Thunder 147 for 2 (Lamb 71, Mack 52) defeated Central Sparks 144 (Norris 4-18, Morris 3-31) by eight wickets
Thunder kept their slim hopes of qualifying for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy alive with an emphatic eight-wicket triumph over Central Sparks at Worcester.
The victory was anchored by the stellar bowling performances of left-armers Tara Norris, who took four wickets for 18 runs, and Sophie Morris, who claimed three for 31. These efforts restricted Sparks to 144 in 42.4 overs. Only Sparks' captain Eve Jones, with 38 runs from 62 balls, posed a potential threat in an otherwise error-prone batting display by the home side.
Thunder then effortlessly chased down the target, reaching 147 for two with 21 overs to spare. The unbroken third-wicket partnership between Emma Lamb, who scored an unbeaten 71 off 84 balls, and Katie Mack, who remained not out on 52 from 69 balls, added 122 runs off 134 deliveries.
This victory lifted Thunder above Central Sparks in the standings, keeping their qualification hopes alive. Meanwhile, Sparks are left to play for pride in their remaining fixtures.
Electing to bowl first, Thunder inflicted significant early damage, with Sparks' batters hesitant to move forward. This reluctance led to a collapse, as Sparks slumped to 52 for four after 13 overs, with all wickets falling either bowled or lbw.
Norris initiated the breakthrough by trapping Chloe Brewer lbw and bowling Abi Freeborn. Sophie Morris then bowled Davina Perrin, who played down the wrong line, and Courtney Webb, who hesitated and saw her middle stump disturbed.
Skipper Eve Jones attempted to anchor the innings but was dismissed when she chipped a ball from Sophie Morris to mid-on in pursuit of her sixth boundary.
Katie George and Bethan Ellis attempted a recovery with a 36-run partnership over 11 overs. However, George was bowled by Norris for 23, and Emily Arlott was brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Eleanor Threlkeld off Naomi Dattani. Norris claimed her fourth wicket by bowling Ellis for 33, and Threlkeld struck again, catching Georgia Davis off Hannah Jones. The innings concluded in disarray as Grace Potts and Hannah Baker hesitated over a run, resulting in Baker being run out by Alice Clarke's throw.
Clarke was later run out by a direct throw from Ellis in the second over of Thunder’s innings. A superb delivery from Potts bowled Seren Smale, reducing Thunder to 25 for two. However, with a low target to defend, Sparks needed consistent wickets, which they failed to take as Lamb and Mack quickly settled in to guide Thunder to a comfortable victory.
Lamb reached her half-century by swinging Ellis over mid-wicket for six, taking 66 balls. Mack followed suit, reaching her fifty in 67 balls, and the duo led Thunder to an easy and relaxed win.