Match Preview: Durham vs. Lancashire Thunder, Vitality Blast Women
Durham v Lancashire Thunder
Vitality Blast, Women
Friday July 3, 2026, 6.30pm
Banks Homes Riverside
What a way to start a “big week” for Lancashire Thunder.
That was the view of opening batter Eve Jones after starring in yesterday’s Roses victory over Yorkshire at York, one which kept their hopes of Vitality Blast quarter-final qualification alive.
Lancashire chased 161 to triumph by six wickets with 17 balls to spare. Jones contributed a superb 57 off 38 balls.
It was only their second win from eight games, and they need much more if they are to qualify for Finals Day later this month. With four games remaining, the likelihood is that they are going to have to be perfect.
Lancashire sit second-from-bottom in the table on nine points. With a maximum of 20 points still to play for, they are 13 behind fourth-placed Durham - their opponents at Banks Homes Riverside tomorrow evening (6.30pm).
The size of the task is significant, but momentum in T20 cricket can result in funny things happening. And Thunder are hoping that win at York can kick-start something special.
“We knew it was going to be difficult to back up the season we had last year,” said Jones.
“But, look, we've just got to keep going and try and get our best responses out each game.
“We took a lot of confidence from that game, and we've got a quick turnaround to Durham.
“We’ve got a big week, so hopefully we can keep building on that.”
Jones and her Lancashire team-mates are in the middle of quite the road trip. After yesterday afternoon’s Roses game, they were straight up to Durham on the coach.
After tomorrow’s game, they will fly down to Southampton on Saturday to face another side in Finals Day contention on Sunday, Hampshire.
They then end their group stage campaign with home matches at Emirates Old Trafford next Friday and Sunday against Yorkshire and Durham respectively.
For those latter two games, the Red Rose may have to do without captain Ellie Threlkeld, who has been picked in England’s squad for their Test Match against India at Lord’s, which starts next Friday.
As indicated earlier, Durham are having an encouraging competition.
They have won five of their eight games to date and hold fourth place in the table as they bid to qualify for the July 17 Finals Day at the Kia Oval.
They are coached by ex-England off-spinner Dani Hazell, who played for Lancashire Thunder during the Kia Super League days. She was a team-mate of Threlkeld’s and Kate Cross’s for two campaigns in 2017 and 2018.
Durham are captained by England fringe batter Hollie Armitage and have Australian all-rounder Heather Graham as their Blast overseas player.
Last time out, Durham were beaten by eight wickets at Hampshire on Sunday as they failed to defend a target of 129.
Opposition player to watch
Experienced Australian all-rounder Heather Graham is Durham’s overseas player for this competition.
A six-time international in T20I and ODI cricket, the 29-year-old has led the way for Durham with the ball over the last few weeks.
Graham has struck 12 times, the joint third most in the competition. She is one of five bowlers across the counties sat on that number and has a best of 3-19 to her name.
Graham is also a very handy middle order batter, though that side of her game is yet to fire for Durham.
Previous meeting
This is the first of two meetings between Lancashire and Durham inside the next 10 days.
Last season, Lancashire won at the Riverside at the start of June, by 18 runs defending 141. They were then beaten by two wickets at Emirates Old Trafford as they tried to defend a 149-target.
In that latter game, Emma Lamb led the way for Thunder with a superb 74 off 48 balls in 148-7, but nobody else was able to make it to 20.
Lancashire seam-bowling product Sophia Turner impressed with 3-27 from four overs for Durham.
Durham’s chase was progressing reasonably serenely, with Bess Heath top-scoring with 43 off 23 balls. But when she fell at 139-6 in the 17th over, Durham had a wobble and fell to 143-8 in the 19th.
However, despite three wickets for Alana King, they got over the line with four balls to spare.
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