Thunder 165 for five (Lamb 63, Morris 44) beat South East Stars 149 (Smith 51) by 16 runs

Electing to bat at Blackpool's Stanley Park, Thunder posted 165 for five with Lamb's 63 the spotlight of an entertaining contest between two sides needing to win to have any probability of progressing.

The sport remained within the stability for a lot of the afternoon with Stars giving themselves an incredible probability after a gap stand of 87 earlier than Thunder's bowlers struck again in emphatic vogue to dismiss the guests for 149.

Lamb dominated the Thunder innings from the beginning, hitting the primary ball for a boundary earlier than tucking into the Stars' bowling with a mixture of energy and finesse.

Liberty Heap provided good assist from the opposite finish, hitting two fours of her personal off Claudie Cooper's first over because the opening pair reached a powerful 50 with out loss off the primary powerplay.

It might have been significantly better for Stars nevertheless. Sloppy floor fielding turned infectious and a really weird sixth over noticed Cooper put down consecutive caught and bowled possibilities provided by Heap earlier than Lamb was additionally simply grounded within the deep.

The first-wicket partnership was lastly damaged within the eighth over for 58 when Phoebe Franklin uprooted Heap's center stump with the opener departing for 19.

Lamb's dismissal for 63 after skying a Franklin supply to Kalea Moore triggered a mini collapse from the hosts as Deandra Dottin and skipper Ellie Threlkeld each departed cheaply to Danielle Gregory to go away Thunder 120 for 4 and at risk of losing their good begin.

But Naomi Dattani proceeded to hit a wonderful 30 off 18 balls to provide the Thunder some priceless momentum as they closed on 165 for five with Morris the final batter out for 44 within the ultimate over.

By the top of the powerplay, Stars have been 55 with out loss and looking out hungry for extra with Smith citing her half-century off 31 balls with six fours and two sixes because the opening partnership shot to 87 off 58 balls.

Then got here the turning level of the innings with Olivia Bell bowling Smith for 51 earlier than trapping Scholfield in entrance for 31 two balls later to go away the guests 88 for 2 and Thunder with renewed hope.

Hope turned to expectation when two wickets fell in consecutive Lamb balls with Aylish Cranstone brilliantly stumped by Threlkeld with out scoring and MacDonald-Gay feathering her first ball behind as Stars have been diminished to 95 for 4.

Cross returned to take away Tash Farrant, caught and bowled for six with Franklin falling the identical means off Tara Norris for 12 as Stars' started evaporating within the Blackpool sunshine.

Dattani accomplished a wonderful all-round efficiency by choosing up the wickets of Moore and Alexa Stonehouse with the customer's innings really fizzling out to shut on 149 all out.