Eleanor Threlkeld's composed 69 helped Thunder secure a thrilling two-run victory against Western Storm via the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern (DLS) method in a rain-affected Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy match at Taunton.
After Thunder won the toss and opted to bat, their captain Threlkeld led by example, guiding her side to 216 for 9 in 50 overs. Alice Clarke contributed a steady 41, while Grace Johnson added a valuable 23, despite the team suffering three unfortunate run outs in a fluctuating innings.
Australia’s Amanda-Jade Wellington, playing her final game for Storm this season, was instrumental with her leg-spin, taking 2 for 28 in 10 overs. Mollie Robbins also impressed with 3 for 28, keeping things tight as other bowlers struggled.
Set a target of 217, Western Storm appeared to be in control despite early losses. After Emma Corney and Sophia Smale departed, the experienced pair of Sophie Luff and Fran Wilson steadied the ship. However, they failed to keep their team ahead of the DLS par score as rain clouds loomed. When umpires called the players off after 20 overs, Storm were 69 for 2, two runs short of the DLS target of 71. With no further play possible, the match was abandoned, giving Thunder a narrow win.
Earlier, Thunder's innings started strong, but Clarke and Seren Smale’s steady second-wicket partnership of 40 was disrupted when Wellington dismissed Smale for 18 and then claimed a return catch to remove Fi Morris. Wellington’s presence rattled Thunder, leading to a series of run outs, including Danielle Collins and Clarke, who fell short of a maiden half-century when she was run out for 41.
Threlkeld, involved in two of the three run outs, took charge to make up for the mishaps, reaching her fifty from 77 balls. Despite the tail collapsing around her, she ensured Thunder posted a competitive total, aided by Tara Norris’s 11 in a partnership of 34 for the eighth wicket.
Western Storm’s chase faltered under pressure from Thunder’s bowling and the looming weather, leaving them just short of the required DLS score when the rain ended the game, marking Thunder's hard-fought victory.