Match Preview: Durham Women vs Lancashire Thunder, Vitality Blast Women
Squad
Rising spin-bowling star Sophie Morris is confident Lancashire’s recent Vitality County T20 Cup triumph is only the start of good things to come for the county.
Left-armer Morris, 21, was part of the Thunder team which beat The Blaze and then Surrey at Finals Day at Taunton last Monday, securing the county’s first trophy of the professional era. She struck twice in the semi-final win over The Blaze.
Wirral’s Morris described being part of that success as “unbelievable” and “amazing”.
But she wants more, both in the short-term and long-term.
Short-term, Thunder are flying, even accounting for yesterday’s opening day Vitality Blast defeat to The Blaze at Emirates Old Trafford.
Added to their County Cup success, they have won six of their first eight Metro Bank One-Day Cup matches to sit second in that table.
Today, they head up to the Banks Homes Riverside (1pm) to take on a Durham side who were also beaten in their Blast opener by the Bears at Edgbaston yesterday. This is the first part of a daily double header involving Lancashire's men.
Of the hunt for silverware, Morris said: “We’re a third of the way there! Two more to go.
“We’re all believing we can do it. If we put the good performances in, we can.
“It was so good to lift that trophy.
“It makes you think, ‘Yeah, we’re doing things right. Keeping going how we’re going’. The belief’s there.”
Morris reflected on winning the County Cup, beating Surrey by 32 runs in the final as they successfully defended 172-6.
She continued: “It was unbelievable. You work so hard in the winter to get to that point. It’s something you always talk about. So being able to do it - and to put in two good performances on the same day - it was really good
“Putting that big score on - 176 - it was very valuable in the final. It was the biggest score of the day.
“We started off in the right form, and we knew they had to come at us quite quickly. We were under the pump at times, but we managed to stay in control for most of it.”
And on the moment of realisation that the trophy was coming back to Emirates Old Trafford, she said: “It was the last over and I was stood next to Emma Lamb, and she said, ‘Oh my god, I think I might cry. I think this might happen’.
“That last over was a ‘this is it’ moment.
“People like Ellie Threlkeld have been in the set-up for five years since it started, as captain as well. That’s what the five-year plan was, to win silverware.
“For the players, we’re all friends and a close-knit group. To get over the line, it was just amazing.”
Lancashire have benefitted from the early-season availability of England stars such as Kate Cross, Emma Lamb, Mahika Gaur and Sophie Ecclestone.
The latter two played in yesterday’s Blast opener against The Blaze, the other two are currently on England one-day duty for their ongoing series against the West Indies.
But youngsters such as Morris are also putting their hands up and showing that the conveyor belt of talent is strong.
Morris, for example, claimed a superb, senior career best 5-33 in the 50-over win over Durham at Blackpool almost a fortnight ago.
In the County Cup final, 20-year-old opener Tilly Kesteven scored a stunning 77.
They are performances which definitely indicate that the Red Rose will be long-term challengers in county cricket.
Morris added: “I’ve been through the ranks with Tilly at Cheshire. To watch her score 77 - it was only her third game for Lancs - and be on that pitch at the same time, it was amazing. That’s what you dream of.
“There’s some really good players coming through.
“If there are a few injuries and niggles to top players, you’ve got the confidence that one of the younger girls can come in and step up and perform.
“The depth of talent is there.”
Durham (151 all out) were beaten by 42 runs at Edgbaston yesterday as they responded to the Bears’ 193-6. They are captained by batting all-rounder Hollie Armitage and coached by former England off-spinner Dani Hazell.
New Zealand batting legend Suzie Bates is their overseas player.