SQUAD NEWS AND PREVIEW: Lancashire Thunder v Western Storm
The latter end of the season will be a case of ‘Return of the Mack’ as far as Lancashire Thunder are concerned - and their hundred hero Katie is confident it will be an exciting time for the side.
Lancashire Thunder v Western Storm
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
Saturday April 27, 2024, 10.30am
Emirates Old Trafford
Thunder squad to face Western Storm:
Ellie Threlkeld (c/wk), Danielle Collins, Kate Cross, Naomi Dattani, Sophie Ecclestone, Mahika Gaur, Phoebe Graham, Hannah Jones, Emma Lamb, Katie Mack, Fi Morris, Tara Norris, Seren Smale
Australian overseas batter Katie Mack announced herself to Thunder on Wednesday with a stunning century in their landslide Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy victory over Sunrisers at Emirates Old Trafford.
She shared 191 for the third wicket with Fi Morris and finished 100 off 110 balls batting at number three in Thunder’s imposing total of 292-5 - one which the visitors got nowhere nearing matching.
Mack, 30, is spending the bulk of the 50-over campaign with Thunder on an overseas deal - split across two stints.
She plays the first six games, including Saturday’s home clash with Western Storm at Emirates Old Trafford (10.30am), before returning for the last four games in late August and early September.
Compatriot Georgia Voll fills in for four mid-season 50-over games added to the entirety of the Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 competition.
Of course, Mack’s stay could be extended by a couple of weeks should Thunder qualify for the latter stages of an RHFT competition which concludes with a final at Leicester on Saturday September 21.
A few more performances like the one against the Sunrisers and there is every chance that will be the case.
“Definitely,” said Mack when asked if she believes Thunder can go all the way.
“You don’t put on performances like that if you can’t take it all the way.
“That team in the changing room is very talented. So they definitely have what it takes.”
Mack has played two games for Thunder so far. She scored 19 on debut in Saturday’s defeat to the Northern Diamonds, passing 6,000 career runs in senior cricket in the process.
Wednesday’s century was the sixth of her 50-over career, with - fingers crossed - the promise of more to follow over the next six months.
“It’s a massive relief,” she continued, reflecting on her Sunrisers century.
“Coming over, they put a lot of faith in you. Coming as an international, there is a little bit of pressure to make sure you contribute. So I’m very glad that’s happened early. It’s a nice relief, and hopefully that keeps going.
“It’s been great already, and it’s been something I’ve been trying to do - come over and play. Any chance you get to go over to another country and play cricket is pretty amazing.
“To have that professional cricketer lifestyle is pretty fun. I’m just looking forward to winning lots of games, but also enjoying my time here too.”
The 191 shared between Thunder’s new M&Ms - Mack and Morris - was the region’s highest partnership in four and a bit seasons of regional cricket. It was achieved at an Emirates Old Trafford venue Mack described as “stunning” and “beautiful”.
Commenting on the partnership, Mack said: “It was really nice, and we haven’t got to bat together before.
“Fi came out quite hard, which took a bit of pressure off me. There were other times when she was finding it a bit harder and I was able to take the pressure off. We definitely complemented each other.
“It was a bit of pity for her not to get her hundred. She deserved it after the way she batted, but it’s nice to break a record.”
Mack has come over from Australia, a country which is widely accepted to be leading the way in women’s cricket. Their national team are all-conquering, and their domestic structure has played a part in that.
Mack says it is “too early” for her to make comparisons between the domestic structures in Australia and England.
But her initial impressions are certainly good.
She added: “I spoke to the girls about this the other day. Their athleticism and fielding is always a good sign of where teams are at. And they’re very much on par with where we are at home.
“I don’t think it will be long before they catch up, if they’re not already there.
“It’s something I’ve mentioned in Australia. You guys have so many more domestic games than we do.
“We have 12 games as part of our domestic competition and then the Big Bash. But that’s it.
“I think it’s really nice to see the investment that ECB’s put into getting the girls a lot of games. There seems to be a lot of emphasis on women’s cricket over here, and I think it’s in good stead for the future.”
Storm have lost two from two so far, against Sunrisers and Northern Diamonds.
England captain Heather Knight is yet to play for them this season, though Dani Gibson and Lauren Filer have.
Captain Sophie Luff has Mack’s Big Bash team-mate, the leg-spinner, Amanda-Jade Wellington available to her as an overseas player for the full summer. Mack and Wellington are back-to-back WBBL champions with the Adelaide Strikers.
Opposing player to watch:
Western Storm have two, potentially three, England players available in Dani Gibson, Lauren Filer and Heather Knight, though the latter is yet to play for her region this season.
But it’s an Australian who we will be focusing on here.
Storm have signed leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington, the 23-time international, on an overseas deal. Wellington has played all formats for Australia, including one Test Match.
A back-to-back Big Bash winner with Adelaide Strikers, a team-mate of Katie Mack, the 26-year-old is with the Storm for the entire season and has started well with four wickets and a 28 down the order.
Wellington was superb with 3-30 from 10 overs in Wednesday’s defeat to Northern Diamonds at Headingley, bowling her allocation of overs on the reel through the middle of the innings.
She’s no stranger to Emirates Old Trafford having represented the Manchester Originals in last summer’s Hundred.
Previous meeting:
Thunder claimed a stunning five-wicket win over Storm at Emirates Old Trafford, seeing out the 2023 season in style thanks largely to an Ellie Threlkeld century.
A trio of fifties from Storm’s Emma Corney, Sophia Smale - both their openers - and captain Sophie Luff led them to a competitive 250-7 total.
Spinners Liv Bell and Liberty Heap claimed three wickets apiece.
In reply, Thunder fell to 17-3 inside eight overs in a clash between two sides out of knockout qualification contention.
But Threlkeld and Naomi Dattani shared a brilliant 177 for the fourth wicket inside 32 overs, pushing their side towards a five-wicket win with 3.2 overs remaining.
Dattani made an excellent, measured 82 and Threlkeld 107 not out. She was busier.
It was a win which will be long remembered by Thunder, especially captain Threlkeld.