Lancashire women vs The Blaze women – (match 23) – at Manchester, Emirates Old Trafford on Sunday 11 May 2025 (10h30)
Significant win for Lancashire women, having beaten The Blaze both home and away. Previously, Lancashire women won when playing away at Trent Bridge, by eight wickets (on 23 April.) Much as expected by commentators the match involved ‘fine margins’ with both teams ‘in good form’. Ella Claridge [63runs(from 74 balls)] and Amy Jones 52(76) scored ‘fifties’ for the visitors. Emma Lamb made top-score overall 74(92); when partnered by Eve Jones the hosts nudged ahead ‘by a fine margin’ during their power-play (55/0 vs 42/1.) Needing 68 to win, Ellie Threlkeld (pictured) played a ’skipper’s innings staging a 71 run partnership together with Kate Cross who hit the winning ‘four.’ Commentators were Mike Perkins (who introduced pitch-side) with Allyson Byrne (Women’s Cricket Chat, ex Lancs & Cheshire women) and guest player Phoebe Graham (Lancashire women.) Described as glorious weather, sunny with patches of blue sky with a light breeze and a ‘fantastic day for cricket’ 20-26C
The Blaze women wearing orange with vertical stripes over black with half-white stripes; *skipper Kirstie Gordon *[Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Essex]; *with international player Orla Prendergast (Rep. of Ireland ROI); *with Mahika Gaur (UAE/England); *without Phoebe Graham (on commentary); *Tammy Beaumont was caught ‘uppish’ at ‘short-mid-wicket’ by Fi Morris, from Kate Cross; *By 10 overs ‘power-play’ 42/1; *Kathryn Bryce caught at ‘mid-on’ by Kate Cross, from Sophie Morris’s left-arm spin;*Playing across-the-line, Sarah Bryce was caught behind by keeper Ellie Threlkeld, from Sophie Morris, for a third ball ‘duck’; *’Big wicket’ when Georgia Elwiss clipped an inside-edge, and playing-on from ‘outside-off,’ from Grace Potts;*Georgie Boyce was caught aerial at ‘short-mid-wicket’ by Fi Morris, from Grace Potts; *By mid-way (25overs) for drinks 102/5; *Amy Jones was caught on the ‘fine leg’ boundary by Sophie Morris, from Mahika Gaur; *Sarah Glenn ‘thick-edged’ to ‘point,’ caught by Mahika Gaur ‘at full stretch’, from Emma Lamb’s ‘fuller’(length) ball; *Kirstie Gordon went ‘middle-of-middle’ ‘leg before’ to Grace Potts; for a first-ball ‘duck’ from Grace Potts (bowler having had ‘ice-pack’ injury treatment); *Cursed by commentators, Josie Groves ‘slog-swept’ aerial, caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Kate Cross, from Fi Morris; *Finally, top-scorer Ella Claridge was caught at ’silly point’ by Emma Lamb, from Grace Potts; The Blaze women batting: Ella Claridge63(74), Amy Jones52(76), Kathryn Bryce22(35), Georgia Elwiss 19(23) Sarah Glenn12(11) Tammy Beaumont11(18), Josie Groves11(22); Lancashire women bowling: Grace Potts 4/37, Sophie Morris 2/34, Emma Lamb 1/25, Kate Cross 1/31, Mahika Gaur1/42, Fi Morris 1/48,
Lancashire women wearing rose-red *Skipper Ellie Threlkeld; *[Amy Jones keeping wicket for Blaze] *International player Katie MacK (Australia); With Scotland’s Ailsa Lister; *By 10 overs ‘power-play’ 55/0 (vs 42/1); *Left-handed Eve Jones was caught-and-bowled by Kirstie Gordon’ coming around-the-wicket and falling backwards; *Katie MacK went plumb ‘leg before,’ to Sarah Glenn, for a fifth-ball ‘duck’; *Sophia Smale was stumped by keeper Ellie Threlkeld, from Kirstie Gordon; *Fi Morris was caught at ’mid-off’ by Sarah Glenn, from Kirstie Gordon; *By mid-way (25overs) for drinks 129/4 (vs 102/5); *Ailsa Lister was caught at ‘deep backward square’ by Kathryn Bryce, from Josie Groves;’ *Top-scorer Emma Lamb was caught ‘leg-side’ by keeper Amy Jones, from Kathryn Bryce’; *Ellie Threlkeld was 35*not out (58); *Kate Cross who hit the winning ‘four’ was 38*not out (47); Lancashire women batting: Emma Lamb74(92), Kate Cross38*not out (47) Ellie Threlkeld35*not out (58), Eve Jones33(41) Ailsa Lister 5(26); The Blaze women bowling: Kirstie Gordon 3/33; Sarah Glenn 1/40, Kathryn Bryce 1/36, Josie Groves 1/42;
*Match result: Lancashire women 226/6 (@4.7 runs-per-over from 47.2 overs/target 223 from 50 overs) beat The Blaze women 222/10 (@4.5 r-p-o from 48.2/50 overs) by four wickets (with 16 balls remaining)
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m3ea194eb-2d20-4da3-8b9a-e58f769e81eb
BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225539 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/lancashire-women-v-the-blaze/scorecard/a4d4f5b1-62e4-54c4-9028-a68e47e7d092
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Lancs TV Cricket (nv play) via YouTube [06h43m38s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-MA96hUOV0
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/03/04/metro-bank-league-one-fixtures-for-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/03/05/metro-bank-one-day-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-2025/
