Lancashire Thunder (women) vs Somerset (women) (match 56 – league one) – stand alone fixture at Blackpool CC, Stanley Park (Lancs) on Friday 18 July 2025 (15h00)
Friday ‘finale’ turned out to be a match of ‘variable quality,’ albeit a dead rubber without the means to qualify the finals. Somerset women’s innings relied upon skipper Luff [36runs (from 30 balls)] making top-score backed up by Alex Griffiths [29*not out(29).] Thunder’s best bowler Mahika Gaur – pictured took a 3-fer (taking 3wickets/ conceding 15 runs.) When batting, Thunder started well, but ‘got themselves into … trouble’ but relied upon guest Australian Alana King for an ‘outstanding finish.’ Tasked to score seven runs to win from the final ball, Alana King scored ’six’ for a ’tie.’ Separately, when introducing the match, commentators explained from outside their pitch-side tent that the match was delayed by thirty minutes – with absent players emerging from ‘unusually dense M-way traffic’ approaching Blackpool. Commentators were Mike Perkins (Sports journalist, Lancs TV) with Polly Starkie (Social media co-host ‘Noughtie Child Podcast’ and ‘HerGameToo’ cricket ambassador.) Weather was fine, with patches of blue sky. Around 17C.
Somerset women wearing pink over black with plum helmets; *Skipper Sophie Luff; [Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Thunder women]; *with international players Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia ‘A’) and Erin Vukusic (Croatia); *Bex Odgers was caught at ‘cover’ by ‘leaping’ Darcie Carter, from Tara Norris; *Nimah Holland was bowled ‘middle-and-off’ stump, by Mahika Gaur; *Fran Wilson was caught aerial at ‘backward point’ ‘athletically’ by rolling Eve Jones, from Mahika Gaur for a second-ball ‘duck;’ *Power-play (6 overs) score 29/3; *Ruby Davis was caught ‘brilliantly’ at ‘cover’ by rolling’ Ailsa Lister from Alana King; *Amanda-Jade Wellington was caught with ease at ‘mid-wicket’ by Grace Potts from Mahika Gaur; *Mid-way (10 overs) 55/5; *Sophie Luff was caught at ‘extra cover’ by diving Tara Norris, from Grace Potts; Somerset women batting: Sophie Luff36(30), Alex Griffiths29*not out(29), Ruby Davis12(17); Thunder women bowling: Mahika Gaur 3/15, Tara Norris 1/21, Grace Potts 1/22, Alana King 1/24;
Thunder women wearing rose-red with thin dark blue shards; *skipper Ellie Threlkeld; *[Bex Odgers keeping wicket for Somerset women]; *International player Alana King (Australia); *with Ailsa Lister & Darcey Carter(Scottish Internationals) *with Mahika Gaur & Grace Potts; *without Kate Cross, Sophie *Ecclestone or Emma Lamb (England international call-up); *Mis-timing ‘hook,’ Eve Jones, was caught behind by keeper Bex Odgers, from Ellie Anderson; *Power-play (6 overs) score 40/1 (vs 29/3); *Seren Smale, was caught aerial at ‘mid-off’ by Amanda-Jade Wellington from Alex Griffiths; *Mid-way (10 overs) score 66/2 (vs 55/5); *Tilly Kesteven was stumped by Bex Odgers, from Amanda-Jade Wellington; *Fi Morris ‘hit wicket’ bowled by Amanda-Jade Wellington, for a ‘golden duck;’ *Ailsa Lister, was caught aerial at ‘gully’ by Oivia ‘Liv’ Barnes, from Amanda-Jade Wellington; *Ellie Threlkeld was bowled ‘leg-stump,’ by Mollie Robbins; *Tara Norris mis-timed, caught aerial at ‘extra-cover’ by Sophie Luff from Mollie Robbins, for a ‘golden duck;’ Thunder women batting: Seren Smale25(28), Tilly Kesteven19(19)Eve Jones18(16), Ailsa Lister17(18), Alana King11*not out(6), Ellie Threlkeld11(12); Somerset women bowling: Amanda-Jade Wellington 3/24, Mollie Robbins 2/23, Alex Griffiths 1/10, Ellie Anderson 1/13;
Match result: Lancashire Thunder (women) 114/7 (@6.7 runs-per-over from 17/17 overs/target 115 from 17/17 overs) tied with Somerset (women) 114/6 (@6.7 runs-per-over, from 20/20 overs)
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m14299f84-177f-4209-9a7c-4fa88c37cd79
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225344 & SKY Sports @url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/lancashire-thunder-v-somerset-women/scorecard/e8e1e032-9c92-50db-b1dc-a4e191b45ff2
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Lancs TV Cricket/nv play via YouTube [04h01m25s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKcRZYRHNCo
*Secret life of Wello (Officially warned) No More Game Day Vlogs For Somerset! courtesy of Amanda-Jade Wellington @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP_PdjUsoKg
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/06/22/vitality-blast-league-one-fixtures-and-results-to-june-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/07/02/vitality-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2025-2/
