Wraith pyrotechnics set up thrilling win for Bears in Blackpool

Tilly Kesteven’s 73 looked to have put Thunder well in control after some fine spin bowling from Sophie Morris and Vinali Weerappuli, who took three wickets each, had restricted the Bears, to 160-9. But a late collapse from the hosts saw them lose two wickets in the final over to lose by just one run.

The Bears’ innings was dominated by Wraith who came to the crease in the third over after Abigail Freeborn had cut Morris straight to point for eight. Shrugging off the procession of incoming partners, Wraith launched into some wayward bowling from Darcy Carter in particular who was hit for 27 off her two overs. But while Carter suffered Morris and Weerappuli were proving spin could be effective with the latter bowling Katie George with her slow leg spin for 23 before Morris got her second wicket when Georgia Redmayne for nine, Wraith powered on. Wraith reaching her half-century off just 28 balls and brought the crowd to their feet with one huge six into the children’s nursery on the leg side boundary.