Michaela Kirk’s unbeaten 70 was not enough for The Blaze 2nd XI to avoid a cruelly narrow one-wicket defeat at the hands of Lancashire in a Development 50-over fixture.
Kirk struck six fours in a 91-ball innings and partnered Lara Shaw, who made 44, to add 106 for the sixth wicket in The Blaze’s eventual 215 all out.
Josie Groves also hit a swift 24 from her spot in the lower order to help The Blaze rally from a tough start in suburban Manchester, with Tara Norris claiming figures of 3/36.
D’Nica Roff was the pick of The Blaze bowlers with 4/61 from her ten overs, while Cassidy McCarthy returned a restrictive 3/23 from her full allocation.
Regular inroads were made, and Lancashire’s largest partnership came from the 51 that Tilly Kesteven, who was the hosts’ top scorer with 46, and Liberty Heap put on for the second wicket.
However, despite that, an unbeaten 18 from captain Phoebe Graham edged the hosts over the line in the 45th over.
