Thunder defeated South East Stars by 120 runs in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Beckenham, thanks to England's Kate Cross, who claimed her best List A figures of 6 for 40.
Thunder set a challenging total of 250 for 8 in their 50 overs, with Seren Smale leading the charge with 76, and Fi Morris contributing 54. Ryana MacDonald-Gay was the standout bowler for the Stars, taking three wickets for 42 runs and effecting a run-out, while Kalea Moore chipped in with 2 for 49.
Cross, however, was the game-changer, taking crucial wickets, including Bryony Smith and Alice Davidson-Richards in consecutive deliveries. Although Kira Chathli fought back with a 54, the Stars never seemed likely to chase down the target and were bowled out for 130 in 36.4 overs.
Thunder, having won the toss, opted to bat on a slow Beckenham pitch and posted a solid opening stand of 53 before Moore bowled Alice Clark for 23 in the 15th over. The next over saw MacDonald-Gay dismiss Emma Lamb for 24, but Smale and Morris then turned the tide with a 96-run partnership. This stand was broken when Morris was caught at cover off a full toss from Moore.
MacDonald-Gay almost had Smale dismissed for 43, but Chathli couldn’t hold onto an inside edge. Smale then teamed up with Ellie Threlkeld, who added 33 before falling to MacDonald-Gay. Thunder, at 205 for 4 with seven overs remaining, lost wickets too frequently to launch a strong finish, with MacDonald-Gay bowling Naomi Dattani for 14 and running out Danielle Collins for 1. Smale was run out by Phoebe Franklin while attempting a second run.
The game was evenly poised at the halfway mark, but an injury to Paige Scholfield, who couldn't bat in her usual position, and Cross’s impactful bowling, tilted the match in Thunder's favour. Stars captain Bryony Smith was dismissed for 12, caught by Clark off Cross, and Davidson-Richards was bowled for a golden duck by Cross's very next delivery. Chathli survived the hat-trick ball but was dropped by Dattani soon after when she was on 2.
Makeshift opener Chloe Hill contributed 18 in a 45-run partnership for the third wicket, but Sophie Morris eventually dismissed her, caught by Clark. Moore was bowled by Dattani for 6, and Aylish Cranstone's lbw dismissal for 9 by Fi Morris further dimmed Stars' hopes. Fi Morris then had Franklin caught by Cross for 2, and Cross returned to remove Chathli, who was caught at long-on by Fi Morris.
Cross continued her dominance by having MacDonald-Gay caught in the deep by Fi Morris for 13. Scholfield, batting at No. 10 in visible discomfort, was dismissed after two balls, chipping Cross to Dattani for 1. The match concluded with Cross bowling Dani Gregory for a duck, sealing Thunder's emphatic win.