Lancashire Thunder (women) vs Durham Cricket (women) (match 51, league one – ‘double-header’ fixture) at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester on 12 July 2026
Northern derby, with ‘nothing-to-lose’ for Thunder women who were playing their last ‘group stage match’ of this year’s competition. Separately creating an opportunity for best Lancs academy graduates to play professional womens’ cricket. Debutante Skye Thomas [55*not out(from 38 runs)] made an immediate impression not only as stand-in wicket-keeper for Ellie Threlkeld (on England duty); but also went on to make top-score when batting for Thunder. Most importantly, during a match that Thunder went on to win once Skye Thomas struck the winning ‘four.’ Commentators helpfully clarified that previously, Durham Cricket had qualified for ‘Finals day,’ and it mattered not whether they qualified either in second or third-place as second-placed team played third-place (or vice-versa!) Lancashire cricket TV Livestream commentators: Scott Read; (Sports journalist, BBC radio Lancashire); with Fraser Dainton (pitch-side) and Paul Shaw (Lancs Academy, ex Thunder Coach.) Weather: cloudless blue sky, ‘scorching’ 27C.
Durham Cricket women wearing yellow splash over dark blue with white numbers and dark blue caps with yellow pads; *Skipper Hollie Armitage [*Skye Thomas keeping wicket for Thunder women]; *with Venus Weerappulli (England Women U19 Tri-Series Squad 2026); *without Emma Lamb, Sophie Ecclestone, Ellie Threlkeld or Mahika Gaur (England Test match & England ‘A’ call-up); *also with Darcey Carter (Scotland international); *Katherine Fraser was bowled with her ‘off-stump’ flattened by Olivia Brinsden; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 35/1; *Hollie Armitage was caught-and-bowled comfortably by Darcey Carter; *Score 60/2 by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); *Bess Heath was caught aerial at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Fi Morris, from Darcey Carter; *Heather Graham, was caught aerial at ‘long-off’ by Danni Collins, from Venus Weerappulli; *Mis-timing to ‘square,’ Mia Rogers went ‘leg-before’ to Sophie Morris; *Emily Windsor was stumped by Sky Thomas, from Venus Weerappulli; Durham Cricket women batting: Hollie Armitage 30(27); Grace Thompson 28*not out(12); Emily Windsor 27(33); Bess Heath 18(13); Katherine Fraser 17(18); Thunder women bowling: Venus Weerappulli 2/20(4); Darcey Carter 2/27(4); Sophie Morris 1/18(4); Olivia Brinsden 1/24(3);
Thunder women wearing rose red with light green and dark blue shoulder stripes and red pads; *stand-in skipper Eve Jones [*Mia Rogers keeping wicket for Durham Cricket women]; *with three debutantes *Olivia Brinsden (U19 World-Cup), Olivia Cunliffe & Skye Thomas; *without Emma Lamb, Sophie Ecclestone, Ellie Threlkeld or Mahika Gaur (England Test match & England ‘A’ call-up); *with Darcey Carter (Scotland international); *Eve Jones was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Hollie Armitage, from Heather Graham; *playing defensive, Meg Lanning was clean-bowled by Katherine Fraser; *Mis-timing a ‘drive,’ Darcey Carter was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Emma Marlow, from Heather Graham; *After 6 overs ‘power-play 40/3 (vs 35/1); *Olivia Cunliffe was caught at deep ‘mid-wicket’ by Heather Graham, from Katie Levick; *Mis-timing ‘slog-sweep,’ Danni Collins was caught at ‘backward square’ by Trudy Johnson, from Sophia Turner; *Scores level-pegging: 62/5 (vs60/2) by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); *Mis-timing ‘slog-sweep,’ Fi Morris was clean-bowled by Sophia Turner; Thunder women batting: Skye Thomas 55*not out(38); Kate Cross 23*not out(31); Danni Collins 20(22); Meg Lanning 15(11); Durham Cricket women bowling: Sophia Turner 2/20(3.4); Heather Graham 2/30(4); Katie Levick 1/21(4); Katherine Fraser 1/30(4);
*Match result: Lancashire Thunder(women) 135/6 (@6.7 runs-per-over/target 133 from 19.4/20ov.) beat Durham Cricket (women) 132/6 (@6.6 r-p-o from 20ov.) by four wickets
*Video scorecard, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#me5e80000-9b94-4272-6845-08de2c26e3f3
*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/
