Natasha Wraith‘s brilliant 83 helped Warwickshire Bears Women win a final ball thriller against fellow strugglers Lancashire Thunder in a dramatic match at 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 for 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 8.

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 legspin for 23 before Morris got her second wicket when Georgia Redmayne for 9.

Wraith meanwhile powered on reaching her half-century off just 28 balls and bringing the crowd to their feet with one huge six into the children’s nursery on the leg-side boundary. Weerappuli picked up a second when Em Arlott skied one for 4 before Wraith was finally dismissed in spectacular fashion when Emma Lamb dived forward to clutch a fine catch on the midwicket boundary.

Wraith struck 83 off 43 balls with 10 boundaries and two sixes and with Kate Cross picking up two late cheap wickets the importance of her knock couldn’t be understated as Bears closed on 160 for 9.

Thunder’s reply was immediately on the back foot with Eve Jones bowled by Mary Taylor in the first over quickly followed by Australian star Meg Lanning who sliced a Georgia Davis delivery straight to Redmayne for 10.

Lamb and Kesteven began the recovery and had added 48 runs before Lamb was bowled attempting to sweep Millie Taylor for 27. The same shot would account for Thunder skipper Ellie Threlkeld who was out lbw for two with the hosts 97 for 4 at the half-way point of the match.

Kesteven was taking charge and reached her half-century off 38 balls and together with Seren Smale the fifth wicket partnership began steering the hosts to an apparent victory.

By the time Smale was bowled by Hannah Baker for 23, Thunder were just 13 runs away from the target but the dismissal of Carter for 0 bowled by Surenkumar brought some late drama. Kesteven and Cross both lost their wickets in the last over meaning three runs were needed for victory off the last ball with Mary Taylor holding her nerve and sparking the celebrations.