The Blaze Secure Revenge Victory Over Defending Champions
The Blaze have started their Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition campaign on a high note, avenging last season’s semi-final defeat by defeating the defending champions, Lancashire, by six runs according to the Duckworth Lewis Stern (DLS) method. Despite multiple rain interruptions, the home side managed to stay ahead of the required rate to secure a crucial win.
Lancashire’s Struggle to Build Momentum
Lancashire, who lifted the 2025 trophy and came into the match with momentum from a thumping win over Durham, were asked to bat first at Trent Bridge. They started promisingly on a used pitch, reaching 41 without loss, but the momentum shifted when Eve Jones was trapped LBW by off-spinner Lucy Higham after a failed reverse-sweep attempt.
The defending champions then suffered two major blows before the halfway point of their innings. Ireland captain Gaby Lewis, who had been in scorching form with an unbeaten 141 in last year’s final and 131 against Durham, was trapped in front by Kathryn Bryce for a small total of seven. Shortly after, Seren Smale was bowled by The Blaze skipper Kirstie Gordon after attempting to cut.
Emma Lamb’s Resistance
Despite the collapse, Emma Lamb remained a persistent threat. Lamb, who had historically performed well against The Blaze, scored a fine 77, providing a Lancashire side struggling for stability. She found strong support from captain Ellie Threlkeld, and the pair added 77 runs in a partnership of 14 overs.
However, after Lamb was caught at mid-off, the innings derailed completely. Threlkeld, Fi Morris, and Ailsa Lister were all caught in the deep, while Grace Ballinger’s precision bowling proved decisive. Ballinger claimed three wickets for 30 runs, removing Kate Cross and Tara Norris to trigger a collapse where Lancashire lost their last seven wickets for just 47 runs. Charley Phillips also contributed with a bowling performance that dismissed Hannah Jones, leaving Lancashire bowled out for 223.
A Rain-Interrupted Chase
The Blaze’s chase began in chaotic fashion. A miscommunication between Marie Kelly and Sarah Bryce led to Sarah being run out on the very first ball of the innings. Despite the setback, Kathryn Bryce took charge, hitting four boundaries to help recover the team to 38 for one after 10 overs.
The rain then began to play a role, with a 100-minute stoppage interrupting the flow of the game. Kathryn Bryce shared a 67-run partnership with Marie Kelly before top-edging a shot to midwicket for 35. The loss of Georgia Elwiss to Tara Norris further slowed the Blaze’s progress, but the resilience of Marie Kelly and Orla Prendergast kept them on track.
Crucial Running and the DLS Victory
The Blaze were forced off by rain at 91 for three in the 21st over, with the target revised to 171 from 32 overs. As further rain intervened, the contest was eventually abandoned after 28.3 overs. At that point, The Blaze were 148 for 5, and thanks to the opportunistic batting of Marie Kelly (44) and Orla Prendergast (40), they were six runs ahead of the DLS par score.
The victory is a significant psychological boost for The Blaze, especially after last season’s disappointment against Lancashire, and it is a reason for the tournament’s opening match of their campaign which provides a momentum-shifting win over the defending champions.
