Cricket

In a rain-shortened Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy match at Taunton's Cooper Associates Ground, Thunder emerged victorious over Western Storm by two runs via the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern Method.Thunder captain Eleanor Threlkeld played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 69 to guide her team to a total of 216 for 9 from 50 overs. Alice Clarke contributed 41, while Grace Johnson chipped in with 23. However, three self-inflicted run outs marred Thunder's innings.Western Storm's Australian international Amanda-Jade Wellington proved to be a thorn in Thunder's side, claiming 2 for 28 from 10 overs. Mollie Robbins also impressed with 3 for 28, keeping things tight with her new ball and death bowling.Chasing a revised target of 71 from 20 overs, Storm appeared in control with openers Emma Corney and Sophia Smale getting them off to a solid start. However, the experienced duo of Sophie Luff and Fran Wilson failed to accelerate the scoring rate, leaving Storm short of the DLS requirement.As the rain intensified, umpires Mark Newell and Fiona Richards were forced to abandon the game with Storm on 69 for 2 after 20 overs. Luff and Wilson remained unbeaten on 16 and 13, respectively.Threlkeld's innings was a masterclass in adaptability, as she adjusted her game to the challenging conditions and the loss of wickets around her. Her unbeaten half-century ensured that Thunder had a competitive total to defend.Despite the disappointment of not being able to complete the match, Storm can take solace in the fact that they have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks. With the season drawing to a close, they will be looking to finish on a high note in their remaining fixtures.

The Blaze emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against Thunder in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, securing a crucial 24-run victory at Sale. The Blaze's triumph keeps their hopes alive in the competition, while Thunder's defeat dashes their aspirations of reaching the knockout stages.The Blaze's innings got off to a promising start, with Sarah Bryce and Michaela Kirk establishing a solid foundation with a 66-run partnership. However, the introduction of Fi Morris into the Thunder attack proved pivotal, as the spinner's career-best 6 for 35 wreaked havoc on the Blaze's batting lineup.Morris's devastating spell began with the dismissal of Kathryn Bryce, who was caught at gully for 31. She then trapped Orla Prendergast lbw for 29 and Lucy Higham for 4, reducing the Blaze to 135 for 6. Hannah Jones claimed the wicket of Kirstie Gordon, before Morris completed her impressive performance by bowling Ella Claridge, Grace Ballinger, and Cassidy McCarthy.In response, Thunder's chase got off to a disastrous start as Grace Ballinger's impressive left-arm swing dismantled their top order. Ballinger's 4 for 23 included the dismissals of Eve Jones, Alice Clarke, Morris, and Dani Collins, leaving Thunder reeling at 41 for 5.Despite Ballinger's early heroics, Thunder's innings was plagued by a series of unfortunate events. Seren Smale was caught at point off Prendergast, while Ellie Threlkeld and Darcey Carter fell cheaply. Grace Johnson's dismissal left Thunder in dire straits, but a defiant last-wicket partnership of 50 between Tara Norris and Hannah Jones provided a glimmer of hope.Norris's unbeaten 53, which included three sixes, was a testament to her fighting spirit. However, it was not enough to prevent The Blaze from securing victory with 26 balls to spare. Kathryn Bryce claimed the final wicket of Hannah Jones, sealing the win for her team.The Blaze's victory was a testament to their resilience and determination, while Thunder's defeat was a disappointing end to their campaign. The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy continues to provide thrilling and competitive cricket, with every match having the potential to shape the destiny of the tournament.

In a dominant display, Thunder thrashed South East Stars by a massive 120 runs in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Beckenham. England's Kate Cross played a pivotal role, claiming a List A best of 6 for 40, while Seren Smale and Fi Morris led Thunder's batting charge.Thunder opted to bat first on a sluggish Beckenham pitch and posted a formidable 250 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs. Smale anchored the innings with a top score of 76, while Morris contributed a valuable 54. Ryana MacDonald-Gay emerged as the Stars' most effective bowler, bagging three wickets for 42 runs, including a run out. Kalea Moore also chipped in with two wickets.However, it was Cross who wreaked havoc on the Stars' batting lineup. She dismissed key batters Bryony Smith and Alice Davidson-Richards in consecutive deliveries, leaving the Stars reeling at 12 for 2. Despite a valiant 54 from Kira Chathli, the Stars never truly threatened to chase down the target.Cross continued her demolition, claiming the wickets of Chloe Hill, Aylish Cranstone, and Phoebe Franklin. MacDonald-Gay and Paige Scholfield also fell prey to her devastating bowling, as the Stars were eventually dismissed for a paltry 130 in just 36.4 overs.Thunder's victory was a testament to their all-round performance. Smale and Morris provided a solid foundation with their substantial contributions, while Cross's exceptional bowling display proved decisive. The Stars, on the other hand, struggled to cope with Thunder's relentless pressure and were unable to mount a meaningful challenge.

