Central Sparks 144 (Tara Norris 4-18, Morris 3-31) lost to Thunder 147 for 2 (Lamb 71*, Mack 52*) by eight wickets.
Thunder defeated Central Sparks by eight wickets at Worcester to maintain their slim chances of qualifying for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
Tara Norris (four for 18) and Sophie Morris (three for 31) bowled brilliantly to set up the victory, which came after Sparks was bowled out for 144 in 42.4 overs. In a team batting exhibition riddled with errors, only captain Eve Jones (38 from 62 balls) looked like she could play a match-shaping innings for the home team.
After that, third-wicket combo Emma Lamb (71 not out, 84 balls) and Katie Mack (52 not out, 69) added an uninterrupted 122 from 134 balls, and Thunder sailed to 147 for two with an incredible 21 overs remaining.
The victory kept the Northerners interested in the qualification picture and moved them up the table above their hosts. The only thing left for Sparks to contend with in their final games, however, is pride.
With the home batters reluctant to take the early lead, Thunder elected to bowl and dealt severe early damage. After 13 overs, Sparks collapsed to 52 for 4, all of their victims bowled or leg before wicket while they remained in the crease.
Norris delivered the opening two strokes, bowling leg stump to Abi Freeborn and leg bludgeoning Chloe Brewer. The following two were bowled by Sophie Morris, a left-arm spinner; Davina Perrin shot down the wrong line, while Courtney Webb was caught off guard and saw her middle stump smashed.
The only player who did not make a mistake in the top order was Skipper Jones, who chipped Sophie Morris to mid-on and lost her life trying to get her sixth four.
Before Norris bowled Katie George (23, 43) through the gate, the pair managed some partial repair work with a stand of 36 in 11 overs. Emily Arlott was shortly out of the game, wonderfully caught off Naomi Dattani by wicketkeeper Eleanor Threlkeld, who was diving full stretch to her right.
Ellis (33, 53) shot across the line and was bowled at middle stump, giving Norris her fourth wicket. Threlkeld struck again as Hannah Jones was defeated by Georgia Davis, and a disorganised inning came to an abrupt end when Hannah Baker was run out by Alice Clarke’s toss after Grace Potts and Hannah Baker disagreed about the existence of a single.
In Thunder’s response, Clarke was hit with a lethal throw from Ellis, causing her to fall in the second over. With only 25 runs needed to win, Sparks had to keep picking up wickets despite the low score that Potts’ excellent delivery had left Seren Smale’s off stump drooping back. They didn’t, as Lamb and Mack made a hasty settlement to help their side win.
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In 66 balls, Lamb reached her half-century when she swung Ellis over mid-wicket for six. Australian import Mack reached her half-century in 67 balls, and the victory was won in the most relaxed and comfortable way possible.
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