Blaze Triumph Over Sparks in Dress Rehearsal for Semi-Final

The Blaze, led by an impressive Marie Kelly, secured a five-wicket victory over Central Sparks in a thrilling encounter at Edgbaston. This victory propelled Blaze to the top of the final table with nine wins in ten games, while Sparks dropped to fourth after Southern Vipers' bonus point win.

Sparks' innings began cautiously, with Kirstie Gordon and Grace Ballinger restricting them to a modest 138 for eight. Abi Freeborn (39), Davina Perrin (37), and Amy Jones (36) provided solid contributions, but the rest of the batting lineup faltered. Josie Groves and Heather Graham each claimed two wickets, while Gordon and Ballinger chipped in with one apiece.

In response, Blaze's Marie Kelly played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 89 off 63 deliveries. Her classy innings guided her side to victory in just 19.2 overs. Kathryn Bryce (27) provided valuable support, adding 106 runs with Kelly for the second wicket.

Despite a slow start, Blaze's innings gained momentum as Kelly found her rhythm. She reached her half-century in 37 balls and continued to dominate the Sparks bowling attack. Sarah Bryce, Pavely, and Claridge all fell in quick succession, but Kelly remained resolute, ensuring her side's victory at her former home ground.

Tags: #Cricket, #CharlotteEdwardsCup, #Blaze, #CentralSparks, #MarieKelly