Thunder's dominant performance at Worcester has reignited their hopes of qualifying for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Their comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Central Sparks was orchestrated by the exceptional bowling of Tara Norris and Sophie Morris.Norris's four wickets for 18 runs and Morris's three for 31 restricted Sparks to a meager 144 all out in 42.4 overs. Only captain Eve Jones (38) showed any resistance for the home side, as the Thunder bowlers exploited the batters' reluctance to play aggressively.In response, Thunder cruised to victory with 21 overs to spare. Emma Lamb (71 not out) and Katie Mack (52 not out) forged an unbroken 122-run partnership for the third wicket, guiding their team to 147 for two. Lamb's half-century came in 66 balls, while Mack reached hers in 67.The win lifted Thunder above Sparks in the standings, keeping their qualification hopes alive. Sparks, on the other hand, face an uphill battle in their remaining matches.

South East Stars showcased their dominance in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, crushing Thunder by 82 runs in Blackpool. Bryony Smith and Paige Scholfield led the charge with scintillating half-centuries, propelling Stars to a formidable total of 283.Smith, facing the world's top-ranked seamer Kate Cross, displayed her class with elegant drives and a stylish push through the off side. She reached her half-century in just 56 balls, setting the tone for Stars' batting onslaught.Scholfield, the 28-year-old all-rounder, played a pivotal role, marshalling the innings and reaching her own half-century off a mere 50 deliveries. Her all-round brilliance kept the scoreboard ticking over.Thunder's bowlers struggled to contain the Stars' batting prowess, with Ryana MacDonald-Gay emerging as the lone bright spot with four wickets. However, her efforts proved insufficient as Stars posted a daunting target.In the chase, Thunder's hopes were dashed early on as Emma Lamb and Katie Mack departed cheaply. Seren Smale provided some resistance with a brisk 30, but MacDonald-Gay's bowling brilliance proved too much for the Thunder batters.Fi Morris and Ellie Threlkeld briefly kept Thunder in the hunt with a patient partnership, but Stars' bowlers seized the initiative with a flurry of wickets. MacDonald-Gay, Moore, and Smith combined to dismantle Thunder's batting lineup, leaving them 7.2 overs short of their target.South East Stars' comprehensive victory solidifies their position in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy standings, while Thunder remains in search of consistency.

Central Sparks secured their Charlotte Edwards Cup qualification with a thrilling last-ball eight-wicket victory over Thunder at Edgbaston.Thunder, put in to bat, posted a competitive 146 for six, thanks to a superb maiden T20 half-century from 19-year-old Seren Smale. Smale, who came to the crease with Thunder in trouble at three for two, rescued her team with a polished innings of 88 not out from 61 balls, including nine fours. Grace Potts led the Sparks bowling attack with two for 18.Sparks' chase started slowly, but an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 128 between Abi Freeborn (71 not out from 57 balls) and Amy Jones (67 not out from 45 balls) powered them to victory. Jones struck the last two balls of the 20th over for four to seal the win and end Thunder's hopes of qualification.With Eve Jones ruled out by concussion, Georgia Davis captained Sparks and won the toss, opting to field. Both opening bowlers struck in their first over, with Fi Morris falling to Potts and Katie Mack to Charis Pavely, leaving Thunder reeling at three for two after two overs.Smale's dropped catch between wicketkeeper and slip proved costly for Sparks, as she and Emma Lamb (25 from 28 balls) added 61 in 51 balls. After Lamb's dismissal, Threlkeld joined Smale in a 58-run stand in 41 balls, with Smale reaching her half-century in 41 balls.Thunder started strongly with the ball, with Kate Cross dismissing Ami Campbell in the first over and Tara Norris conceding just a single in the second. However, Ecclestone's first ball was spun past Perrin, who was stumped by Threlkeld.Freeborn and Jones rebuilt methodically, keeping Sparks in the race. Freeborn reached 50 in 35 balls and Jones in 37, leaving 26 needed from the last three overs. Phoebe Graham's final over came down to ten off the last over, and five from the last two balls. Jones hoisted the first of those over mid-off for four and the second to the cover boundary to send Sparks through to Finals Day.

