Cricket

The Blaze continued their dominance in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Thunder at Emirates Old Trafford. Kirstie Gordon's exceptional bowling performance, coupled with Sarah Bryce's sharp wicketkeeping, restricted Thunder to a modest total of 111 for 9.Gordon's slow left-arm bowling proved lethal, claiming five wickets for just 12 runs. Her accuracy and variations kept the Thunder batters in check, while Bryce's lightning-fast reflexes behind the stumps resulted in four stumpings.Thunder's innings got off to a shaky start as Fi Morris and Seren Smale were dismissed cheaply. Emma Lamb provided some resistance with a 20-run knock, but Gordon's dismissal of her in the eighth over left Thunder struggling at 44 for 3.Ellie Threlkeld and Danni Collins attempted to rebuild the innings with a 43-run partnership, but their efforts were cut short by Lucy Higham's intervention. Higham's off-spin accounted for Threlkeld and Ailsa Lister, while Collins fell victim to Sarah Bryce's stumping.Kathryn Bryce's 19th over proved to be Thunder's most productive, yielding 17 runs. However, Gordon returned to the attack and wrapped up the innings by dismissing Sophie Ecclestone and Phoebe Graham.In contrast to Thunder's struggles, The Blaze openers, Tammy Beaumont and Teresa Graves, made batting look effortless. They put on a 50-run partnership before Graves departed for 29. Kathryn Bryce joined Beaumont and added a further 36 runs, setting the stage for a comfortable victory.Beaumont remained unbeaten on 34, guiding The Blaze home with 4.2 overs to spare. Sarah Bryce's dismissal in the final over did little to dampen the team's spirits as they maintained their 100% record in the tournament.

The Blaze, led by a superb bowling performance from Australian allrounder Erin Burns, defended a modest total of 136 to secure a four-run victory over Northern Diamonds in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.Burns, in her first season with Diamonds, showcased her class with a career-best 5 for 25, including two wickets in the powerplay and two with her final two deliveries. Legspinner Katie Levick also impressed with 3 for 22.Despite Burns' heroics, Scotland skipper Kathryn Bryce top-scored for The Blaze with 31, while England Under-19 captain Josie Groves remained unbeaten on 24. Blaze skipper Kirstie Gordon led the charge in the field, claiming 3 for 20.The Blaze emerged from their batting powerplay at 38 for 2, but a middle-order collapse saw them lose four wickets for just 24 runs. Bryce, Sarah Bryce, Ella Claridge, and Nadine de Klerk all fell in quick succession, leaving The Blaze reeling at 84 for 6.Groves and Michaela Kirk briefly revived the innings with a 36-run partnership, but Kirk's dismissal sparked another collapse as Gordon and Burns wrapped up the innings.Diamonds began their chase steadily, reaching 39 for 1 in the opening six overs. However, Gordon's left-arm spin proved too much for Hollie Armitage, who was trapped leg before wicket.Lauren Winfield-Hill and Kathryn Bryce kept Diamonds in the hunt, but a costly over from Groves and two wickets in an over from Bryce swung the momentum in The Blaze's favor.Winfield-Hill was bowled by Bryce, while Burns ran out Beth Heath. Stere Kallis and Emma Marlow were also dismissed, leaving Diamonds needing an unlikely 19 from the final over.Despite Katherine Fraser's six over wide midwicket, Diamonds fell five runs short, handing The Blaze their second win from two in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.

The Blaze emerged victorious in a thrilling rematch of last season's Charlotte Edwards Cup final, defeating the Southern Vipers by a narrow margin of three runs. Kirstie Gordon played a pivotal role for The Blaze, showcasing her prowess with both bat and ball.After losing eight wickets for just 48 runs, The Blaze faced an uphill battle. However, Gordon and Lucy Higham forged a remarkable ninth-wicket partnership, adding 62 runs to the total. Gordon's 29 and Higham's 36* proved crucial in setting a competitive target of 113 for the Vipers.The Vipers' chase got off to a shaky start as they struggled to find momentum. Gordon's bowling proved effective, claiming two wickets for 13 runs. The Vipers' run rate remained sluggish, and wickets fell at regular intervals.With 10 runs required off the final over, Nadine de Klerk stepped up for The Blaze. She dismissed Rhianna Southby and Emily Windsor, securing a thrilling victory for her team.The Vipers' absence of captain Georgia Adams due to injury did not hinder their bowling performance. Charli Knott and Alice Monaghan wreaked havoc on The Blaze's top order, claiming three wickets each. However, Gordon and Higham's resilience proved too much to overcome.The Blaze's victory marks their second consecutive win in the group stage, while the Vipers remain winless. The match showcased the unpredictable nature of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, with both teams demonstrating their fighting spirit and determination.

The Blaze, led by a valiant performance from Wales international Bethan Gammon, secured their first victory in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy this season, overcoming Northern Diamonds by two wickets in a thrilling encounter at Scarborough.Despite being bowled out for modest totals in their previous three matches, The Blaze displayed resilience and determination in chasing down Diamonds' 188-run target. Gammon's crucial 39 runs from 52 deliveries proved pivotal, guiding her team to victory with just two balls remaining.The Blaze's innings got off to a solid start with captain Kirstie Gordon and Teresa Graves contributing 19 and 33 runs, respectively. However, it was Gammon's partnership with Ella Claridge (26 not out) that proved decisive. The duo shared a 61-run stand, steering The Blaze towards their target.Northern Diamonds, who elected to bat first, stumbled early on, losing four wickets for 22 runs. Gordon played a key role in the collapse, claiming three of the first four wickets. Scarborough native Leah Dobson's resilient 54 from 82 balls helped Diamonds recover, but it wasn't enough to secure victory.Sophie Munro emerged as the pick of the bowlers for The Blaze, claiming 3 for 28 from 8.4 overs. Off-spinner Lucy Higham also chipped in with two wickets.The Diamonds' spin attack, led by Katie Levick and Hollie Burns, posed a significant threat to The Blaze. Levick's economical 1 for 13 from 10 overs and Burns' 3 for 40 kept the Blaze batters on their toes.Despite the challenges, Gammon and Claridge remained composed, guiding The Blaze to a hard-fought victory. The win marks a significant turnaround for The Blaze, who had struggled in their previous matches.