Mack and Morris lead Thunder to thumping win over Sunrisers

Ranajit Dhar

getcricketnews|25-04-2024

A century from Australian Katie Mack and a record-breaking partnership of 191 runs for the third wicket ensured Lancashire Thunder got off the mark in style with a commanding 142 run victory over Sunrisers at Emirates Old Trafford in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Thunder had lost their opening game in the competition by nine wickets to Northern Diamonds but there was no apparent hangover from that error-strewn performance with Mack and third-wicket partner Fi Morris, who hit 89, taking the hosts to a daunting total of 292 for 5 before Sunrisers were bundled out for just 150 in reply. With Saturday's loss fresh in the memory, Thunder would have been forgiven for having a sense of déjà vu when opener Emma Lamb fell early, mistiming a pull shot to Maddy Villiers at midwicket off Kate Coppack for 5 and things got worse when Seren Smale missed a full, straight one from Jodi Grewcock to be bowled for 21 and leave the hosts 32 for 2. But where that defeat saw Thunder fail to recover from the loss of early wickets, here they seemed galvanised by the challenge as Mack and Morris set about a stunning rebuilding project. Full of inventiveness, skill and some excellent running between the wickets, the partnership began with the duo never allowing Sunrisers' spinners to settle into any kind of rhythm. While Mack's knock was full of ramps, sweeps and late cuts, Morris frequently walked down the pitch to meet the spinners' deliveries with the combination of finesse and power between the two working perfectly. Mack reached her half-century off 67 balls with Morris passing hers off 66 as the pair's partnership went beyond 100 runs and into record-breaking territory Eventually Morris was dismissed by the returning Coppack who trapped her lbw for 89, but the damage was done and the stand was the second-highest for any wicket by any side in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Mack deservedly reached her century soon after with a characteristic late cut to the boundary before she was stumped off Villiers for 100 - her fourth century in List A cricket. The stage was set for Ellie Threlkeld and Sophie Ecclestone to have a swing and they extended the score to 285 before the England spinner was caught at long on for a breezy 24 which contained two sixes and helped Thunder reach their highest score in the competition as they closed on 292 for 5 with Threlkeld unbeaten on 26. Faced with a hefty target and the returning Ecclestone and Kate Cross, the task always looked a daunting one for Sunrisers and it was Cross who immediately hit the mark producing five overs for just eight runs and the wicket of Ariana Dowse caught by Lamb at short midwicket for 10. At the other end, Sunrisers skipper Grace Scrivens was stuck in an almighty rut and had reached just 9 off 46 balls when she skied one to bowler Hannah Jones to make it 36 for 2 which became 36 for 3 after Cordelia Griffith departed for 11 after another caught and bowled for Ecclestone.
Latest Newsmore