The Blaze Triumph Over Thunder By 24 Runs as Grace Ballinger and Tara Norris Shine
The Blaze vs Thunder: Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2024 Updates
Thanks to outstanding efforts from Grace Ballinger and Tara Norris, The Blaze defeated Lancashire Thunder by 24 runs in an exciting Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy match. Thunder was bowled out for 173, despite a career-best 6 for 35 from Fi Morris, ending their aspirations of making it to the knockout stages.
Key Performances and Match Results
The Blaze 197 (S Bryce 34, K Bryce 31, Morris 6-35)
Thunder 173 (Norris 53, Ballinger 4-23)
The Blaze won by 24 runs.
Match Analysis
Fi Morris of Lancashire Thunder scored a career-high 6 for 35, but a List Grace Ballinger set a Blaze record of 4 for 23 as the visitors defeated the winners by 24 runs at Sale to maintain their hopes of winning the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Thunder’s chances of moving on to the competition’s knockout stages are ended by their defeat.
The Blaze, who had gotten off to a strong start in the low-scoring match, were bowled out for 197 by Morris in the 30th over after the spinner was added to the Thunder attack.
In contrast, Ballinger caused a great deal of early damage by taking the first four Thunder wickets. However, The Blaze attack as a whole managed to bowl Thunder out for 173 in the 46th over, even though Tara Norris scored a hard-hitting 53 to secure a crucial victory.
After being placed to bat, the Blaze got off to a strong start thanks to the solid foundation that Sarah Bryce and Michaela Kirk laid with 66 runs off of 87 balls. However, both of the openers were quickly dismissed. Kirk was bowled for 29 by Hannah Jones’ second ball, while Sarah Bryce was caught at mid-off for 34 while attempting to knock Darcey Carter, who was making her Thunder debut, over the top.
And in the 24th over, The Blaze were further pinned when Marie Kelly edged behind for 7 off the opening ball of Phoebe Graham’s second spell, leaving the visitors at 101 for 3.
After Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast and Kathryn Bryce combined for 34 runs off 45 balls, the innings took a turn for the worst when Morris entered the field and wickets started to fall. The Thunder off-spinner started a 17-ball run of 3 for 6 when Kathryn Bryce sliced her fourth delivery to Norris at gully for 31.
Prendergast fell lbw swiping at Morris after making a promising 29 off 34 balls, and Lucy Higham was out for 4.
Kirstie Gordon drove to Eve Jones at extra cover for four, giving Hannah Jones her competition-high 22nd wicket. Morris then proceeded to destroy the rest of The Blaze lineup, bowling Ella Claridge for six, Grace Ballinger for six, and Cassidy McCarthy for eight. The Blaze lost their final seven wickets for 62 runs.
Ballinger caused the most early damage with an amazing display of left-arm swing, returning figures of 4 for 13 to demolish the Thunder top order. In three deliveries, Eve Jones was bowled at mid-off for 0, Alice Clarke was caught at cover for 8, Morris (10) and Dani Collins (0) were bowled.
However, after seven overs, Ballinger hobbled off hurt, and Prendergast took her place. With fifteen overs remaining, the Thunder innings was at 41 for 5, and Prendergast struck early with her sixth ball, which Seren Smale sliced viciously but straight to Kirk at point for 13.
As Thunder struggled, Ellie Threlkeld pushed a short ball from Prendergast to Higham at deep backward square for ten. McCarthy then bowled Carter for eleven, and Grace Johnson holed out to Kirk off Groves for twenty-seven.
Ballinger came back in time to witness Groves dismiss Graham for five runs after he was trapped by the bowler. However, The Blaze managed to win with 26 balls remaining thanks to a valiant 50-run partnership between Norris, who hit three sixes in a career-best 53 not out off 56 balls, and Hannah Jones, who was eventually out for 17 off Kathryn Bryce.
