The Blaze (women) vs Durham Cricket (women) (match 57, league one – final) at The Kia Oval, Kennington South London on 17 July 2026
‘Low-scoring thriller,’ concluded by openers Tammy Beaumont [54*not out runs(from 39 balls)] and Sarah Bryce 53*not out(41) who ‘took control,’ overtaking Durham Cricket’s mid-way total after ‘six overs’ power-play and scoring unbeaten ‘fifties’ within two balls of each other during their century partnership of 118 runs (from 80 balls.) Batting first, Durham Cricket women lost five wickets to ‘spin attack’ from Kirstie Gordon 3/21and Charli Knott 2/25. Sixth-wicket partnership between Grace Thompson and Emily Windsor got Durham Cricket ‘out of trouble,’ when chalking-up 40 runs toward a half-decent total score. Reflecting post-match, commentators said that score ‘never looked like enough’ (runs to defend.) As this year’s winners, previously, The Blaze women were last year’s finalists, and also the previous years winners of the equivalent competition (Charlotte Edwards Cup 2024.) Commentators from Sky Sports (outside broadcast) pod team were: Charles Dagnall (lead), Tash Farrant (ex-England & Surrey women); Kate Cross (ex-England & Lancs women); and pitch-side, Tymal Mills. Weather was a fine evening, cooling from 27-17C.
Durham Cricket women wearing yellow splash over dark blue with white numbers and dark blue caps with yellow pads; *Skipper Hollie Armitage [*Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for The Blaze women]; *international player Heather Graham (Australia ‘WBBL’); *with Lauren Filer (England returner); *First ‘over,’ Hollie Armitage was caught at ‘slip’ by Tammy Beaumont, from Grace Ballinger for a fourth-ball ‘duck;*Mady Villiers was caught inside the circle at ‘cover’ by Lucy Higham, from Kirstie Gordon; *After six overs power-play 35/2; *Heather Graham was clean-bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by seamer Kathryn Bryce; *Score 55/3 by mid-way; *Taking a huge swing, Bess Heath was bowled ‘middle-and-off,’ by spinner Kirstie Gordon; *Mia Rogers was bowled ‘top-of-off stump,’ by Kirstie Gordon; *Grace Thompson was stumped ‘outside-off’ by Sarah Bryce, from Charli Knott; *Two balls later, Emily Windsor was caught at ‘extra cover’ by Georgia Elwiss, from Charli Knott’s ‘full-toss;’ *Final ball (three balls later): Trudy Johnson was ‘run-out’ by keeper Sarah Bryce’s down-wicket throw to Charli Knott receiving at the non-striker’s end; Durham Cricket women batting: Heather Graham 30(23); Emily Windsor 20(16); Grace Thompson 20(21); Mady Villiers 16(13); Mia Rogers 13(16); Bess Heath 11(24) The Blaze women bowling: Kirstie Gordon 3/21(4); Charli Knott 2/25(4); Grace Ballinger 1/22(4); Kathryn Bryce 1/13(2);
The Blaze women wearing orange stripe with over black with half-white vertical trouser stripe and black pads; *skipper Kirstie Gordon; [Mia Rogers keeping wicket for Durham Cricket women]; *With international player Charli Knott (Australia WBBL); *with Tammy Beaumont; (England returner); *After six overs power-play 53/0 (vs 35/2); *Score 88/0 (vs 55/3) by mid-way; The Blaze women batting: openers carried their bats: Tammy Beaumont 54*not out(39); Sarah Bryce 53*not out(41);
Match result: The Blaze (women) 106/0 (@8.8 runs-per-over, target 118 from 13.2/20 overs) beat Durham Cricket (women) 117/8 (@5.8 r-p-o from 20ov ) by ten wickets with 40 balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#mb8e99fba-7d16-4c9b-85f9-298b98c94aae
*Vitality blast (20ov.) Women’s ‘league one’ results @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/07/18/vitality-blast-league-one-results-july-2026/
*Vitality blast (20ov.) Women’s ‘league two’ results @url:http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/07/18/vitality-blast-league-two-results-july-2026/
*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/
