Lancashire Thunder (women) vs The Blaze (women) (match 8, league one – ‘double-header’ fixture) at Emirates Old Trafford on 25 May 2026
Beefed-up by guest Australian Meg Lanning 81*not out[(from 49 balls)], Thunder lost four early wickets, but recovered with a century partnership between Meg Lanning and Ailsa Lister 39*not out(28.) Blaze countered with 71-run partnership between Tammy Beaumont 54(29) and Kathryn Bryce 22(18); followed by a match winning partnership of 45 between Sarah Bryce and Kirstie Gordon. Separately, guest Australian Charli Knott was said to have had ‘instant impact.’ Lucy Higham hit back-to-back ‘twos’ to win, with three balls remaining. Commentators for Lancs TV Livestream were Dave Bracegirdle (BBC Sports Xtra3) with Scott Read; (Sports journalist, BBC radio Lancashire) & Polly Starkie as social media co-host of ‘Noughtie Child Podcast;’ and ‘HerGameToo’ cricket ambassador. Guest player Phoebe Graham (Lancs Thunder.) Weather: ‘Glorious sunshine,’ said to be record heat (for May) 30C.
Thunder women wearing rose red with light green and dark blue shoulder stripes and red pads; *skipper Ellie Threlkeld [Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze]; *With international player Meg Lanning (Australia) *Ailsa Lister & Darcey Carter (Scotland) *without Emma Lamb Sophie Ecclestone or Mahika Gaur (England IT20 World-Cup call-up); *Eve Jones was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Marie Kelly from Grace Ballinger; *Next over, cursed by commentators as a ‘real success for Superchargers in ‘The Hundred,’ Darcey Carter was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Kathryn Bryce, from Charlotte ‘Charley’ N Phillips; *Seren Smale was stumped by Sarah Bryce, from Charli Knott; *Three balls later, Ellie Threlkeld, was caught at ‘deep mid-on’ by Kirstie Gordon, from Chari Knott; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 33/4 & 62/4 by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Fi Morris top-edged, caught aerial at ’short-fine’ by Marie Kelly from Grace Ballinger; Thunder women batting: Meg Lanning 81*not out(49); Ailsa Lister 39*not out(28); Fi Morris 14(15); Darcey Carter 13(11); Blaze women bowling: Grace Ballinger 2/14(4); Chari Knott 2/23(4); Charlotte ‘Charley’ N Phillips 1/46(4);
The Blaze women wearing orange with over black with half-white vertical trouser stripe and black pads; *skipper Kirstie Gordon *[Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Thunder]; *With international player Charli Knott (Australia) *Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland) *without Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amy Jones or Sarah Glenn (England IT20 World-Cup call-up); *Marie Kelly was caught at ’short-fine’ by Eve Jones, from Grace Potts; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 53/1 (vs33/4); *’Big swing’ but without foot movement, Tammy Beaumont was bowled middle-stump,’ through-the-gate’ by Darcey Carter; *Kathryn Bryce was caught with backward somersault at ‘long-on’ by Kate Cross, from Fi Morris’s ‘full-toss;’ *87/3 (vs62/4) by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Upon third-Umpire review, Georgia Elwiss ‘dragged-on,’ to a ball that dislodged her bail – bowled by Hannah Jones; *Charli Knott was caught at ‘backward-point’ by Hannah Jones, from Fi Morris; *Emma Jones was caught at ‘long-off’ by Tara Norris running-in, from Fi Morris; *Sarah Bryce snicked-an-edge, caught by keeper Ellie Threlkeld, from Grace Potts; Blaze women batting: Tammy Beaumont 54(29); Sarah Bryce 32(22); Kathryn Bryce 22(18); Kirstie Gordon 20*not out(18); Georgia Elwiss 10(7); Thunder women bowling: Fi Morris 3/25(4); Grace Potts 2/29(3.3); Darcey Carter 1/21(2); Hannah Jones 1/33(4);
*Match result: The Blaze (women) 163/7 (target 163 from 19.3/20 overs @8.3 runs-per-over) beat Lancashire Thunder (women) 162/5 (@8.1 r-p-o from 20/20 ov.) by three wickets with three balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#me5e80000-9b94-4272-ccf0-08de2c26e032
*Upcoming League one ‘Vitality Blast’ (20ov.) fixtures @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/12/17/vitality-blast-league-one-fixtures-for-2026-3-of-4/
*Upcoming League one ‘MetroBank’ (50ov.) fixtures with mid-term results @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/05/17/metro-bank-one-day-cup-league-one-women/
