The Blaze Women secured a dramatic three-wicket win over Lancashire Women in the Women’s T20 Vitality Blast 2026, chasing 163 with three balls to spare at Old Trafford, Manchester. The match produced several momentum shifts, with strong batting performances, important partnerships and late pressure before The Blaze reached 163/7 in 19.3 overs.
Asked to bat first, Lancashire made a poor start as Eve Jones was dismissed for 6 off 7 balls by Grace Ballinger, with Marie Kelly involved in the catch, leaving the hosts 9/1 in 1.6 overs. Darcey Carter then struck a quick 13 from 11 balls with two fours before falling to Kathryn Bryce and Charli Knott as Lancashire slipped to 19/2 in 2.6 overs.
Meg Lanning then began to rebuild the innings. She briefly combined with Seren Smale, but Smale struggled to get going and was dismissed for 1 off 8 balls by Charli Knott, with Sarah Bryce completing the dismissal, making it 32/3 in 5.1 overs.
Lancashire were in deeper trouble when captain Eleanor Threlkeld fell for a duck after two balls, dismissed by Kirstie Gordon and Charli Knott, leaving the score at 33/4 in 5.3 overs. Lanning then steadied the innings alongside Fi Morris in a 29-run fifth-wicket stand. Morris made 14 off 15 balls with two boundaries before Grace Ballinger struck again to reduce Lancashire to 62/5 in 10.1 overs.
Lanning and Lister Lift Lancashire
The key phase of the innings came through an unbeaten 100-run partnership between Lanning and Ailsa Lister. Lanning produced a superb 81 not out from 49 balls, hitting nine fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 165.30. Lister offered strong support with an unbeaten 39 from 28 deliveries, including three fours and one six.
Their stand carried Lancashire to 162/5 in 20 overs, with eight extras also contributing to the total.
For The Blaze, Grace Ballinger finished with 4-0-14-2, while Charli Knott returned 4-0-23-2. Kirstie Gordon, Kathryn Bryce and Georgia Elwiss also played their part with controlled spells.
Beaumont Sets Up The Blaze Chase
Chasing 163, The Blaze lost Marie Kelly early for 4, dismissed by Eve Jones off Grace Potts, with the score on 5/1 in 1.5 overs. Tammy Beaumont and Kathryn Bryce then shifted momentum with a 71-run partnership.
Beaumont played a fluent 54 from 29 balls, striking six fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 186.20. Bryce added 22 off 18, but Lancashire fought back as Darcey Carter removed Beaumont before Bryce also departed, leaving The Blaze 87/3 in 9.6 overs.
Georgia Elwiss made a quick 10 before falling to Hannah Jones, while Charli Knott was dismissed for 3 by Eve Jones as The Blaze slipped to 100/5 in 11.6 overs. Sarah Bryce and Emma Jones then restored control with a composed 59-run partnership.
Sarah Bryce scored 32 from 22 balls with three boundaries, while Emma Jones contributed 8 off 8 before being dismissed by Kate Cross at 114/6 in 13.6 overs. Bryce fell at 159/7 in 19.1 overs, but captain Kirstie Gordon held her nerve with an unbeaten 20 from 18 balls. Lucy Higham added 4 not out from 2 deliveries as The Blaze completed the chase at 163/7 in 19.3 overs.
For Lancashire, Fi Morris led the bowling effort with 4-0-25-3. Grace Potts took 3.3-0-29-2, Hannah Jones claimed 4-0-33-1, while Kate Cross and Darcey Carter picked up one wicket each.
