Cricket

The Blaze emerged victorious in the Charlotte Edwards Cup final, defeating South East Stars by a commanding seven wickets. Kathryn Bryce, the Scotland skipper, led the charge with a match-winning 62 off 44 balls, while her younger sister Sarah contributed an unbeaten 52 from 46 balls.The Blaze's triumph marked a significant achievement for the team, which had suffered heartbreak in both women's regional competitions last season. Captain Kirstie Gordon's strong leadership played a crucial role in their success, as they avoided a repeat of their defeat to Southern Vipers in the previous year's finals.Despite conceding 22 runs in the first over, The Blaze bowlers displayed discipline and skill to restrict Stars to 141 for 9. Australian allrounder Heather Graham claimed 3 for 16, while legspinner Josie Groves took 3 for 33. Georgia Redmayne top-scored for Stars with 25, but their total proved insufficient on a deteriorating surface.The Blaze's chase began steadily, with Kathryn Bryce and Tammy Beaumont forming a solid opening partnership. However, Beaumont was run out in a moment of brilliance by bowler Tash Farrant. Marie Kelly's dismissal left the score at 49 for 2 after six overs.Undeterred, Kathryn and Sarah Bryce forged a decisive partnership of 79 runs. Kathryn reached her fifth half-century of the competition in just 31 balls, while Sarah completed her own half-century off 45 balls. Kathryn's dismissal brought Graham to the crease, who sealed the victory with a boundary over mid-off.Kathryn Bryce's outstanding performance earned her the distinction of being the competition's leading runscorer, with an impressive tally of 477 runs. The Blaze skipper, Tash Farrant, also emerged as the leading wicket-taker with 22 scalps.

In a thrilling semi-final of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, South East Stars emerged victorious over defending champions Southern Vipers by a narrow margin of five runs.The Stars' innings was anchored by Sophia Dunkley (49 off 34) and Georgia Redmayne (39 off 38), who shared a crucial 74-run partnership for the second wicket. Paige Scholfield's unbeaten 34 off 22 balls propelled the Stars to a competitive total of 162 for 5.In response, the Vipers got off to a strong start thanks to Danni Wyatt's 34 off 17. However, the Stars' bowlers, led by Tilly Corteen-Coleman (2 for 23) and Dani Gregory (2 for 25), kept the Vipers in check.As the match entered its final stages, the Vipers needed 21 runs from the last three overs. But Corteen-Coleman and Ryana MacDonald-Gay bowled two exceptional overs, conceding only 10 runs. The key moment came when Charlie Dean (43 off 29) was run out off Tash Farrant's second ball of the final over.Despite their valiant effort, the Vipers fell six runs short of their target, handing the Stars a hard-fought victory.

The Blaze secured their spot in the regional women's final for the third consecutive year, triumphing over Central Sparks by five wickets with two overs remaining in the first semi-final of the Charlotte Edwards Cup Finals Day at Derby.Despite Hannah Baker's impressive 3 for 24, the experience of Tammy Beaumont (39 off 31) and Kathryn Bryce (44 off 39) proved crucial for The Blaze. Josie Groves' quickfire 14 off four balls sealed the victory for last year's runners-up.Courtney Webb's unbeaten 45 off 31 balls rescued the Sparks innings from a precarious 93 for 6. Davina Perrin (32 off 17) and Ami Campbell (21 off 14) had provided a solid start with a 54-run partnership in the powerplay. However, Groves' 2 for 16 and Grace Ballinger's 2 for 34 put the brakes on the Sparks' momentum.Campbell's aggressive approach paid off initially, but she was caught at long-on in the sixth over. Perrin's dismissal triggered a collapse, with Sparks losing four wickets for 18 runs. Kathryn Bryce ran out Abbey Freeborn, while Groves bowled Katie George and Charis Pavely.Em Arlott's dismissal left Sparks struggling at 114 for 7, but Webb and Ballinger rallied to finish strongly. The Blaze, in response, plundered 51 runs in their powerplay, despite losing Marie Kelly early. Beaumont and Kathryn Bryce added 57 runs for the second wicket, putting their side in a commanding position.Sparks fought back with the wickets of Beaumont and Sarah Bryce, but Graham's six off Potts left The Blaze needing just 33 runs off the last five overs. Graham's dismissal and Kathryn Bryce's miscue gave Sparks hope, but Groves' three fours off George sealed the victory for The Blaze with two overs to spare.

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.

Western Storm's Heather Knight, fresh off a disappointing T20I series against Pakistan, showcased her form ahead of England's upcoming series against New Zealand with a commanding 66-run knock. Her innings propelled Western Storm to a 142-run total against Sunrisers, who were condemned to the wooden spoon in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.Knight's 74-run partnership with 20-year-old Emma Corney, who contributed a career-best 46, laid the foundation for Storm's competitive score. Despite Sophie Munro's impressive four-wicket haul for Blaze, Storm managed to post a challenging target.In response, Sunrisers' Grace Scrivens and Jo Gardner made a promising start, but their momentum was halted by a series of quick wickets. Scrivens fell for 26, while Gardner's aggressive 22 was cut short. Lissy MacLeod's first-ball dismissal further dented Sunrisers' hopes.Despite Jodi Grewcock's valiant 40, Sunrisers were unable to recover from their early setbacks. They fell 11 runs short of their target, ending their tournament as the bottom-placed side for the fourth consecutive year.Knight's performance was a timely reminder of her class and experience. Her ability to anchor the innings and score at a consistent pace proved invaluable for Western Storm. Corney's breakout knock also bodes well for the future of English cricket.

