Thunder 186 for 1 (Lamb 111*) beat Sunrisers 115 (Lamb 3-16) by 71 runs
Emma Lamb became the first batter to score a century in the Charlotte Edwards T20 Cup as Thunder defeated Sunrisers by 71 runs to register their second win in the new competition.
Timing the ball well and frequently striking it with considerable power, Lamb reached her hundred off 54 balls and finished unbeaten on 111 off 61 balls having hit 11 fours and three sixes. Her hundred is only the fourth to have been scored in senior domestic women's cricket.
"I'm so happy," Lamb said. "I haven't scored a century for Thunder in T20, so that's good obviously, but also scoring it at Emirates Old Trafford is amazing.
"I don't think it could have gone much better for me this season. There's been a lot of hard work but some of it is up in your head and I've enjoyed working with the new coaches we have this season, Stephen Parry and Craig White. I've always got a little thought of England in my mind and I do want to play for England one day. I'll just have to do well and see what happens."
Unsurprisingly Lamb's innings was at the heart of her side's total of 186 for 1 in 20 overs and that proved to be far too many for Sunrisers, who finished 115 all out in exactly 20 overs.
Lamb put on 69 for the first wicket with Georgie Boyce before her opening partner departed for 36, caught at mid-off by Cordelia Griffith when driving Gayatri Gole. But that reverse only brought Ellie Threlkeld to the wicket with whom Lamb shared an unbroken stand of 117, Threlkeld finishing unbeaten on 26.
The same bowler also had two catches dropped, including one off Lamb, who was put down by Kate Coppack at deep square leg when she had made 90. Gole finished the innings with 1 for 37 but the most impressive visiting bowler was Grace Scrivens who conceded just 22 runs from her four overs.
Replying to what may have seemed a daunting target, the Sunrisers batters came out determined to play their shots but lost Naomi Dattani in the second over, brilliantly caught by Laura Marshall at deep square leg off Kate Cross, the Thunder skipper.
Another fine catch, this time by wicketkeeper Threlkeld standing up to Laura Jackson, saw the end of Scrivens for seven and wickets fell steadily thereafter. Griffith made 34 and Amara Carr 25 but at no stage did Sunrisers look like overhauling Thunder's total.
Fine run-outs by Sophia Turner and Laura Marshall removed Griffith and Lissy McLeod as the visitors declined to 103 for 6 after 16 overs but inevitably, perhaps, Lamb could not be kept out of the action and the Thunder allrounder took three wickets and two catches in the latter stages of the game.
She was even on a hat-trick in her final over but had to settle for figures of 3 for 16. Overseas player Piepa Cleary also bowled well, taking 2 for 20 as Thunder strolled home.
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