Glamorgan's outstanding run in the Vitality T20 Women's County Cup, which saw the Welsh county beat Gloucestershire and Sussex Sharks comfortably, came to an end at Christ College in Brecon.
Tier 1 side Lancashire Thunder - having the likes of England internationals Sophie Ecclestone, Emma Lamb, Seren Smale and Grace Potts - registered a big victory against a spirited Glamorgan side on a sunny and glorious day in Brecon. Winning the toss, Lancashire Thunder captain Ellie Threlkeld chose to bat first on a dry and hard wicket at Christ College.
Glamorgan opened the bowling with spin from both ends, with Gemma Porter and Katy Cobb opening the attack in the powerplay. Thunder had a flying start, with Eve Jones and Emma Lamb firing the visitors to a strong start. At the end of the 6-over powerplay, Lancashire were 57-0, looking set to score 200. However, Glamorgan made a comeback into the second half of the first innings, with Christ College's very own student Eve Jackson taking the first wicket of the innings, dismissing the dangerous Emma Lamb after she got to her fifty. Nicole Reid and Emily Burke contained the run-scoring, chipping in with a wicket each.
Glamorgan's most-consistent bowler, off-spinner Gemma Porter, came back in the death and ensured that Lancashire were kept to a modest total. The Thunder finished with 167-4 at the end of their 20 overs, thanks to a disciplined bowling attack led brilliantly by captain Lauren Parfitt.
In reply, Glamorgan got off to a flying start, with Daisy Jeanes hitting newly-selected England international Grace Potts for three boundaries in a row, all between point and extra cover. However, captain Lauren Parfitt struggled to get going, and lost her wicket to Grace Johnson. Daisy Jeanes, too, was dismissed in an attempt to sweep left-arm spinner Fi Morris. Bethan Gammon, Glamorgan's in-form batter, lost her wicket to Grace Johnson, pulling a short-ball straight to Dannielle Collins at deep square leg.
Glamorgan's middle-order batters, led by Surrey loanee Emily Burke and Christ College's Eve Jackson, sprung a partnership together, adding 40 runs to the sixth wicket, with Burke scoring a bulk of the runs, supported well by Jackson. However, the Sophie Ecclestone-led Lancashire Thunder bowling attack made light work of Glamorgan's tail, as the Welsh county were bowled out for 86 runs.
Thunder recorded an 81-run win and progressed onto the quarter-final of the Vitality T20 Women's County Cup, ending Glamorgan's Cup run. However, Rachel Priest's side will take a lot of positives into the T20 season with the Vitality Blast starting in 2 weeks' time.