We’ve turned our competition around, and I couldn’t be prouder of the girls for that

Ellie Threlkeld

Thunder go into Saturday’s Charlotte Edwards Cup finals day as underdogs – but skipper Ellie Threlkeld won’t mind that one bit.

Her side came up on the rails in the T20 competition this year, losing their first two games but then winning three of the next four to stay in contention.

It meant Wednesday’s clash with Northern Diamonds at Blackpool was effectively a quarter-final as well as the nearest thing to a Roses grudge match.

Threlkeld lost the toss – but that was the last thing to go wrong all afternoon, as her young bowling attack routed the Diamonds for just 96, setting up a three-wicket win.

The Rainford wicketkeeper said: “We’ve turned our competition around, and I couldn’t be prouder of the girls for that.

“I think we stuck together as a group, and played some really good cricket.

“We spoke about starting fast with the ball, keeping it simple and keeping the stumps in play – the girls did just that.

“On a pretty high-pressure occasion, it was really pleasing to see.”

With Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone and Emma Lamb away on England duty, Threlkeld called on 17-year-old Mahika Gaur to lead the attack, with 19-year-olds Sophie Morris and Olivia Bell in support.

All played their part, but the star of the show was Scotland off-spinner Bell, whose 3/9 from three overs ripped the heart out of the Diamond’s line-up.

Threlkeld said: “I’ve worked quite a bit with Liv and I really like her as a cricketer.

“She’s fitting in really well around the group as a person as well.

“And Mahika has taken the new ball all season and has been outstanding.

“I think they’ll be a big part of this team going forward.”

After Fi Morris’s unbeaten 42 broke the back of the chase, Threlkeld was on hand to scamper the winning single with seven wickets and five overs to spare, setting up a semi-final against defending champions Southern Vipers at Worcestershire’s New Road.

Unbeaten Blaze await the winners in the final. With both sides having got the better of Thunder in the group stage, Threlkeld knows it won’t be easy.

But she also knows that in the shorter formats, momentum can sometimes be the key to success.

“Being underdogs isn’t the worst thing,” Threlkeld said.

“The beauty about T20 cricket and this competition is that anybody can beat anybody, and anything can happen. 

“We’ve got a really good team and I’d back us to beat anyone.

“To have played for this club growing up and being part of the Thunder team for the past few years, it’s really special – it’s my first finals day and to lead the group out is a dream come true.

“I’m really excited about it – hopefully it’s the first of many.”

Threlkeld is into her second season as Thunder captain – despite being just 24, she already has nearly 200 professional games under her belt, testament both to the growth in women’s cricket and to her own precocious talent.

Later in the summer, she’s looking forward to the next instalment of The Hundred, where Threlkeld’s Manchester Originals will be led by world number one bowler Ecclestone for the first time.

But until then, both on Saturday and in the 50-over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy when it resumes, she’s happy to be in the driver’s seat at Thunder.

She said: “I’m really grateful for the group of people I’ve got around me. 

“There’s a great group of girls and a great coaching staff in that dressing room. 

“I’m learning a lot and I’m continuing to learn as well, which is a good thing. 

“I don’t think any of this is down to me – I think the group of people in that dressing room have done the turnaround job by themselves. 

“That’s something we spoke about, that nobody’s going to give us wins and that we need it to come from us.

“It just shows that a little bit of character can switch results around.

“It’s no secret that skill’s involved as well. But that wasn’t why we were losing games of cricket.

“There was no doubt in my mind that we had the players to do it, but it just wasn’t quite happening on the pitch.

“The dressing room can be a tough place when you’re losing – it was a lot nicer to be in there yesterday.”