Lancashire Thunder suffer Vitality Blast loss at Blackpool CC

Natasha Wraith’s brilliant 83 helped Warwickshire Bears Women win a final-ball thriller against fellow Vitality Blast strugglers Lancashire Thunder in a dramatic match at Blackpool on Sunday.

Tilly Kesteven’s 73 looked to have put Thunder well in control at Stanley Park after some fine spin bowling from Sophie Morris and Venus Weerappuli, who took three wickets each, had restricted the Bears to 160-9.

A late collapse from the hosts, though, saw them lose two wickets in the final over to lose by one run in finishing on 159-8.

The Bears’ innings was dominated by Wraith, who came to the crease in the third over after Abigail Freeborn (eight) had cut Morris to Eve Jones.

Shrugging off the procession of incoming partners, Wraith launched into some wayward bowling from Darcy Carter, in particular, who was hit for 27 off her two overs.

While Carter suffered, Morris and Weerappuli were proving spin could be effective with the latter bowling Katie George (23) before Morris got her second wicket when bowling Georgia Redmayne (nine).

Wraith powered on, reaching her half-century off just 28 balls and bringing the crowd to their feet with one huge six into the children’s nursery on the leg-side boundary.

Weerappuli picked up a second when Em Arlott (four) skied one before Wraith was finally dismissed in spectacular fashion, Emma Lamb diving forward to clutch a fine catch on the mid-wicket boundary.

With Kate Cross picking up two late wickets, the importance of Wraith’s knock couldn’t be understated as the Bears closed their innings.

Thunder’s reply was immediately on the back foot with Jones (seven) bowled by Mary Taylor in the first over, quickly followed by Australian star Meg Lanning (10) who sliced a Georgia Davis delivery straight to Redmayne.

Lamb and Kesteven began the recovery, adding 48 before Lamb (27) was bowled, attempting to sweep Millie Taylor.

The same shot and bowler accounted for Thunder skipper Ellie Threlkeld (two), who was LBW with the hosts 97-4 at the halfway point.

Kesteven reached her half-century off 38 balls and, together with Seren Smale, the fifth-wicket partnership began steering the hosts to an apparent victory.

By the time Smale was bowled by Hannah Baker for 23, Thunder were just 13 runs from their target but the dismissal of Carter (0), bowled by Amu Surenkumar, brought some late drama.

Kesteven and Cross (four) were both out in the last over, meaning three runs were needed for victory off the last ball.

However, Mary Taylor held her nerve and sparked the visitors’ celebrations.

Speaking afterwards, Thunder head coach Chris Read said: “We’re gutted, it’s the first game of the second block of games in this competition and it's important that we get going and give ourselves an opportunity to get up the table.

“Tilly did exceptionally well and it’s great to have her in the team, scoring runs and making contributions, she did everything she could to help us try and win the game.

“We have been in all the games we’ve played and competitive and obviously, today, we were up in the game for large parts of it.

“We’re just not finding enough matchwinners to get us over the line in key moments.

“In terms of how we’re trying to play our cricket, we’re making strides, scoring at a fast rate, putting more runs on the board and the bowling group is consistent - but it’s about winning those crucial moments and taking chances when they come along.”