The Blaze (women) vs Warwickshire Bears (women) (match 21, league one – ‘double-header’ fixture) at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on 5 June 2026
Commentators emphasised the importance of having a team such as The Blaze that was ‘used to winning’ and ‘knows what to do’ (to get results) having won four of their five t20 matches (to date.) Stand-in skipper Marie Kelly [(29 runs (from 22 balls)] contributed to what became a higher ‘power-play’ score before The Blaze suffered a mini-collapse as spinners (Georgia Davis 3/23 & Hannah Baker 2/19) became ‘tricky customers.’ Emma Jones 32(22) partnered by Lucy Higham 19(19) added a vital ‘fifty’ for The Blaze’s sixth-wicket; with bowler-turned-batter Grace Ballinger contributing 17(13). Turning to Bears run-chase, Meg Austin 74(51) chalked-up her second ‘fifty’ of the season and her career-best competition ‘fifty’ at 20 overs. Match reached its climax during the final over when Charley Phillips ‘held her nerve’ when defending the winning margin. Separately, it didn’t go unnoticed that Bears had earlier gifted 13 costly ‘wides.’ Commentators for The Blaze TV Livestream were Dave Bracegirdle (BBC Sports Xtra3 & Radio Nottingham) with Mike Taylor, Richard Wilford & Kyle Verreynne (BBC Sport.) Weather: ‘breezy,’ cloudy with patches of blue sky 16C.
The Blaze women wearing orange stripe with over black with half-white vertical trouser stripe and black pads;*Stand-in skipper Marie Kelly *[Nat Wraith keeping wicket for Bears]; *With international player Charli Knott (Australia WBBL) *without Kirstie Gordon, Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland IT20 World-Cup call-up) *also without Nat Sciver-Brunt, or Amy Jones (England IT20 World-Cup call-up); *Playing ‘leg-side,’ Marie Kelly was bowled by Mary Taylor’s straight ball; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 61/1; *Tammy Beaumont was bowled around-her-legs’ by Hannah Baker’s ‘jaffa;’ *Brief concussion check for Georgia Elwiss on 61/2;*Charli Knott was bowled, her ‘middle-and-off’ bail dislodged by Georgia Davis; *Georgia Elwiss returned from a ‘leading-edge’ and was caught-and-bowled by Georgia Davis; *by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs) 76/4; *Ella Claridge was caught-and-bowled by Hannah Baker’s slower straight ball; *Emma Jones went ‘leg-before’ to Mary Taylor; *Lucy Higham ‘chipped-up,’ caught by Mary Taylor from Georgia Davis The Blaze women batting: Emma Jones 32(22); Marie Kelly 29(22); Lucy Higham 19(19); Grace Ballinger 17*not out(13); Charli Knott 11(11); Tammy Beaumont 10(10); Bears women bowling: Georgia Davis 3/23(4); Hannah Baker 2/19(4); Mary Taylor 2/33(4);
Bears women wearing ’sky’ blue diamond cheque with yellow trim over dark blue; with yellow helmets and black caps; *skipper Georgia Davis *[Ella Claridge keeping wicket for The Blaze] *with international player Georgia Redmayne (Australia WBBL); *Mis-timing ‘slog-sweep,’ Abbey Freeborn was bowled by Georgia Elwiss sending her ‘leg-stump’ cartwheeling; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 37/1 (vs61/1) & *67/1 (vs76/4) by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); *Georgia Redmayne was caught at ‘gully’ by Tammy Beaumont with a back-flip, from Grace Ballinger; *Play interrupted (13.3ov) following a collision between Charli Knott and Charis Pavely who was able to continue; *Mis-timed ‘reverse-ramp,’ Charis Pavely was caught at ‘slip’ by Maria Andrews, from Charley N Phillips; *Mis-timing aerial, Meg Austin was caught at ‘long-on’ by ‘diving’ Marie Kelly, from Grace Ballinger; *Mis-timing slog next over, Nat Wraith was bowled by Charley N Phillips’ full-length ball; Bears women batting: Meg Austin 74(51); Georgia Redmayne 22(23); Charis Pavely 15(14); Abbey Freeborn 10(18); The Blaze women bowling: Grace Ballinger 2/20(4); Charley N Phillips 2/23(4); Georgia Elwiss 1/30(4);
*Match result: The Blaze (Women) 151/7 (@7.5 runs-per-over from 20 overs) beat Warwickshire Bears (Women) 140/5 (@7 r-p-o /target 152 from 20/20ov.) by 11 runs
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#me5e80000-9b94-4272-0ecb-08de2c26e157
*Upcoming League one ‘Vitality Blast’ (20ov.) fixtures @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/12/17/vitality-blast-league-one-fixtures-for-2026-3-of-4/
*Upcoming League one ‘MetroBank’ (50ov.) fixtures with mid-term results @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/05/17/metro-bank-one-day-cup-league-one-women/
