Match Preview: Lancashire Thunder v Hampshire, Vitality Blast Women
Lancashire Thunder v Hampshire
Vitality Blast
Wednesday June 4, 2025, 2.30pm
Emirates Old Trafford
Head coach Chris Read has hailed the contribution of Katie Mack as the prolific Australian batter prepares to end her second season as a Lancashire overseas player with a farewell appearance against Hampshire Hawks at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday (2.30pm).
Mack is returning home after a successful first half of the summer which has seen her total 351 runs in 10 matches across 50-over and T20 cricket, including a trio of half-centuries.
Mack’s replacement for the next couple of months will be fellow Aussie Alana King, the international leg-spinning all-rounder who will debut in the Vitality Blast this weekend.
Before then, Mack faces the Hawks on home turf aiming to continue her impressive form. Lancashire are aiming to win their second game in three having beaten Durham most recently at Banks Homes Riverside on Sunday.
This is the first part of a double header day with Lancashire’s men, who face Leicestershire Foxes in the Blast from 6.30pm.
“Katie’s been fantastic, not just this summer but last as well,” said Read.
“When we signed her for last season, it was on the back of knowing that not only is she a fantastic top order batter, she’s also an exceptional fielder and very valuable around the dressing room.
“She’s an exceptionally hard worker.
“She’s vastly experienced. Last year, it was something I felt we needed as a team - experience and a calm head. She’s shown that in spades both last year and this.”
Lancashire Cricket/Luke Adams
Two of Mack’s half-centuries this season have come in the 50-over Metro Bank One-Day Cup, including a best of 84 in a victory over Surrey at Southport at the start of last month.
She batted at three in that format but has opened the batting in the early stages of the T20 Blast, hitting 59 in Saturday’s home defeat to The Blaze.
That came after competition rules meant she was unable to play in Thunder’s triumphant Vitality County T20 Cup campaign.
“Look at the performance Katie put in on Saturday,” continued Read.
“She wasn’t involved in that County Cup because there was no overseas allowed. She had a week or so off to rest and recuperate from the first block. And she came out absolutely firing.
“It was a fantastic knock and took a great catch to dismiss her from Sarah Glenn as well.”
Last season, Mack scored 357 runs from 13 appearances for Thunder in regional cricket, including scores of 100 and 52 not out in the 50-over format
King is due to represent Lancashire until the Hundred starts in August. That means she plays the remainder of the Vitality Blast added to a pair of appearances in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup at the back end of next month.
For the late-season block after the Hundred, the Red Rose have not yet signed an overseas player.
“From an overseas perspective, it gets pretty tricky after the Hundred,” said Read.
“With Katie, for example, she’s just moved from the Australian Capital Territory to play for New South Wales. And their pre-season and first fixtures coincide with the back end of our season.
“It’s a tough one to secure those Australian overseas players for that last block.”
While Lancashire have played two Blast matches so far, winning one and losing one, Hampshire have played one, won one.
They beat Essex at home on Friday by 25 runs on the back of a 215-3 total which included an excellent opening 92 for England’s Maia Bouchier.
They have Australian batting all-rounder Charli Knott with them as an overseas player, though she didn’t play in that game. The legendary Ellyse Perry joins Hampshire for the final six group matches plus Finals Day if they qualify.
Hampshire are enjoying an excellent season.
Like Lancashire, who they lead by a point in the 50-over One-Day Cup, they have also won six of eight matches in that competition. They are captained by all-rounder Georgia Adams.