cut, caught aerial at ‘backward point’ by Katherine Fraser from Trudy Johnson; *Sophie Ecclestone was caught aerial at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Mady Villiers, from Katie Levick; *Two wickets fell during Suzie Bates’ death over; *Two short of ‘fifty,’ Ellie Threlkeld reverse-swept and was caught at ‘short-third’ by Mia Rogers; *Next ball Tara Norris played-on to off-stump (to left-hander) for a ‘golden duck’ from Suzie Bates; Alisa Lister closed with a ’six;’ Thunder batting: Ellie Threlkeld48(45), Ailsa Lister42*not out(23), Katie MacK26(23), Tilly Kesteven11(12); Durham bowling: Suzie Bates 2/21, Grace Thompson 2/22, Trudy Johnson, 2/26, Katie Levick 1/32;
Durham Cricket women wearing yellow with blue trim over blue, with yellow pads; *Skipper Hollie Armitage *[Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Thunder]; *With international player Suzie Bates NZ; & Scotland; *T20 debutante Trudy Johnson; *By 6 overs ‘power-play’ 50/0 (vs 35/3); *Mis-timing a ‘swipe,’ Katherine Fraser was bowled with leg-stump flattened by left-armed Sophie Morris; *Three balls later Hollie Armitage was bowled with ‘middle stump’ knocked-back by Sophie Morris; *Next over Mady Villiers was bowled with ‘middle-and-leg’ stumps flattened by Grace Johnson; *By mid-way 68/3 (vs 60/3); *Stepping forward to mis-timing a ‘swipe,’ Suzie Bates was stumped by Ellie Threlkeld, from Grace Potts; *Three balls later, Bess Heath mis-timed and was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Tara Norris, from Grace Potts; *Mis-timing a ‘leg-glance,’ Abi Glen ‘cannoned’ onto her ‘leg-stump,’ with bails sent flying by Grace Johnson; *Phoebe Turner was caught at ‘backward square’ by Fi Morris, from Grace Potts; *Three balls later, Mia Rogers bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by Grace Potts; *Trudy Johnson was caught at ‘backward point’ by Fi Morris, from Sophie Ecclestone; *Katie Levick was bowled by Sophie Ecclestone for a third-ball ‘duck’ Durham batting: Suzie Bates49(38), Katherine Fraser28(25), Phoebe Turner13(8), Bess Heath13(14), Mia Rogers12(13); Thunder bowling: Grace Potts 4/33, Sophie Morris 2/22, Sophie Ecclestone 2/24, Grace Johnson 2/25;
Match result: Lancashire Thunder (women) 140/7 (@7.0 runs-per-over from 20 overs) beat Durham Cricket (women) 122/10 (@6.5 r-p-o from 18.4 overs/target 141 from 20 overs) by 18 runs with eight balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#mb8713996-959f-477c-8596-9b46d5152306 & https://www.durhamcricket.co.uk/2025-fixtures/#vb8713996-959f-477c-8596-9b46d5152306
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225295 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/durham-women-v-lancashire-thunder/scorecard/4909b716-9657-5d53-8037-91ca3d5cd74f
Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Durham Cricket TV (nv play) via YouTube [04h08m10s] @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qGVnDepffI
*Vitality Blast women highlights courtesy of Lancs TV via YouTube [09m46s] @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4yUD1h75rw
*Post-match reaction from Ailsa Lister, courtesy of Lancs TV via YouTube [02m13s] @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M34kXcMe2KI
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/11/27/vitality-blast-fixtures-for-season-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/11/27/vitality-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2025/