Southern Vipers, the reigning champions of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, showcased their dominance with a resounding 113-run victory over South East Stars. Maia Bouchier, the 25-year-old opener, led the charge with a career-best 93, propelling Vipers to a formidable total of 179 for 5.Bouchier's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, as she dispatched the Stars' bowlers to all corners of the ground. She reached her half-century in just 27 balls, setting the tone for a high-scoring affair. Skipper Georgia Adams contributed 39, while Freya Kemp added a quickfire 30 at the end.In response, South East Stars' chase crumbled under the weight of Vipers' spin attack. Charlie Dean, Linsey Smith, and Charli Knott combined to take nine wickets, with Dean claiming 3 for 5 and Smith 3 for 12. Bryony Smith, the Stars' skipper, was the only batter to offer any resistance, scoring 22 before being stumped.The Stars' innings never recovered from the early loss of three wickets in the powerplay. Paige Schofield, Tash Farrant, and Kalea Moore all fell cheaply, leaving the Stars reeling at 44 for 6. Knott wrapped up the innings in the 14th over, dismissing Alice Davidson-Richards and Emily Jones in quick succession.The victory ensures that Southern Vipers will enter Finals Day in Derby on Saturday as one of the favorites to retain their title. Their dominant performance against South East Stars serves as a warning to their rivals that they are a force to be reckoned with.

Northern Diamonds emerged victorious in a thrilling Roses T20 clash against Lancashire Thunder, securing a five-wicket triumph at Durham's Seat Unique Riverside. The Diamonds' bowlers orchestrated a remarkable bowling performance, dismissing Thunder for a mere 61 runs, the lowest total in the Charlotte Edwards Cup's four-year history.Scotland's Rachel Slater led the Diamonds' bowling attack with an exceptional three-wicket haul for 12 runs, while Lizzie Scott and Erin Burns also contributed two wickets each. Thunder's batting lineup crumbled under the relentless pressure, with only three batters reaching double figures.In response, the Diamonds faced a challenging start, losing four wickets for 37 runs. However, Rebecca Duckworth's unbeaten 21 guided the hosts to victory with 6.2 overs to spare.The match marked the first of two Roses T20 encounters in as many nights, with the men's teams set to face off at Headingley in the Vitality Blast. The Diamonds' triumph serves as a significant blow to their rivals, setting the stage for an intense battle in the second match.

South East Stars emerged victorious in a dominant five-wicket triumph over The Blaze at Derby, solidifying their aspirations for a second Charlotte Edwards Cup title. The Stars' bowling attack proved formidable, dismissing The Blaze for a mere 84 runs, marking the first defeat in 16 points-table matches for Kirstie Gordon's team since their rebranding from Lightning two years ago.Alexa Stonehouse led the Stars' bowling charge with three wickets for 13 runs, while Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Dani Gregory, and Tilly Corteen-Coleman each claimed two wickets. England's Sarah Glenn top-scored for The Blaze with 21 runs from 24 balls.In response, Emma Jones' unbeaten 30 from just 25 balls guided the Stars to victory with 29 balls to spare. The Blaze's innings had a disastrous start, losing three wickets in the first two overs and a fourth in the fifth. Corteen-Coleman dismissed Tammy Beaumont leg before, while Stonehouse removed Marie Kelly and Sarah Bryce in a double-wicket maiden.Heather Graham's dismissal in the fifth over left The Blaze reeling at 12 for four. Kathryn Bryce and Ella Claridge fell cheaply, and Josie Groves was caught off Gregory's bowling, leaving The Blaze at 66 for 7. Glenn's resistance ended with a bowled dismissal by Corteen-Coleman, and Gordon and Lucy Higham holed out to mid-on.Despite missing key run-getters Paige Scholfield and Sophia Dunkley, the Stars never looked in danger of defeat. They lost Bryony Smith early, but Jones' three boundaries in the 14th over brought the target within reach. Glenn claimed two wickets, but Jones sealed the victory with a six over Gordon's head in the next over.The Stars' triumph sets up a potential rematch with The Blaze in next Saturday's Final on the same ground, with both teams already qualified for the semi-finals.

Northern Diamonds' Hollie Armitage produced a scintillating performance, smashing a career-best 97 off 64 deliveries, to power her team to a 28-run victory over Western Storm in the Charlotte Edwards Cup. The match, played at Headingley, was a dead rubber, but the Diamonds showcased their dominance with a commanding display.Armitage's innings was a masterclass in batting, featuring 14 boundaries and two towering sixes. She forged a formidable opening partnership with Emma Marlow, contributing 97 runs before Marlow departed for nine. Armitage continued her onslaught, reaching her half-century in just 30 balls and dominating the Storm's bowling attack.Western Storm's bowlers struggled to contain Armitage's aggression, with Ellie Anderson conceding five boundaries in a single over. The Diamonds' innings was a testament to Armitage's exceptional form, as she propelled her team to a formidable total of 146 for three.In response, Western Storm's chase faltered from the outset. Rachel Slater's incisive bowling accounted for Dani Gibson and Nat Wraith in the first over, leaving Storm reeling at one for two. Emma Corney and Fran Wilson attempted to rebuild the innings, but their partnership was broken by Sophia Turner's dismissal of Corney.Katherine Fraser and Katie Levick further tightened the screws on Storm, with Fraser removing Wilson and Levick dismissing Sophie Luff. Turner and Levick shared the remaining wickets, as Storm were restricted to 118 for seven, falling 28 runs short of their target.Armitage's magnificent innings, coupled with the Diamonds' disciplined bowling performance, secured a comfortable victory. The match was witnessed by several former Yorkshire players, including England legend Katherine Sciver-Brunt, who was recently honored with an OBE.