The Blaze (women) vs Lancashire Thunder (women) (match 30, league one – ‘double-header’ fixture) at the Uptonsteel County Ground Leicester on 19 June (14h30)
Scoring the highest individual score for Thunder ‘for this year,’ Scots International Ailsa Lister [79 runs (from 38 balls)] hit nine ‘fours’ and three ‘sixes.’ No other batter hit a ’six.’ Between innings, commentators described Thunder women as a ‘struggling team’ having seen five wickets fall during their last three overs.Blaze’s skipper Kirstie Gordon and guest Australian Heather Graham each took two wickets with consecutive balls. Undoubtedly, team members were boosted by Nat Sciver-Brunt (as newly-appointed England skipper) making her first appearance to play domestic cricket, in at least two years. NZ TV personality Simon Doull lauded top-scorer Georgia Elwiss’ (pictured) winning ‘four,’ as a ‘lovely way’ (for The Blaze women) to finish. Broadcast by SKY Sports with resident commentators Charles Dagnall, Simon Doull and Nasser Hussain.
Thunder women wearing rose-red with thin dark blue shards; *skipper Ellie Threlkeld; *[Rebecca ‘Bex’ Odgers keeping wicket for Somerset]; *International player Alana King (Australia); *with Ailsa Lister(Scotland) *without Sophie Ecclestone; *Emma Lamb was ‘run-out’ by Eve Jones’ return shot deflected by Sarah Glenn’s hand onto the non-striker’s stumps; *Eve Jones was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Kirstie Gordon (running) from Cassidy McCarthy coming round-the-wicket to the left-hander; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 29/2; *Ellie Threlkeld ‘fine-edged’ to keeper, caught by Sarah Bryce from Georgia Elwiss; *47/3 by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Mis-timing a ‘swipe,’ Liberty Heap was bowled ‘through-the-gate by Kathryn Bryce; *Fi Morris was caught low-down at ‘backward-point’ by Sarah Glenn, from Heather Graham; *Next ball Alana King was caught high at ‘long-on’ by Tammy Beaumont, from Heather Graham for a ‘golden duck;’ *Kate Cross was stumped by Sarah Bryce, coming ‘down-wicket’ to Kirstie Gordon; *Next ball, Tara Norris went aerial, caught at ‘long-off’ by Heather Graham from Kirstie Gordon for a ‘golden duck;’ *Ailsa Lister went aerial from the final ball, caught at ‘short-third’ by Marie Kelly from Heather Graham; Thunder women batting: Ailsa Lister 79(38), Fi Morris 22(18), Emma Lamb 14(12), Liberty Heap 11(20), Eve Jones 10(17); Blaze women bowling: Heather Graham 3/36, Kirstie Gordon 2/24, Kathryn Bryce 1/9, Georgia Elwiss 1/20, Cassidy McCarthy 1/25;
The Blaze women wearing orange with red splash over black; *skipper Kirstie Gordon *[Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Thunder]; *with international player Heather Graham (Australia); *Nat Sciver-Brunt, Tammy Beaumont & Sarah Glenn (England), *With Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland); Tammy Beaumont went ‘leg-before’ to Kate Cross’ first ball; *Kathryn Bryce was bowled by Tara Norris’ first full-length ball that ‘swung and tailed-in late’ (from her second spell); *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 48/2 (vs 29/2); *Mis-timing a ‘backward-sweep,’ Marie Kelly was bowled with bails sent flying by Alana King; *73/3 (vs 47/3) by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Beaten for pace, Nat Sciver-Brunt, was bowled ’top—of-off stump,’ by Grace Potts; *An ‘important wicket’, Amy Jones ‘gifted’ to Kate Cross at ‘mid-on,’ from Tara Norris; Blaze women batting: Georgia Elwiss 43*not out(30), Nat Sciver-Brunt 31(25), Heather Graham 19*not out(14), Marie Kelly 19(17), Amy Jones 16(10), Kathryn Bryce 14(11); Thunder women bowling: Tara Norris 2/32, Kate Cross 1/31, Alana King 1/34, Grace Potts 1/35;
Match result: The Blaze (women) 153/5 (@7.6 runs-per-over, from 20/20 overs target 151 from 20/20 overs) beat Lancashire Thunder (women) 150/9 (7.5 r-p-o from 20/20ov) by five wickets
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m3d136662-a58a-40aa-8eda-583030d8167f
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225319 & SKY @url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/the-blaze-v-lancashire-thunder/scorecard/85534bfc-68ec-5412-8e7f-c73802485063
*Edited Highlights courtesy of ECB, SKY Sports & The Blaze at Trent Bridge (nv play) via YouTube [09m40s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44HYSOLeWHY
*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/
