MATCH REPORT: Lancashire Thunder start T20 campaign with dominant win over Roses rivals
Lancashire Thunder began their Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign with a comprehensive eight wicket win over ‘Roses’ rivals Northern Diamonds at a sun-soaked Emirates Old Trafford.
Excellent bowling figures from Mahika Gaur (one for 11), Fi Morris (one for 15) and Kate Cross (one for 21) ensured the visitors stuttered their way to 109 for five from their 20 overs with only Emma Marlow (47*) showing anything like the resistance needed to post a decent total.Thunder showed no mercy in reply as they reached the target in the 15th over thanks mainly to Emma Lamb who hit a dominant unbeaten 44 with four boundaries and 30 not out from Seren Smale.
Diamonds were immediately on the back foot when Leah Dobson skied a Gaur delivery to Morris for seven in the second over with Lauren Winfield-Hill departing just five balls later when she hit Cross to Alisa Lister at mid on for two.
10 for two quickly became 19 for three when Hollie Armitage was trapped in front by Phoebe Graham for three, although the Diamonds skipper couldn’t hide her disgust at the decision as she walked off the field.
A semblance of a recovery was triggered by Sterre Kalis, who hit the first boundaries of the day, and put on 32 for the fourth wicket with Marlow before she was caught at long on by Cross off Morris for 16.
The emphasis was now on Marlow, and once Phoebe Turner was run out following a mix up for four, she finally found a partner in Katherine Fraser as the sixth wicket pair steered Diamonds to something approaching respectability as they put on 42 unbeaten runs.
The very modest target of 110 always looked achievable by the hosts, especially with an in-form Lamb at the top of the order, and Thunder duly got off to a flyer, despite Morris being unlucky to have been given out lbw for six from a Katie Levick delivery she clearly hit.
The powerplay finished with Thunder 56 for one and already more than half-way to the win with Lamb and Georgia Voll with their foot on the throttle.
Voll’s run out for 19 following a bad call stopped the momentum momentarily but the in-coming Smale’s energy and quick running between the wickets ensured the pace didn’t let up as Thunder closed in on the target before reaching it with 31 balls to spare to secure a bonus point win.
Emma Lamb, Lancashire Thunder, said:
"Our bowlers did the job in the first innings and that made it a good start for us - it wasn't a terrible wicket to bat on and Seren (Smale) and I talked about playing low risk cricket because we didn't need a massive score. We just took it easy.
"The opening bowlers bowled really well and bowled a lot of dots which created wickets and the pressure really helped and kept the score down for a good total for us to chase.
"We had a good start with the bat and in the powerplay you want to take the opportunity when it comes with pace on the ball. We kept it simple and put away the bad ball.
"It's been lovely today to play in front of that crowd and to sign all the autographs at then end - there were lots of little girls looking up at me which was really nice. It's great that we can get in a decent crowd even when it isn't a double header. I'm glad we won for all of them today."