Emma Lamb shepherds Thunder to victory with all-round heroics
Half-century and four wickets, plus strong display in the field, puts Diamonds in the rough
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jun-2021Thunder 118 for 6 (Lamb 58) beat Diamonds 106 for 9 (Lamb 4-13) by 12 runsA superb display by Emma Lamb steered Thunder to their first ever victory over Northern Diamonds on the opening day of matches in the Charlotte Edwards Cup. The Lancashire all-rounder made 58, took four wickets for 13 runs and pouched an important catch as the visitors secured a 12-run victory at Emerald Headingley, restricting the home side to 106 for nine in reply to their own 118 for sixThunder’s innings began poorly when Georgie Boyce departed for nought in the second over but Lamb and Ellie Threlkeld put on 33 for the second wicket before Threlkeld, having made 13, skied Gunn to backward point.Rebecca Duckworth was bowled for a single by Linsey Smith but Thunder then enjoyed their best spell of the innings as Lamb and Natalie Brown put on 63 in 8.3 overs.The dismissal of the pair in successive overs seemed crucial. Having reached her fifth T20 half-century off 38 balls Lamb reverse-swept Katie Levick to Sterre Kalis at short third and Brown then pulled Phoebe Graham to deep square leg. Her departure for 31 brought ended the fluent scoring as only 18 runs came from the last five overs.Langston bowled Laura Marshall to give her figures of two for 32 while both Graham and Levick took one for 18. But a fine end to the first half of the game from Thunder’s perspective was marred when Sarah Taylor was hit on the head by Langston’s final ball, which lifted lifted nastily and struck her on the head. The former England wicketkeeper was escorted from the field and had to be replaced by concussion substitute, Rachel Hopkins.Thunder’s modest total seemed even smaller as Diamonds openers Hollie Armitage and Leah Dobson put on 31 in four overs but thoughts of an comfortable win were ended by Lamb, who trapped both Armitage and Ami Campbell leg before wicket in the same over.From the Kirkstall Lane End Sophie Turner was bowling brilliantly, conceding just four runs in her four overs and having Leah Dobson caught at cover by Lamb for eight. Gunn and Kalis accelerated but their efforts faltered when Gunn was bowled by Jones in the 14th over, at the end of which 55 runs were needed.Kalis was stumped by Threlkeld off Brown for a fine 32 and Diamonds lost further wickets in a desperate attempt to score 27 off the final two overs.