Cricket

The Blaze continued their dominant run in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing an eighth consecutive victory with an eight-wicket triumph over Sunrisers at Lord's. Kathryn Bryce, the tournament's leading run-scorer, once again proved her prowess with an unbeaten 57 from 37 balls.Bryce's innings, her fourth half-century in six games, was the cornerstone of The Blaze's chase. She shared a crucial 100-run partnership with her younger sister Sarah, who contributed an unbeaten 54 from 35 deliveries. The Bryce sisters' partnership ensured The Blaze maintained their 100% record in the group stage, reaching their target with 29 balls to spare.Earlier, Sunrisers captain Grace Scrivens led her team's batting effort with a top score of 42 from 38 balls. However, The Blaze's bowlers kept the Sunrisers in check, restricting them to 137 for seven. Marie Kelly's direct hit from mid-off accounted for Scrivens, while Heather Graham claimed two wickets in three deliveries to stifle Sunrisers' momentum.The Blaze's chase got off to a shaky start when Tammy Beaumont was dismissed for a duck. However, Marie Kelly and Sarah Bryce steadied the innings with a 50-run partnership. Kelly's dismissal brought Kathryn Bryce to the crease, and she quickly asserted her dominance. Bryce reached her half-century in just 33 deliveries and continued to accelerate the scoring rate.Sarah Bryce also played a vital role, hitting two sixes in two balls off Eva Gray. She went on to post her first 50 of the tournament before sealing the victory with a square-cut boundary off Amu Surenkumar.The victory all but mathematically ends Sunrisers' hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals, while The Blaze remain firmly in contention for a top-two finish in the group stage.

The Blaze, led by an impressive bowling performance from Australian allrounder Heather Graham, continued their dominance in the Charlotte Edwards Cup with a seven-wicket victory over Western Storm. Graham, making her debut for the East Midlands side, claimed 4 for 10, while offspinner Lucy Higham (2 for 18) and left-arm strike bowler Grace Ballinger (1 for 17) also contributed to Storm's dismissal for 99.England skipper Heather Knight top-scored for Storm with 20, but the Blaze's bowling attack proved too strong. The Blaze chased down their target with 35 balls to spare, thanks largely to Scottish internationals Kathryn Bryce (46) and Sarah Bryce. Graham capped her impressive afternoon by hitting the winning boundary.The Blaze, who lost only to Southern Vipers in last season's final, now have six wins from six in the 2024 edition and lead the points table. They remain on track for a return to finals day at Derby on 22 June.Storm skipper Sophie Luff opted to bat first but lost two wickets for 29 in the powerplay overs. Ballinger dismissed Nat Wraith, while Graham claimed the wicket of Fran Wilson. Knight made a positive start but was bowled by Gordon. Legspinner Josie Groves had Amanda-Jade Wellington leg before, leaving Storm at 58 for 4 after 10 overs.Higham bowled Alex Griffiths and had Luff caught at mid-off, while Issy Wong was run out. Graham returned to take three wickets in six deliveries, dismissing Smale, Skelton, and Anderson.Wong removed Tammy Beaumont with the last ball of the opening over of the Blaze's chase, and Teresa Graves was dismissed shortly after. However, Kathryn Bryce and Sarah Bryce put on a 67-run partnership for the third wicket. Filer eventually dismissed Kathryn Bryce, but Graham hit the winning boundary off the first ball of the 15th over to seal the victory.

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 continued their dominant run in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a fourth consecutive victory with a 10-run triumph over Central Sparks at Trent Bridge. Allrounder Kathryn Bryce emerged as the star performer, showcasing her versatility with both bat and ball.Bryce's 57-run knock formed the backbone of The Blaze's 134 for 6. She forged crucial partnerships with her sister Sarah (55 runs) and South African Nadine de Klerk (40 runs). Emily Arlott's 2 for 23 was the standout bowling performance for Sparks.In response, Sparks fell short despite valiant efforts from Katie George, Eve Jones, and Courtney Webb. Bryce's medium pace proved effective, claiming 2 for 28, while skipper Kirstie Gordon chipped in with 2 for 22.The Blaze's innings began with early setbacks as Tammy Beaumont and Teresa Graves departed cheaply. However, Kathryn Bryce and Sarah steadied the ship with a 55-run stand. Bryce reached her half-century with a paddle-scoop boundary, but her innings was cut short by a leg-before decision.De Klerk's contribution ended with a catch at extra cover, while Marie Kelly's stay was brief. Ella Claridge and Josie Groves provided some late impetus, but The Blaze's total of 134 looked modest.Sparks' chase started poorly, losing three wickets in the powerplay. Jones and Webb kept their side in the hunt, but the required run rate escalated after their dismissals. Arlott's late boundaries proved futile as Bryce's bowling and a superb catch by Claridge sealed the victory for The Blaze.

