Ellie Threlkeld, Tara Norris fifties safe Thunder’s second tie of season
Thunder 262 for 8 (Threlkeld 60, Norris 51*) tied with Southern Vipers 262 for 8 (Windsor 48, Norgrove 48)
Thunder secured their second tie on this season’s Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy in probably the most dramatic trend when Ellie Threlkeld‘s 60 and Tara Norris‘s unbeaten 51 introduced their facet inside one run of chasing all the way down to 262 to defeat Southern Vipers.
This consequence appeared unlikely within the excessive when Georgia Adams’ bowlers have been proscribing the house facet’s reply and the match featured a effective debut by Australian quick bowler Maitlan Brown, who took 3 for 52 from ten overs.
But in all different respects, an excellent match can be remembered for Threlkeld’s extraordinary assault and for Norris’s fearless hitting as Thunder scored 66 runs off their final 5 overs. The residence facet’s No. 9 hit a six off Adams’ penultimate ball of the match earlier than being restricted to 2 runs off the ultimate supply.
In the opening hour of the day, the guests’ openers, Ella McCaughan and Abi Norgrove gave their facet’s innings a fluent and productive begin, 42 runs being scored within the first ten overs. The true wicket and glassy outfield ensured that batters obtained full worth for his or her attacking photographs all through the day and Norgrove, specifically, warmed to her process, hitting successive boundaries off each Mahika Gaur and Norris.
It was no shock that Thunder skipper Threlkeld known as on her battery of spinners early within the innings however they made no breakthroughs till the twenty first over when Emma Lamb had Norgrove stumped by Threlkeld for 48, thus ending her 85-run stand with McCaughan. In the following over Adams was bowled by means of the gate by an off-spinner from Fi Morris however the lack of wickets did little to curb a run price than cantered alongside at a minimal of 4 an over all through the innings.
Emily Windsor continued the assault however was caught behind by Threlkeld off Laura Jackson for 49 when making an attempt the reduce that will have introduced her a half-century. Linsey Smith maintained the cost and was unbeaten on 42 when the innings closed.
None of Thunder’s bowlers escaped punishment however Morris returned the respectable figures of 1 for 34 from eight overs and Lamb took 2 for 35 from seven and Jackson 2 for 43 off 9. In addition to her catch and stumping, Threlkeld conceded no byes and saved magnificently all through the 50 overs.
Despite the early lack of Lamb, who was athletically caught and bowled by Brown, Thunder’s try to attain at 5.26 runs an over to win the sport started positively.
Both Seren Smale and Naomi Dattani seized each alternative to assault and it was virtually a shock within the twelfth over when Smale was lured ahead by a flighted off-spinner from Ava Lee and stumped by Rhianna Southby for 22.
That wicket nonetheless left Thunder moderately positioned on 50 for two however the subsequent hour’s cricket went a good distance in direction of deciding the result of the competition. First Morris was hurried right into a pull by Brown and skied a catch to Mary Taylor at mid on.
Then, having made a composed 43, Dattani drove a return catch again to Adams and two overs later Smith claimed the important wicket of Deandra Dottin, who performed inside an arm ball and was leg earlier than wicket for 21.
Threlkeld’s late assault on the Vipers’ assault put the result doubtful for a time however her dismissal, leg earlier than to Adams within the forty eighth over, appeared to have settled issues earlier than Norris introduced her facet far nearer to their goal than anybody had believed doable.