Cricket

The Blaze continued their impressive start to the Charlotte Edwards Cup with a thrilling five-wicket victory over Thunder at Loughborough.Thunder, put into bat, were lifted to a competitive 151 for 6 by a pugnacious fifth-wicket partnership of 73 from 50 balls between Emma Lamb (63*) and Ailsa Lister (44). Grace Ballinger led the Blaze bowling with 2 for 25.In reply, Blaze were guided to victory by a composed 61 from Kathryn Bryce. Mahika Gaur removed both openers early on her way to 3 for 39, but Bryce's timely intervention in the closing overs proved decisive.Thunder's innings began brightly, but they lost early wickets to Ballinger and Lucy Higham. Lamb and Lister then steadied the ship with a rapid half-century stand, but Lister's dismissal triggered a mini-collapse.Blaze's reply also started poorly, with Gaur removing Marie Kelly and Teresa Graves cheaply. However, the Bryce sisters rebuilt the innings with a 47-run partnership before Sarah Bryce departed.Nadine de Klerk provided a brief flurry with 14 from three balls, but her dismissal left Blaze needing 24 from the last four overs. Kathryn Bryce then took charge, smashing three consecutive sixes off Hannah Jones to put her side on the brink of victory.Ella Claridge finished the job with a cameo of 18 not out from 10 balls, securing Blaze's third successive win.

Lancashire Thunder kicked off their Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign with a resounding eight-wicket victory over Northern Diamonds at Emirates Old Trafford.Mahika Gaur, Fi Morris, and Kate Cross's exceptional bowling restricted Diamonds to a meager 109 for 5 in their 20 overs. Emma Marlow's valiant 47* was the only notable contribution for the visitors.Thunder's chase was equally impressive, reaching the target in just 15 overs. Emma Lamb led the charge with an unbeaten 44, while Seren Smale contributed 30*.Diamonds' innings began disastrously as Leah Dobson and Lauren Winfield-Hill departed cheaply. Hollie Armitage's dismissal left them reeling at 19 for 3. Sterre Kalis and Marlow provided some resistance, but their partnership was broken when Kalis was caught for 16.Marlow found an ally in Katherine Fraser, and the pair added 42 runs to give Diamonds a semblance of respectability. However, the target of 110 was always within Thunder's reach.Lamb and Georgia Voll got Thunder off to a flying start, reaching 56 for 1 in the powerplay. Voll's unfortunate run out slowed the momentum, but Smale's energy kept the chase on track.Thunder secured the victory with 31 balls to spare, earning a bonus point in the process.

Central Sparks' skipper Eve Jones played a heroic innings of 136 not out to guide her team to a thrilling three-wicket victory over Lancashire Thunder in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. The match, played at Emirates Old Trafford, witnessed a remarkable chase by Sparks, who were staring down the barrel of defeat until Jones' late heroics.Thunder got off to a flying start, with openers Emma Lamb and Seren Smale putting on a century partnership for the first wicket. Lamb went on to score a magnificent 107, while Smale contributed 67. The hosts posted a formidable total of 284 for seven, setting Sparks a daunting target.However, Jones had other plans. She played a captain's knock, anchoring the Sparks innings and scoring at a brisk pace. She found support from Australian batter Courtney Webb, who made a crucial 40. The pair put on a 77-run partnership for the third wicket, bringing Sparks back into the game.Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Jones remained unfazed. She hit boundaries at will and kept the scoreboard ticking. With Sparks needing 11 runs off the final over, Jones struck two boundaries off the first two balls to ease the pressure. She then hit the winning runs through point, securing a memorable victory for her team.Jones' unbeaten 136 is the highest score by a woman at Emirates Old Trafford. Her innings was a masterclass in batting, showcasing her skill, determination, and leadership qualities. The victory is a testament to the resilience and fighting spirit of the Central Sparks team.