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.

In a thrilling encounter at Trent Bridge, The Blaze emerged victorious over Western Storm in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, thanks to a magnificent unbeaten century from South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk.Chasing a challenging target of 275, The Blaze found themselves in a precarious position at 137 for 6. However, de Klerk and wicketkeeper Ella Claridge forged an unbreakable 139-run partnership to guide their team to a four-wicket victory with 12 balls to spare.De Klerk, who has been in impressive form for The Blaze this season, played a captain's knock, striking 106 runs off 112 deliveries, including 12 boundaries and a six. Her innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, as she punished any loose deliveries with clinical precision.Claridge, who was making her first half-century in women's regional cricket, provided excellent support to de Klerk, scoring an unbeaten 64 runs off 75 balls. Her innings was characterized by a combination of power and finesse, as she found the gaps with ease and kept the scoreboard ticking over.Earlier, Western Storm had posted a competitive total of 275, thanks to a career-best 73 from Natasha Wraith. The wicketkeeper-batter shared a crucial 93-run partnership with skipper Sophie Luff, who contributed 37 runs. Chloe Skelton's unbeaten 29 helped Storm add valuable runs towards the end of their innings.The Blaze captain, Kirstie Gordon, was the pick of the bowlers for The Blaze, taking 4 for 40. Her left-arm spin proved to be a handful for the Storm batters, as she consistently found the right length and line.The victory was a significant one for The Blaze, who had lost four of their previous five matches. It also marked a return to form for de Klerk, who had struggled for runs in recent games.

Thunder's resilience was tested to the limit as they narrowly escaped with a one-wicket victory over The Blaze in a thrilling Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy encounter. Bolstered by the return of four England players, Thunder looked poised for a comfortable win after a solid start. However, a dramatic collapse saw them lose six wickets for 39 runs, giving The Blaze a glimmer of hope.England A batter Seren Smale (58) and opener Emma Lamb (44) had provided a solid foundation for Thunder, guiding them to 89 without loss in 15 overs. But the Blaze spinners, led by Kirstie Gordon (3-23) and Lucy Higham (3-28), fought back valiantly, exploiting the conditions to restrict Thunder's scoring.As the wickets tumbled, it was left to last-wicket pair Phoebe Graham and Hannah Jones to hold their nerve and guide Thunder to victory. Jones struck the winning boundary in the 45th over, securing a hard-fought triumph.Earlier, The Blaze had been bowled out for 174 in 46.4 overs, with England's Mahika Gaur (3-33) and Jones (3-37) sharing the spoils. Gordon's 43 provided some resistance, but it was ultimately not enough to prevent Thunder from claiming their second win of the campaign.

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.

Sunrisers' Mady Villiers' spin wizardry proved too much for The Blaze as they cruised to a seven-wicket victory in a rain-shortened encounter at Chelmsford.The former England white-ball international spun her magic, claiming 3 for 18 from nine overs, as The Blaze, missing several key players, were dismissed for a paltry 87 in a game reduced to 42 overs per side.England U19 Jodi Grewcock complemented Villiers' efforts with 1 for 7 from eight overs, leaving The Blaze reeling at 52 for 6 after losing four wickets for four runs. Australian seamer Nicola Hancock then polished off the tail with 3 for 20.Sunrisers faced some early setbacks in their chase, but skipper Grace Scrivens' unbeaten 46 guided them to victory in the 21st over. Villiers fittingly sealed the win with the winning runs.The match was delayed due to overnight and morning rain, and the overcast conditions and grassy pitch favored the bowlers. Scrivens' decision to field first proved astute as The Blaze struggled to cope with the spin duo of Villiers and Grewcock.Marie Kelly, who was dropped early on, was dismissed by Hancock, while Teresa Graves fell to Kate Coppack. Daisy Mullan and Nadine de Klerk briefly threatened a fightback, but Villiers and Grewcock's introduction proved decisive.Villiers trapped de Klerk in front and bowled Mullan, while Grewcock dismissed Ella Claridge. Sarah Glenn's wicket gave Villiers her third scalp, and The Blaze's recovery hopes were dashed as Hancock and Coppack cleaned up the tail.Sunrisers, who had been bowled out for 150 in a heavy defeat to Thunder three days earlier, initially struggled in their chase. Ariana Dowse was dismissed by Grace Ballinger, and Cordelia Griffith was run out in a mix-up with Scrivens.However, Scrivens and Grewcock steadied the ship with a 40-run stand, and although Grewcock departed before the end, Sunrisers cruised to victory, with Villiers hitting the winning runs.