Durham Cricket (women) vs The Blaze (women) – match 21 – League One – at Banks Homes Riverside, Chester-le-Street (Co. Durham) on Saturday 02 May 2026
An unbeaten half-century from Blaze skipper Kirstie Gordon – pictured wearing England ODI colours [60*not out(from 73 balls)] who made top-score, took The Blaze to a convincing 92 win over Durham Cricket women; chalking-up their fourth competition win. Following loss of early Blaze wickets, Kirstie Gordon’s partnership with Lucy Higham added 83 runs toward a half-decent score; also chalking-up her maiden competition ‘fifty.’ In contrast, although Durham Cricket women also lost early wickets, only three batters scored into double-figures, with newbie Charley N Phillips taking her maiden ‘A-list’ 5-fer (5 wickets, conceding 49 runs.) Falling short of her maiden ‘fifty’ by one run, bowler-turned-batter Grace Thompson made top-score for Durham Cricket. Commentators were Ash Thorpe from ‘Durham Cricket’ academy, with Polly Starkie as social media co-host of ‘Noughtie Child Podcast;’ and ‘HerGameToo’ cricket ambassador. Weather: sunny spells gave way to evolving clouds 16C.
The Blaze women wearing orange-and-black ‘paper tiger’ stripes with black joggers; *skipper Kirstie Gordon *[Tahlia Wilson keeping wicket for DC women]; *debutante Prisa Thanawala (Blaze academy & Foxes) *guest international Orla Prendergast (Rep Of Ireland); also with Kathryn Bryce (Scotland); *Tammy Beaumont was bowled by Trudy Johnson; *Kathryn Bryce was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Sophia Turner, from Trudy Johnson; *Score 40/2 after 10 overs power-play; *Sarah Bryce was bowled by Katie Levick; *Orla Prendergast was stumped by Tahlia Wilson, from Katie Levick; *Mid-way for drinks, 117/5 after 25overs; *Prisha Thanawala was bowled by Sophia Turner; *Ella Claridge went ‘leg-before’ to Katie Levick; *Emma Jones was bowled by Mady Villiers; *Lucy Higham, 47.3 ov) was caught & bowled by Katherine Fraser; Blaze women batting: Kirstie Gordon 60*not out(73) Prisa Thanawala 47(61); Lucy Higham 32(43); Emma Jones 22(24); Ella Claridge 19(28); Orla Prendergast 12(23); Grace Ballinger 10*not out(9); Durham Cricket bowling: Katie Levick 3/36(10); Trudy Johnson 2/54(10);Katherine Fraser 1/40(10); Sophia Turner 1/43(8); Mady Villiers 1/45(10);
Durham Cricket women wearing three-toned blue-mauve-red vests with yellow logos; *skipper Hollie Armitage *[Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze] *guest international Tahlia Wilson (Australia – Women’s Big Bash League WBBL);*with Katherine Fraser (Scotland); *also with England player Lauren Filer; *Emma Marlow was caught by keeper Sarah Bryce from Charley N Phillips; *Next ball, Hollie Armitage went for a ‘golden-duck.’ *Tahlia Wilson went ‘leg-before’ to Charley N Phillips; *Mady Villiers was caught by keeper Sarah Bryce from Grace Ballinger; *Bess Heath was bowled with her stumps ‘splattered’ by Charley N Phillips; *Score 42/5 (vs 40/2) after 10 overs power-play; *Katherine Fraser was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Kirstie Gordon from Lucy Higham; *Mid-way for drinks, 83/6 (vs117/5) after 25 overs; *Emily Windsor chipped between ‘cover’ and ‘extra cover,’ caught by Tammy Beaumont, from Katherine Bryce; *Sophia Turner was bowled ‘middle-and-off’ by Charley N Phillips’s full length ball; *Trudy Johnson was ‘run-out’ from ‘deep-mid-wicket’ by Lucy Higham’s throw to Katherine Bryce, receiving at non-striker’s end; *Grace Thompson was caught at ’short-fine’ by Emma Jones, from Grace Ballinger; Durham Cricket batting: Grace Thompson 49(71); Emily Windsor 41(60); Tahlia Wilson 17(28); Blaze women bowling: Charley N Phillips 5/49; Grace Ballinger 2/13(6.2); Katherine Bryce 1/17(8); Lucy Higham 1/26(7);
Match result: The Blaze (women) 240/8 (@4.8 runs-per-over from 50/50 ov.) beat Durham Cricket (women) 148 ‘All out’ (@3.7 r-p-o from 39.2/50 ov.) by 92 runs with 64 balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#mc5520000-6664-a623-2c3c-08de2dc24939
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url: https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/4408104/metro-bank-one-day-cup-womens-competition-fixtures-2026
