Lancashire Thunder women vs The Blaze (match 5, league one ‘double-header’) at Manchester, Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday, 31 May 2025 (15h00)
Expectations for Thunder women were high, skipper Ellie Threlkeld having just lifted the Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup at their first attempt. By contrast, The Blaze were playing back-to-back matches, following their Midlands derby tie with Bears. Commentators noted a ‘decent start’ with two fifty-run partnerships for Thunder’s first and second wickets, banking a defendable score. Star batter was Katie MacK who scored ‘fifty’ [59 runs (from 37 balls).] Blaze’s skipper Kirstie Gordon was best bowler, taking 3 wickets (conceding 33 runs.) New pairing as openers Georgia Elwiss 53(43) and Marie Kelly 40(31) replied with a century first-wicket partnership. Described by commentators as ‘a close contest,’ with ‘good batting,’ ‘decent fielding’ and a ‘thrilling climax,’ Kathryn Bryce 49*not out(29) scored the winning ’two’ with five balls remaining. Commentators were Scott Reid (Sports journalist, for Lancs TV) with Paul Shaw (former England Women’s head coach & exThunder Coach) and co-commentator Faith Florence, a Thunder fan on twitter @thefaithflo. Also via BBC Sound (Dave Bracegirdle, Radio Nottingham.) Weather – grey cloud cover 14C.
Thunder women wearing Lancs rose-red *Skipper Ellie Threlkeld; *[Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze] *International player Katie MacK (Australia) replacing Emma Lamb and *with Mahika Gaur (UAE/England) replacing Kate Cross; *Also with Sophie Ecclestone, Tilly Kesteven and Ailsa Lister (Scotland); *Tilly Kesteven was bowled ‘middle-of-middle’ by Cassidy McCarthy coming around-the-wicket to the left-hander; *’Decent start’ after 6 overs ‘power-play’ with 56/1 *By mid-way (10overs) 81/1; *Katie MacK was caught at ‘point’ by Sarah Glenn, from Georgia Elwiss; *Following a ‘swing-and-a-miss,’ Seren Smale was stumped by Sarah Bryce, from Sarah Glenn; *Sophie Ecclestone was caught at ‘cow corner’ by Cassidy McCarthy, from Grace Ballinger; *Fi Morris remained ‘not out;’ Thunder women batting: Katie MacK 59(37), Fi Morris 27*not out (22), Sophie Ecclestone 22(15), Tilly Kesteven 24(23), Seren Smale 24(23); Blaze bowling: Kirstie Gordon 3/33; Sarah Glenn 1/40, Kathryn Bryce 1/36, Josie Groves 1/42;
The Blaze wearing orange with red splash over black; *skipper Kirstie Gordon *[Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Thunder]; *with international player Maddy Green (NZ); *without Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones & Nat Sciver-Brunt (England call-up); *With Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland); *By 6 overs ‘power-play’ 63/0 (vs 56/1); *Marie Kelly was caught at ‘extra cover’ by Sophie Ecclestone from Tara Norris; *Georgia Elwiss was caught at ‘long-on’ by Tara Norris (commentator was corrected by Paul Shaw), from Mahika Gaur; *Sarah Bryce was caught at ‘extra cover’ by Ailsa Lister, from Mahika Gaur; *By mid-way (10overs) 92/0 (vs 81/1); *Short of ‘fifty’ Kathryn Bryce was ‘not out’ scoring the winning ‘two’ runs; Blaze batting: Georgia Elwiss 53(43), Kathryn Bryce 49*not out(29), Marie Kelly 40(31), Maddy Green 12*not out(7); Thunder women bowling: Mahika Gaur2/24, Tara Norris 1/41;
*Match result: The Blaze (Women) 170/3 (@8.8 runs-per-over from 19.1 overs/target 170 from 20 overs) beat Lancashire Thunder (Women) 169/4 (@8.5 r-p-o from 20 overs) by seven wickets
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m8745fe81-53a7-4fde-ab52-f7c8da50663f
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225294 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/lancashire-thunder-v-the-blaze/scorecard/59b09c56-6f85-5a99-882d-3686a3e17a2e
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Lancs Cricket TV (nv play) via YouTube [03h25m41s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk2OXhe2kUI with Edited highlights via YouTube [09m32s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCMXvaiD1nY
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/11/27/vitality-blast-fixtures-for-season-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/11/27/vitality-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2025/
