Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Grace Ballinger, Tara Norris crush Thunder hopes

Written by 
Published in Cricket
Wednesday, 04 September 2024 09:55

The Blaze 197 (S Bryce 34, K Bryce 31, Morris 6-35) beat Thunder 173 (Norris 53, Ballinger 4-23) by 24 runs

A career-best 6 for 35 by Fi Morris for Lancashire Thunder was countered by a List A best for The Blaze of 4 for 23 by Grace Ballinger as the visitors ran out winners by 24 runs at Sale to keep their hopes alive in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Defeat for Thunder ends their hopes of making the knockout stages of the competition.

In a low-scoring contest, The Blaze - having started well - were pegged back to 197 all out at the hands of Morris once the spinner was introduced into the Thunder attack in the 30th over.

By contrast Ballinger did significant early damage by taking the first four Thunder wickets but the rest of The Blaze attack combined to bowl Thunder out for 173 in the 46th over despite a hard hitting unbeaten 53 by Tara Norris to clinch a vital victory.

The Blaze made a good start after being put in to bat with Sarah Bryce and Michaela Kirk laying a good foundation of 66 runs off 87 balls. But both openers fell in quick succession. Sarah Bryce was caught at mid-off for 34 trying to hit Darcey Carter, making her Thunder debut, over the top with Kirk bowled for 29 by Hannah Jones' second delivery.

And The Blaze were pegged back further when Marie Kelly edged behind for 7 off the first ball of Phoebe Graham's second spell to leave the visitors 101 for 3 in the 24th over.

Kathryn Bryce and Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast rallied with a 34-run alliance off 45 balls before the introduction of Morris transformed the innings as wickets tumbled.

The Thunder off-spinner struck with a 17-ball sequence of 3 for 6 that began with her fourth delivery that Kathryn Bryce cut to Norris at gully for 31.

Having made an attractive 29 off 34 balls, Prendergast fell lbw sweeping at Morris, as did Lucy Higham for 4.

Hannah Jones returned to take her competition-leading 22nd wicket when Kirstie Gordon drove to Eve Jones at extra cover for 4 before Morris ran through the rest of The Blaze line-up in spectacular style bowling Ella Claridge for 6, having Grace Ballinger lbw for 6 and Cassidy McCarthy caught for 8 with The Blaze losing their last seven wickets for 62 runs.

It was Ballinger who did the early damage with an impressive spell of left-arm swing that returned figures of 4 for 13 to destroy the Thunder top order, having Eve Jones caught at mid-off for 0, Alice Clarke caught at cover for 8 followed by Morris (10) and Dani Collins (0) bowled in the space of three deliveries.

But having completed seven overs Ballinger limped off injured to be replaced by Prendergast who struck immediately with her sixth delivery which Seren Smale cut savagely but straight to Kirk at point for 13 with the Thunder innings in disarray at 41 for 5 after 15 overs.

Ellie Threlkeld pulled a short ball from Prendergast to Higham at deep backward square for 10, Carter was bowled by McCarthy for 11 before Grace Johnson holed out to Kirk off Groves for 27 as Thunder continued to struggle.

Ballinger returned in time to see Groves trap Graham lbw for 5 but a defiant last-wicket partnership of 50 - the highest of the Thunder innings - between Norris, who hit three sixes in a List A career-best 53 not out off 56 balls, and Hannah Jones, who finally fell to Kathryn Bryce for 17, held up The Blaze who eventually wrapped up victory with 26 balls to spare.

Read 17 times

Soccer

Fulham investigate amid Al Fayed rape allegations

Fulham investigate amid Al Fayed rape allegations

EmailPrintPremier League side Fulham have said they are investigating whether anyone associated with...

Spurs' Ange on Solanke critics: 'Do some yoga'

Spurs' Ange on Solanke critics: 'Do some yoga'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAnge Postecoglou has called for patience from anyone rushing to jud...

Court reprimands LaLiga chief in CVC case appeal

Court reprimands LaLiga chief in CVC case appeal

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLaLiga president Javier Tebas has been given a "public reprimand" b...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Free agent G Harris, F Hauser sign with Hawks

Free agent G Harris, F Hauser sign with Hawks

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Atlanta Hawks signed free agent guard Kevon Harris and forward...

Sources: Embiid agrees to 3-year, $192.9M deal

Sources: Embiid agrees to 3-year, $192.9M deal

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJoel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a three-year,...

Baseball

Mets plate 10 in 3 straight games for first time

Mets plate 10 in 3 straight games for first time

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- The New York Mets scored double-digit runs in three str...

Soto to get X-rays after 'scary' slide into wall

Soto to get X-rays after 'scary' slide into wall

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOne day after clinching a postseason berth, the New York Yankees re...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated