The Blaze (women) vs Lancashire (women) – match 7 – League One – at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Wednesday 15 April 2026
Challenged to beat the defending champions before heavy rain arrived, The Blaze did well to exploit eight bowlers to bowl-out Lancs women for 223; with nine balls to spare. Emma Lamb [77runs (from 98balls)] was the only batter to score ‘fifty.’ Batting in difficult conditions, The Blaze’s opener Marie Kelly 44(64) – pictured – made top-score for the winning team. Rain-stopped-play for nearly two hours on 91/3 (20.2 overs.) Weather had the final word upon arrival of a thundery storm. Floodlights were switched-on 17h44, five minutes before a cloudburst of heavy rain marked end-of-match. Once off-the-field, Umpires docked a further 3.3 overs, and announced the result according to the so-called ‘DLS method.’ The Blaze women had already met their target by six runs for a favourable result. Commentator (unannounced) believed to be Melinda ‘Mel’ Farrell with guest Blaze player, Josie Groves. Weather: becoming overcast, evolving into heavy rain with flashes of lightning.
Lancashire women wearing two-toned navy blue with red-rose arm hoops and logos; *skipper Ellie Threlkeld *[Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for The Blaze] *guest international Gaby Lewis (Rep Of Ireland); also with Ailsa Lister (Scotland); *Score 40/0 after 10 overs power-play; *Mis-timing a ‘reverse sweep,’ left-handed Eve Jones went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Lucy Higham; *With a loud appeal, Gaby Lewis went ‘leg-before’ to Kathryn Bryce; *Seren Smale was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by Kirstie Gordon; *Score 104/3 after 25 overs; *Emma Lamb was caught aerial at ‘deep mid-off’ by Marie Kelly, from Kirstie Gordon; *Ellie Threlkeld was caught aerial at ‘backward-square-leg’ by Lucy Higham from Grace Ballinger; *Fi Morris was caught aerial by Kathryn Bryce at ‘cow corner,’ from Georgia Elwiss; *Three balls later, Kate Cross was beaten for pace, bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by Grace Ballinger; *Left-handed Tara Norris was bowled ‘through-the-gate,’ by left-armed Grace Ballinger; *Ailsa Lister caught aerial by Kathryn Bryce at ‘cow corner,’ from Charley Phillips; *Hannah Jones was bowled by Charley Phillips’s ‘full-toss’; Lancashire women batting: Emma Lamb 77(98); Ellie Threlkeld 37(50); Seren Smale 26(28); Eve Jones 19(41); Fi Morris 13(20); Tara Norris 10(10); The Blaze women bowling: Grace Ballinger 3/30(10); Charley N Phillips 2/40(8.3); Kirstie Gordon 2/39(8); Georgia Elwiss 1/13(3); Lucy Higham 1/24(6); Kathryn Bryce 1/28(6);
The Blaze women wearing orange-and-black ‘paper tiger’ stripes with black joggers; *skipper Kirstie Gordon *[Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Lancs]; *guest international Orla Prendergast (Rep Of Ireland); also with Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland); *Short of a risky second run from the first ball, Sarah Bryce was sent back, but ‘run out’ by Ailsa Lister’s throw to Kate Cross receiving at the non-striker’s end; *Score 38/1 (vs 40/0) after 10 overs power-play; *Kathryn Bryce was caught by at ‘mid-on’ by diving Fi Morris, from Grace Potts; *Georgia Elwiss was bowled ‘middle-and-off,’ with one bail dislodged by Tara Norris; *Rain delay 15h29 – 17h20; *Score 91/3 in 20.2 overs *Marie Kelly was caught aerial at ‘long-on’ by Kate Cross, from Hannah Jones; *Coming down-wicket, Orla Prendergast was stumped by Ellie Threlkeld, from Emma Lamb; *As mentioned above, inclement weather reduced the DLS target from 171 from 32 overs was reduced to 142 from 28.3ov. With the score on 148/5, there was no need to continue. The Blaze women batting: Marie Kelly 44(64); Orla Prendergast 40(36), Kathryn Bryce 35(51); Emma Jones 10(9); Lancashire women bowling: Grace Potts 1/24(5.3); Tara Norris 1/24(6); Emma Lamb 1/31(4); Hannah Jones 1/35(6);
Match result: The Blaze (women) 148/5 (@5.1 runs-per-over from revised DLS target 142 from 28.3 ov) beat Lancashire (women) 223 ‘All out’ (@4.5 r-p-o from 48.3/50 ov) by 6 runs [Duckworth-Lewis-Stern ‘DLS’ method].
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#mc5520000-6664-a623-23d5-08de2dc24820
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url: https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/4408104/metro-bank-one-day-cup-womens-competition-fixtures-2026
