Match Preview: Lancashire Thunder vs. Warwickshire Bears, Vitality Blast Women
Lancashire Thunder v Warwickshire Bears
Vitality Blast, Women S
Sunday June 28, 2026, 2.30pm
Blackpool CC, Stanley Park
David Thorley has hailed captain Ellie Threlkeld’s resilience for being able to enjoy an impressive personal summer whilst dealing with the frustrations around Lancashire’s rollercoaster run of results.
Wicketkeeper-batter Threlkeld, 27, was last week called into England’s Test squad for their one-off clash with India at Lord’s next month, just a couple of days before becoming the first player in the country to make 150 professional domestic appearances.
In all cricket for Lancashire this season, including friendlies, Threlkeld has scored 443 runs from 19 appearances in the middle order, with two fifties. Behind the stumps, she has claimed 12 catches and five stumpings.
Things are now looking up for the Red Rose. They are on a three-game winning streak; two in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup and one in the Vitality County T20 Cup.
But it has been far from plain-sailing for last year’s double winners.
They aim to make it four on the bounce against Warwickshire Bears at Blackpool on Sunday (2.30pm), when the Vitality Blast returns after a fortnight’s break.
In that competition alone, Lancashire are looking for their second win in seven in a bid to revive their chances of reaching Finals Day at the Kia Oval midway through next month.
Thorley, the Red Rose county’s director of women’s cricket, said: “Last season, it was so good to see a brilliant person and captain like Ellie lift those trophies. I think that was one of the highlights of my career, seeing Ellie lift those trophies.
“But for her, this year, it's been a different challenge.
“She’s had to manage the team through (their inconsistency). She’s had to make some tough decisions, whether it’s on the field or off it in terms of selection.
“And it does make you stronger.
“She’s fortunate that she has some good senior players around her, like Kate Cross and Eve Jones to throw just a couple out there. Chris Read as coach as well. He’s been in those shoes as a captain and keeper.
“It’s been really good to see Ellie grow and continue to develop as a leader. And, looking at her data, she’s having a really good season personally.
“That’s been proven by her England call-up, which is wonderful news.
“Everyone at the club is delighted for her. We’re so proud, as we are with Grace Potts and Sophie Ecclestone and Emma Lamb.
“Our lack of consistency has obviously not been weighing her down, which shows what a strong and resilient character she is.”
This summer may well be classed as one of the most important of Threlkeld’s career given she will have had to deal with some incredible highs but also some lows. But, also because, she will have spent time with two current and former international captains as Lancashire overseas players in Gaby Lewis - albeit briefly at the start of year because of injury - and the great Meg Lanning.
“It’s been really nice seeing the conversations happen naturally between Ellie and those two,” continued Thorley. “That a huge positive for us.
“This is a really good opportunity for everyone to learn, and not just Ellie.
“It can help us to keep fostering that really strong environment where we can have good conversations and some uncomfortable conversations as well, knowing that we’re all after the same thing. It just creates a better culture here.”
On Sunday, Lancashire face a Warwickshire side who sit bottom of the table with six defeats from six and no points. That could change on Friday afternoon when they return to Blast action against Surrey at Edgbaston.
Lancashire are five points and a couple of places better off.
The top four teams after 12 group matches advance to Finals Day at the Kia Oval on July 17.
Lancashire are currently 13 points behind fourth-place Hampshire with a maximum of 30 available to play for.
Realistically, Thunder are going to have to win five of their last six matches to give themselves a chance of progression.
The Bears are captained by off-spinner Georgia Davis, and they have Australian top-order batter Georgia Redmayne as their overseas player.
Opener Meg Austin has been their standout player so far in the competition with 209 runs. She’s the third leading run-scorer in the Blast. That list is headed by Lancashire’s Lanning with 281.
Opposition player to watch
Emerging opener Meg Austin is having an impressive summer.
We have already mentioned that the right-hander is one of the leading run-scorers in this summer’s Blast, but she has also had success in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup - as Lancashire will know all too well.
Austin has 291 runs to her name in the One-Day, with one fifty and one hundred.
That century came against Lancashire at Edgbaston - 116 off 137 balls - at Edgbaston just over a fortnight ago. It was the 21-year-old’s second senior career century.
Previous meeting
This is the only meeting between these two counties in this summer’s Blast.
Last year, Lancashire completed the Blast double over the Bears. They won at Edgbaston by five runs defending 163 at the start of June before a much more comfortable success - by seven wickets chasing 124 - at Emirates Old Trafford a month later.
It’s the latter fixture we will concentrate on here.
Australian leg-spinner Alana King led the way with a brilliant 2-16 from four overs as Warwickshire, inserted, scrambled to a score of 123-7, including Katie George’s 30.
Four other Red Rose bowlers struck once apiece before Emma Lamb’s excellent unbeaten 60 off 48 balls at the top of the order underpinned a routine chase achieved midway through the 19th over.
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