The Blaze take it deep to stun Lancashire

The Blaze 163 for 7 (Beaumont 54, S. Bryce 32, Morris 3-25) beat Lancashire 162 for 5 (Lanning 81, Ballinger 2-14) by three wickets

The Blaze Take It Deep to Stun Lancashire in Vitality Blast Thriller

Chase masters or simply fearless under pressure? The Blaze proved once again they thrive when the odds are stacked against them, pulling off a heart-stopping three-wicket victory over Lancashire Thunder at Emirates Old Trafford. The Blaze take it deep to stun Lancashire in the final overs, sealing their second consecutive Vitality Blast win — this time with just three deliveries remaining.

Lanning’s Masterclass Anchors Lancashire’s Total

After being inserted into bat, Lancashire Thunder stumbled to a precarious 33 for 4 inside the first six overs. Openers Eve Jones and Darcey Carter fell early to the seam of Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips, while captain Ellie Threlkeld and wicketkeeper Seren Smale were both dismissed by off-spinner Charli Knott in a devastating three-ball spell.

But from the wreckage emerged Meg Lanning — calm, composed, and utterly dominant. The former Australia captain played a match-defining knock of 81 not out from 49 balls, single-handedly engineering a recovery that few saw coming.

First, she stitched together a crucial 29-run partnership with Fi Morris, who contributed 14 before top-edging a pull shot off Ballinger. Then came the unbroken 100-run stand for the sixth wicket with Scotland’s Ailsa Lister, who finished on a composed 39 not out.

Lanning’s brilliance shone brightest in the death overs. She launched three sixes in the final two overs — a slog-sweep off Kathryn Bryce and two towering blows over long-off and midwicket against Phillips — helping Lancashire post a competitive 162 for 5.

Beaumont Ignites, But Blaze Stumble

In response, The Blaze got off to a flying start thanks to England Test opener Tammy Beaumont. On a pitch offering pace and bounce, she blazed her way to 45 off just 53 balls in the opening six overs, including two sixes off Tara Norris in the third over and another slog-sweep off Kate Cross.

She reached a blistering fifty in only 24 balls, threatening to take the game away from Lancashire. But just as momentum built, the collapse began. Beaumont was bowled attempting a pull shot off Darcey Carter’s off-spin, triggering a middle-order stumble.

From 76 for 1 in the eighth over, The Blaze slumped to 100 for 5 by the 12th. Kathryn Bryce mistimed a full toss from Morris to long-on, Georgia Elwiss was bowled by Hannah Jones’ left-arm spin after awkward deflections, and Charli Knott skied to backward point. Emma Jones also perished, caught on the long-off boundary trying to keep up with the required rate.

Bryce and Gordon Seal the Comeback

At 100 for 5, 63 runs still needed, the pressure was immense. But wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce stood tall. Her 32 off 22 balls was a model of intelligent aggression — rotating strike, picking gaps, and capitalizing when width was offered.

She shared a vital 45-run stand for the seventh wicket with captain Kirstie Gordon, who anchored her end with an unglamorous but effective 20. As the equation narrowed, Bryce kept the scoreboard moving, ensuring The Blaze never fell too far behind the curve.

Even when she was caught behind off Grace Potts with four needed off the final over, the job was nearly done. Kirstie Gordon and the unbeaten batter saw it through — a moment of resilience that underscored The Blaze’s growing reputation as finishers.

What This Win Means

For The Blaze, this victory confirms their status as serious contenders in this year’s competition. Back-to-back wins, including Friday’s success over Yorkshire, have injected confidence into the squad.

Lancashire, on the other hand, face early concerns. Two losses in two outings raise questions about their top-order fragility and over-reliance on Lanning in crunch moments.

Yet, as this match proved, even a masterclass from one of the game’s greats isn’t always enough. Sometimes, The Blaze take it deep to stun Lancashire — and cricket fans are all the better for it.