In May, Lancashire claimed the Vitality T20 Women鈥檚 County Cup with a 32-run win over Surrey. It was the start of a spectacular four months that peaked on Sunday when Ellie Threlkeld led her side to victory in the inaugural Metro Bank One-Day Cup final against Hampshire.
鈥淚鈥檓 absolutely delighted,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you鈥檇 told me at the beginning of the year this would happen, I don鈥檛 think I would have believed you.
"It鈥檚 incredible and a testament to a lot of hard work over many years. It鈥檚 nice to get some success for that, and hopefully it鈥檚 just the start of what will be a really successful group for us.鈥�
By the end of an innings that saw Maia Bouchier and Georgia Adams collect half-centuries, Hampshire had set Thunder a challenging target of 289 runs at the Utilita Bowl. But Lancashire, inspired by Irish international Gaby Lewis鈥檚 haul of 141 runs from 143 balls, held their nerve.
Threlkeld said: 鈥淲e won the toss and bowled because we thought there would be a bit in the pitch during the first hour, but there wasn鈥檛 really: the pitch was brilliant.
"At the halfway point, we felt like Hampshire were about par. But in a final, you always expect someone to go well with the bat, and we knew it would be a great fight. It was definitely chaseable.鈥�
She added: 鈥淗ats off to Gaby and the girls who supported her. The way they managed that chase was incredible. It was a great game of cricket for a final, and I鈥檓 just glad we were on the winning side.鈥�
Seren Smale鈥檚 72 from 85 balls contributed to magnificent 144-run stand with Lewis, with Threlkeld also contributing 32 runs from 30 deliveries. But it was Lewis who shone brightest.
鈥淕aby鈥檚 innings was really special,鈥� said Threlkeld. 鈥淔or someone of her age to play such a mature, calculated knock 鈥� managing the chase and the run rate so well 鈥� was amazing to watch.
"And it was nice to spend some time out there with her in the middle, batting alongside her. She was switched on, really smart, and it was brilliant that she was there at the end to see us home.鈥�
Threlkeld added: 鈥淲e鈥檝e spoken a lot about building big partnerships and doing the basics well for longer. That鈥檚 exactly what Gaby and Seren did. They managed the tough periods, took some bowlers down, and credit to Seren as well. For her to play like that in a final was brilliant to see.鈥�
With their victories now secured, it won鈥檛 be long before Lancashire begin planning for 2026.
鈥淲e鈥檒l take some time to reflect,鈥� said Threlkeld. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been an incredible year for us. Other teams will now see us as the team to beat, which is great, but everyone starts again (next year) from zero. It will be about how we can keep moving forward.
鈥淭he new three-tier system has been really good overall, and it will be nice to see Yorkshire join us next year. There鈥檚 always a big rivalry there.
鈥淏ut I鈥檝e seen a huge difference in the standard of cricket from last year to this year, and I think the new structure has played a part in that. Everyone is beating everyone else, more teams are standing up, and more players are standing up. The standard just keeps improving. I鈥檓 already looking forward to another year of it.鈥