SQUAD AND PREVIEW: Northern Diamonds v Lancashire Thunder
New coach Chris Read has urged his Lancashire Thunder players to aim high as they prepare to begin the next regional summer with a Diamonds derby clash this weekend.
Northern Diamonds v Lancashire Thunder
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
Saturday April 20, 2024, 10.30am
The Seat Unique Riverside, Durham
Thunder travel to the Seat Unique Riverside on Saturday (10.30am) to tackle closest rivals the Northern Diamonds, and the man in charge of the Red Rose has his eyes on a fast start to the campaign.
Thunder squad to face Northern Diamonds:
Ellie Threlkeld (c/wk), Danielle Collins, Naomi Dattani, Mahika Gaur, Phoebe Graham, Liberty Heap, Laura Jackson, Hannah Jones, Emma Lamb, Katie Mack, Fi Morris, Tara Norris, Seren Smale
Captain Ellie Threlkeld and co are aiming to reach the knockouts of this competition for the first time in five seasons. And belief is high.
That is down to a winter’s hard graft for the players, both at home and abroad, their run to last season’s Charlotte Edwards (T20) Cup Finals Day and the fresh input of former international men’s wicketkeeper-batter Read.
“I know we’ve had three seventh-placed finishes in the 50-over competition (in the last three summers), and from my point of view that needs to go in one direction and one direction only,” he said ahead of the region’s trip to the North East.
“We need to be competing as one of the top four teams.
“Can we go from seventh to top? Why not.
“But it’s a long, old season, and a lot has to go your way. You have to play some really good cricket over the course of six months for that to happen.”
Read, a winter replacement for Paul Shaw as coach, believes the key to success will be a fast start through to late May.
He continued: “We have a six-game block of RHFT before the Charlotte Edwards, and that’s a big chunk of this competition. It would be really good to start well.
“We want to hit the ground running.
“At this time, there are seven other teams with their expectations and hopes ahead of a fresh, new season. But we’re keen and raring to go. I feel like we’re in a good place as a squad.”
Thunder and Diamonds won one of these ‘Roses’ meetings apiece in this competition last season, though neither made it beyond the knockout stages. Diamonds finished sixth in the table.
Batter Katie Mack will play for Thunder and is one of two Australian debutants in the fixture. The Diamonds have signed ex-international all-rounder Erin Burns.
Mack will start and end 2024 in Thunder colours, the middle of the summer filled by compatriot Georgia Voll.
Emma Lamb will be available this weekend alongside England team-mate Mahika Gaur. They will both definitely be available for the first two games, with Sunrisers visiting Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone could be available for next Saturday’s home clash with Western Storm at Emirates Old Trafford - Thunder’s third match.
Thunder will be without Scotland duo Ailsa Lister and Hannah Rainey for the opening month of the summer because of T20 World Cup Qualifier duty in the UAE.
Read said: “It’s a great opportunity for them to push for a World Cup spot with Scotland, and that will do them the world of good.”
One player who definitely will be available is skipper Threlkeld.
The wicketkeeper-batter will no doubt be key to Thunder’s hopes of success this year, and Read is full of praise for the Knowsley-born star.
He said: “I feel like coming into the role, all the research I’d done and people I’ve spoken to around Ellie, it was universally positive in terms of A, what a great keeper she is. Her batting is growing by the day and is a very vital cog for our top order.
“But, first and foremost, what a fantastic leader she is.
“She’s been a terrific role-model, and I’m really enjoying working with her.”
Threlkeld, 25, is widely recognised as one of the best wicketkeepers in England, but she has long spoken about a determination to develop her batting game.
Last summer, she showed some extremely positive signs, including a final day 107 not out in a win over Western Storm at Emirates Old Trafford. If she can start this season in the same way, that would be manner from heaven for Thunder.
“Without going into too many specifics, we’re working on areas around developing her in the shortest format,” said Read.
“But I think her 50-over game is in a really good spot.
“She got a hundred at the back end of last year. That’s a good sign.
“I feel like in the engine room of that 50-over line-up, she can shape the way innings are played.
“We all know what a fine wicketkeeper she is, and the best thing about is that she’s hungry - hungry for success for Thunder and from a personal point of view as well to bid for higher honours, which she’s more than capable of.”
Opposing player to watch:
Leg-spinner Katie Levick has taken 63 wickets in the last two seasons for the Diamonds, both in this competition and the Charlotte Edwards (T20) Cup.
No other bowler across regional cricket has taken more.
Levick is the spearhead for the Diamonds bowling attack. Stop her, and Thunder’s job of winning this match will be made that much easier.
It says a lot about the Sheffield-born twirler’s capabilities that she takes our tag of one to watch ahead of a quartet of internationals in the Diamonds line-up; Captain Hollie Armitage, Erin Burns, Bess Heath and Lauren Winfield-Hill.
Previous meeting:
The bragging rights were shared last summer in this competition; Thunder winning at York and the Diamonds gaining revenge at Sale in mid-September.
In the latter, the Diamonds won by 48 runs as they defended a target of 197.
Having been inserted, Lauren Winfield-Hill hit 89 at the top of the order, but Thunder kept the visitors in check as Olivia Bell claimed a superb 4-32 with her off-spinners.
Former Thunder batter Rebecca Duckworth made a middle order 27, but her and Winfield-Hill were the only batters to reach 15 in a 196 all out total.
In reply, Seren Smale opened with 33, and Thunder were in good order at 54-1 in the 10th over.
Unfortunately, from there, they slipped badly to 148 all out. Losing four wickets for five runs - 110-4 to 114-8 - was the key period.
Katie Levick’s leg-spin returned 4-28 from 10 overs for the visitors.
Thunder Tickets
Be part of the action-packed Charlotte Edwards T20 Trophy and the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint 50-Over Trophy where boundaries promise to be plentiful here at Emirates Old Trafford.