Lancashire Thunder v Buckinghamshire, Vitality County T20 Cup

Lancashire Thunder 221-5 (Eve Jones 64, Tilly Kesteven 55*) beat Buckinghamshire 111-7 (Tara Norris 2-17) by 110 runs

By Graham Hardcastle

Defending champions Lancashire Thunder are one game away from a home Finals Day at Emirates Old Trafford in late August after brushing Buckinghamshire aside at Neston this afternoon.

Eve Jones (64 off 41 balls) and Tilly Kesteven (55 not out off 27) underpinned an unassailable 221-5 total against the Tier 3 Bucks’ side, for whom Zaynah Wani struck twice.

The visitors then made it to a non-threatening 111-7 at the picturesque Parkgate venue on the Wirral, with Tara Norris striking twice.

England Under 19s seamer Olivia Brinsden also claimed a wicket on professional debut, with Buckinghamshire captain Cara Duggan top-scoring with 54.

Highly-rated Brinsden returned an eye-catching 1-11 from four overs.

Lancashire will now face The Blaze in an away quarter-final on Sunday August 23 after they beat Durham today. That will be a repeat of last year’s semi-final. Finals Day will take place at EOT the following Saturday.