Warwickshire Bears (women) vs Lancashire Thunder (women) (match 33, league one – ‘stand-alone’ fixture) at Blackpool Cricket Club (Stanley Park) on 28 June 2026
Thriller match that went down-to-the-wire, decided by the final ball. Beforehand, Umpires ordered ground staff to adjust the inner circle markers to the correct diameter, causing ‘ground delay’ on account of ‘measurement issues.’ Commentators explained that both teams were seen in action when playing for the County Cup (Lancs defending.) Batting first for Bears women, keeper-turned-batter Nat Wraith reached ‘fifty’ from 28 balls, boosted by 27 runs plundered from Darcy Carter’s two overs. When batting, Thunder looked set to win until the final over, when Mary Taylor ‘held-her-nerve’ as two wickets fell. Dramatic finish when Kate Cross was ‘run-out’ by Mary Taylor deflecting Venus Weerappulli’s return-lob onto the non-striker’s stumps. Next (final) ball went for a ‘single,’ handing victory to Bears. Each Bears bowler took at least one wicket. Lancashire cricket TV Livestream commentators: Michael ‘Mike’ Perkins (Sports Journalist) with Scott Read; (Sports journalist, BBC radio Lancashire.) Weather: hot with ‘cloudless’ blue sky 25C.
Bears women wearing ’sky’ blue diamond cheque with yellow trim over dark blue; with yellow helmets and black caps; *skipper Georgia Davis *[Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Thunder women] *with international player Georgia Redmayne (Australia WBBL); *without Issy Wong (England IT20 World-Cup call-up); *Abbey Freeborn was caught at ‘point’ by Eve Jones, from Sophie Morris; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 50/1; *Katie George was bowled by Venus Weerappulli; *Georgia Redmayne was bowled by Sophie Morris; *80/3 by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); *Em Arlott was caught by Tilly Kesteven from Venus Weerappulli; *Scoring ten ‘fours’ and two ‘sixes,’ Nat Wraith was caught inside the ‘mid-wicket’ boundary by Emma Lamb, from Tara Norris; *Amu Surenkumar, was stumped by keeper Ellie Threlkeld, from Venus Weerappulli; *Mary Taylor was bowled by Sophie Morris; *Millie Taylor was bowled by Kate Cross; *Four balls later Chloe Brewer, was caught by Emma Lamb, from Kate Cross; Bears women batting: Nat Wraith 83(48) Katie George 23(16); Chloe Brewer 12(10); Thunder women bowling: Sophie Morris 3/23(4); Venus Weerappulli 3/29(4); Kate Cross 2/28(4); Tara Norris 1/23(3);
Thunder women wearing rose red with light green and dark blue shoulder stripes and red pads; *skipper Ellie Threlkeld [Nat Wraith keeping wicket for Bears]; *with Venus Weerappulli (England Women U19 Tri-Series Squad 2026); *with international player Meg Lanning (Australia) *without Sophie Ecclestone (England IT20 World-Cup call-up); *Eve Jones was bowled by Mary Taylor; *Meg Lanning was caught by Georgia Redmayne from Georgia Davis; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 55/2 (vs 50/1); *Mis-timing a ‘sweep’ Emma Lamb was bowled by Millie Taylor; *Carbon-copy dismissal when Ellie Threlkeld went ‘leg-before’ to Millie Taylor; *Score 88/4 (vs80/3) by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); *Mis-reported elsewhere as 97/4 (i.e.: one ‘over’ later: after 11 overs); *Seren Smale was bowled by Hannah Baker; *Next over, mis-timing a ‘slog,’ Darcey Carter was clean-bowled by Amu Surenkumar, for a ‘golden duck;’ *Final over: top-scorer Tilly Kesteven was caught at ‘backward square’ by Abbey Freeborn, from Mary Taylor’s slower ball; *As mentioned above, Kate Cross was ‘run-out’ by Mary Taylor’s ‘deflected-hit’ to the non-striker’s end; Thunder women batting: Tilly Kesteven 73(55); Emma Lamb 27(17); Seren Smale 23(23); Meg Lanning 10(9); Bears women bowling: Millie Taylor 2/23(4); Mary Taylor2/32(4); Amu Surenkumar 1/29(4); Hannah Baker 1/30(4); Georgia Davis 1/41(4);
*Match result: Warwickshire Bears (women) 160/9 (@8.0 runs-per-over from 20ov.) beat Lancashire Thunder (women) 159/8 (@7.9 r-p-o from 20ov.) by 1 run
*Video scorecard, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#c9cd38578-5761-4c81-a024-f69ca8c04caa_me5e80000-9b94-4272-aa0a-08de2c26e26e
*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: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#me5e80000-9b94-4272-bf7b-08de2c26e211
