The North East Warriors had a tough start of the season, losing their debut games in the ECB Women’s County T20 Championship against a strong Lancashire opposition last Sunday, 25th April.
In the first double-header from the North Group, the Warriors struggled to get going against a dominant Lancashire side.
Despite shortening the total required in the second game, the side came away with no points but a good experience of playing against the likes of Alex Hartley and Hundred’s Emma Lamb.
Game 1
Result: Lancashire (178/3; Emma Lamb 119; Alex Hartley 3-6) win against North East Warriors (61/8) by 117 runs.
Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat. Opening bowler Helen Fenby only allowed three runs in the first over but the average runs Lancashire were getting per over doubled, enabling the opposition to quickly accumulate 42 by the 6th over, before the first wicket fell when Georgie Boyce was caught out by Lucy Pringle off Lizzie Scott’s ball.
The Warriors got another wicket when Megan Jones pinned Eleanor Threlkeld lbw for 10 in the 13th over. Laura Ellison also managed a wicket after Ami Campbell ran out Piepa Cleary in the last over.
All throughout Emma Lamb was superb, hitting 16 boundaries to finish on the impressive 119 not out towards a final total of 179.
With a very challenging target to reach, the Warriors batted through their innings nervously. Lancashire were outstanding on the defence, keeping the Warriors to singles and double runs, with only a couple of boundaries hit in the last three overs.
Alex Hartley bowled 3-6, taking out opening batters Laura Hockaday and Layla Tipton as well as Lucy Pringle later on.
The Warriors finished on 61/8, suffering a heavy defeat by 117 runs.
Game 2
Result: Lancashire (146/2; Georgia Boyce 96 not out; Emma Lamb 3-17) win against North East Warriors (86/8) by 60 runs.
Lancashire were batting first again, as Helen Fenby started her spell similarly – allowing three runs in the first over.
Fenby stepped up in the third, dismissing Emma Lamb for 11. Although the early breakthrough provided more confidence to the home side, it didn’t materialise in a steady procession of wickets.
Georgie Boyce was remarkable with the bat, steadily increasing the total. With 15 boundaries and one over the boundary, Boyce fell only four short of a century, finishing on 96 not out.
The Warriors got one more wicket during the innings when Lizzie Scott ran out Eleanor Threlkeld, but Lancashire’s batting line up ended on a strong 146.
With a slightly lower target this time around, opening batter Layla Tipton hit a boundary before being dismissed by Bethan Robinson in only the third over.
Ami Campbell had a good spell of four boundaries in the fifth, but was quickly taken out by Laura Jackson four overs later.
The Warriors’ batters struggled to provide resistance at the crease with Campbell top scoring 19 off 17 balls and Helen Fenby hitting 17 off 22 balls.
Lancashire’s fielders were outstanding taking five catches, supported by the bowlers, taking eight wickets in defence of their total. Emma Lamb was the highest wicket-taker with 3-17.
The Warriors fell 60 runs short but went away with a good experience of playing a high standard of cricket.
Upcoming Games:
The upcoming fixtures of the North East Warriors are as follows:
3rd May – double-header against Yorkshire Women
9th May – double-header against North Representative Team
16th May – double-header against Scotland Women