Match Preview: Lancashire Women vs The Blaze, Metro Bank One-Day Cup Women
Lancashire Women squad to face The Blaze:
Ellie Threlkeld (c&wk), Danielle Collins, Kate Cross, Mahika Gaur, Eve Jones, Hannah Jones, Emma Lamb, Ailsa Lister, Katie Mack, Fi Morris, Sophie Morris, Tara Norris, Grace Potts, Seren Smale
Lancashire are in confident mood as they aim to complete the double over early-season Metro Bank One-Day Cup pacesetters The Blaze on Sunday.
The Blaze currently sit top of the table on 18 points after five games, winning four of them.
Their only defeat of the summer came in the opening game last month against Lancashire at Trent Bridge, the Red Rose winning by eight wickets chasing 235.
Should Lancashire win with a maximum five points at Emirates Old Trafford this weekend (10.30am), they could leapfrog Tammy Beaumont’s side courtesy of having a superior net run-rate.
And there’s absolutely no reason why not.
Lancashire have won three of five matches so far in 2025 and sit in the top four places in the table having put in some notable performances, including beating Surrey at Southport on Wednesday.
They won by five wickets chasing 297, with Australian overseas star Katie Mack impressing with a attacking 84 and Fi Morris top-scoring with 90 not out.
Looking ahead to Sunday and The Blaze, Mack said: “We beat them the first game, so it comes around pretty quickly playing them twice.
“I think we take a lot of confidence from the Surrey game because they had a good team as well.”
Mack was excellent against Surrey, as was Fi Morris, who top-scored with 90 not out.
Mack scored 44 in the opening round win over The Blaze, and has also contributed scores of 35 and 39 so far this term.
“I feel like I'm getting a little bit more confident batting on the English wickets and a bit more understanding of how to go about it,” said the 31-year-old.
“I was really happy to score some runs (against Surrey).
“I've been sort of getting sort of 30-40s and feeling pretty comfortable and getting starts, but just not taking it through. So I was really focused on making sure I got a bit of a bigger score.”
Despite being a fixture at number three in the order, be it for Lancashire or the Australian Capital Territory team back at home, Mack has had to get used to somewhat of a different role with the county this summer given the outstanding form of openers Emma Lamb and Eve Jones, who have shared in partnerships of 34, 151, 185, 106 and 53.
“Yeah, I think it probably is a bit of a new thing for me,” she said.
“I've always been top of the order - opening or number three - but I've never really had to come in too late for one-day cricket on a consistent basis.
“But what I've realised about cricket is there's pressure no matter when you come in, whether you come in early or you come in late.
“There's just different things to add pressure, whether that's continuing a good start or trying to create a better finish.
“If you come into any game saying that we're going to have a 50-100 run partnership up front, you take it.
“It’s just about adapting and making sure we're figuring out how to make the most of the last couple of overs.”
Lamb is the leading run-scorer in this competition with 331 runs from five innings, while Jones is close behind on 326. Lamb has posted one hundred and two fifties, Jones one hundred and three fifties.
Surely, with a new era for the England team about to begin under new coach Charlotte Edwards, both have to be under consideration for call-ups for summer series against the West Indies and India.
Aussie Mack, who has 204 to her name, said: “If they're going off runs and performances, they'd both earn a shot.
“It doesn't affect me personally, but I'm really interested in what the England team does and what sort of opportunities they give players performing at the domestic level. And hopefully the girls get a go.
“But, if they don't, we'll be more than happy to have them stay here.”
Lancashire’s batters have taken most of the headlines this summer on the back of some big totals and individual scores, with bowling success flying more under the radar.
Lamb’s off-spinners have accounted for 10 wickets, Hannah Jones eight with her left-arm spinners and Kate Cross five with her seamers.
“I think it's been tough for our bowlers,” added Mack.
“The wickets haven't been stacked for bowling, especially with the new ball.
“It’s almost been a learning curve for them to adjust from potentially taking wickets to actually stopping boundaries or going at under five-an-over, which is a win.
“It’s about being consistent and patient for longer, and I think Surrey was a good example of the improvement from our last game (at Essex). I think we were doing that a little bit better.”
The Blaze are captained by England opener Beaumont, who has scored centuries in each of their last two matches.