Emma Lamb hits first CE Cup ton in Thunder's win over Sunrisers

Emma Lamb’s all-around brilliance stunned Sunrisers in the Group ‘B’ match of Charlotte Edwards (CE) Cup on Friday (July 09). Lamb created history by becoming the first-ever centurion of the newly minted CE Cup and also took three wickets as Thunder thumped Sunrisers by 71 runs.



At Old Trafford, Sunrisers captain Kelly Castle won the toss and decided to field first. Lamb, who opened with Georgia Boyce, was patient in the power play. It was Boyce who scored aggressively and rushed to run-a-ball 34 before falling to Gayatri Gole in the 10th over, at the end of which, Thunder were one for 69.



Lamb went after Emily Woodhouse scoring 18 runs off her second over. There was no looking back for her as she and Eleanor Threlkeld scored 99 runs in the next nine overs. None of the Sunrisers bowlers were spared by Lamb and Threlkeld. Lamb reached the three figures by running three runs in the 19th over. By the end of the Thunder innings, she scored 111 runs off just 61 balls, including 11 fours and three big sixes.



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If Sunrisers were to win this match, they needed the highest ever chase in the CE Cup. That task got even more difficult when Naomi Dattani was removed by Kate Cross in the second over. Cordelia Griffith showed intent and formed a partnership with Grace Scrivens. All the hope of chasing the total were dashed once Griffith (34) was run out in the 12th over.



Thunder’s Australian recruit Piepa Cleary cleaned Amara Carr in the very next over. Lamb, fresh off her batting efforts, removed Sunrisers captain Castle, Gole and Katherine Speed across her four overs, giving away only 16 runs. On the last ball of the match, Cross removed Woodhouse to end the misery for Sunrisers.



Brief scores: Thunder 186/1 in 20 overs (Emma Lamb 111*, Georgie Boyce 34; Gayatri Gole 1/37) beat Sunrisers 115 all out in 20 overs (Cordelia Griffith 34, Amara Carr 25; Emma Lamb 3/16) by 71 runs.