Western Storm and Thunder's Charlotte Edwards Cup Hopes Drenched by RainHeavy rainfall in Cardiff has extinguished the hopes of Western Storm and Thunder in the Charlotte Edwards Cup. The two teams, both in need of victories to advance in the tournament, were left frustrated as their match at Sophia Gardens was abandoned without a single ball being bowled.The persistent downpour made it impossible to remove the covers, forcing umpires Anna Harris and Ant Harris to call off the game at 3:25 pm. With Glamorgan and Hampshire Hawks scheduled to play a Vitality Blast South Group fixture at 6:30 pm, there was no window of opportunity for the women's match to resume.Thunder, currently in fifth place, remain behind Southern Vipers and Central Sparks, who have a game in hand. Western Storm, languishing at the bottom of the table, are effectively out of contention for the knockout stages.Thunder will look to improve their fortunes when they face Central Sparks at Edgbaston on Saturday. Western Storm, meanwhile, will aim to secure their second win of the campaign against Northern Diamonds at Headingley on Sunday.The abandonment of the match highlights the challenges faced by outdoor sports in the face of inclement weather. With the Charlotte Edwards Cup reaching its crucial stages, teams will be hoping for more favorable conditions in the remaining fixtures.

In a thrilling encounter at Blackpool, Thunder emerged victorious over Sunrisers in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a five-wicket triumph in the final over.Thunder's chase began with a flurry of boundaries from Fi Morris, who struck a six and three fours before being run out for 25. However, the loss of Emma Lamb and Katie Mack, both run out, left Thunder in a precarious position at 43 for 2.Seren Smale steadied the innings with an unbeaten 39, her highest score in the competition. Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross contributed crucial runs in the latter stages, with Cross hitting a six and a four in the final over to seal the victory.Earlier, Sunrisers had posted a competitive 151 for 9, led by Lissy Macleod's 60. Mady Villiers and Jo Gardner provided early impetus, but spin proved to be Sunrisers' undoing. Morris and Ecclestone claimed two wickets each, while Eva Gray dismissed Ellie Threlkeld.Macleod and Amu Surenkumar revived Sunrisers' innings with a 60-run partnership, but a chaotic 18th over saw three wickets fall in three balls. Macleod and Surenkumar were both run out, while Gray was dismissed lbw by Ecclestone.Thunder's victory leaves them in fifth place in the standings, while Sunrisers face an uphill battle to qualify for the playoffs.

The Blaze continued their dominance in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Thunder at Emirates Old Trafford. Kirstie Gordon's exceptional bowling performance, coupled with Sarah Bryce's sharp wicketkeeping, restricted Thunder to a modest total of 111 for 9.Gordon's slow left-arm bowling proved lethal, claiming five wickets for just 12 runs. Her accuracy and variations kept the Thunder batters in check, while Bryce's lightning-fast reflexes behind the stumps resulted in four stumpings.Thunder's innings got off to a shaky start as Fi Morris and Seren Smale were dismissed cheaply. Emma Lamb provided some resistance with a 20-run knock, but Gordon's dismissal of her in the eighth over left Thunder struggling at 44 for 3.Ellie Threlkeld and Danni Collins attempted to rebuild the innings with a 43-run partnership, but their efforts were cut short by Lucy Higham's intervention. Higham's off-spin accounted for Threlkeld and Ailsa Lister, while Collins fell victim to Sarah Bryce's stumping.Kathryn Bryce's 19th over proved to be Thunder's most productive, yielding 17 runs. However, Gordon returned to the attack and wrapped up the innings by dismissing Sophie Ecclestone and Phoebe Graham.In contrast to Thunder's struggles, The Blaze openers, Tammy Beaumont and Teresa Graves, made batting look effortless. They put on a 50-run partnership before Graves departed for 29. Kathryn Bryce joined Beaumont and added a further 36 runs, setting the stage for a comfortable victory.Beaumont remained unbeaten on 34, guiding The Blaze home with 4.2 overs to spare. Sarah Bryce's dismissal in the final over did little to dampen the team's spirits as they maintained their 100% record in the tournament.