Surrey (women) vs The Blaze (women) (match 55, league one – semi final 1) at The Kia Oval, Kennington South London on 17 July 2026
Battle between second-and-third placed teams to qualify for the (league one) ‘final’ saw The Blaze women turn-the-tables on the defending champions whom they met in last year’s final. Batting first, Surrey women lost their big-hitters prematurely. Guest Australian (later awarded POTM) Charli Knott – pictured took a 4-fer (taking 4wickets/conceding 15 runs); with seamer Grace Ballinger taking 3/18; and fellow spinner Josie Groves taking 2/18. Turning to The Blaze’s reply, three substantive partnerships chased down a relatively low-score. A final twist came when two Blaze wickets fell with level-scores, and the match was decided by Emma Jones scoring a ‘leg-bye’ from her second ball. Commentators from Sky Sports (outside broadcast) mobile ‘pod’ team were: Charles Dagnall (lead), Tash Farrant (ex-England & Surrey women); Kate Cross (ex-England & Lancs women); and Tymal Mills (pitch-side.) Weather: fine afternoon, hot 27-29C.
Surrey women wearing light blue with dark blue sleeves over dark blue, with dark blue pads; *skipper Bryony Smith; *[Sarah Bryce keeping wicket forThe Blaze women]*with international player Laura Harris (Australia WBBL); *including England squad returners Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Danni Wyatt-Hodge; *Danni Wyatt-Hodge was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ with bails sent flying by Grace Ballinger changing to ‘coming round-the-wicket’ for a second-ball ‘duck;’ *Mis-timing a ‘paddle,’ Kira Chathli was caught at ‘gully’ by Charley N Phillips, from Grace Ballinger; *Laura Harris was caught at ‘cover’ by Georgia Elwiss, from Charli Knott; *After six overs power-play 50/3; *Mis-timing a ‘scoop’ Jemina Spence played-on, bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by Kathryn Bryce; *Bryony Smith steepled a top-edge aerial, was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Georgia Elwiss running round, from Charli Knott; *Mis-timing a ‘sweep’ to square upon review, Alice Monaghan went ‘leg-before’ to Charli Knott for a third-ball ‘duck;’ ; *Score 79/6 by mid-way; *Alice Davidson-Richards was caught-and-bowled by Josie Groves, from a thick-edge; *With apology for ‘commentator’s curse,’ Kalea Moore was caught aerial at ‘mid-off’ by Kirstie Gordon, from Josie Groves; *Without foot-movement, Dani Gregory went ‘leg-before’ to Grace Ballinger for a second-ball ‘duck;’ *Left-armed batter Tilly Corteen-Coleman was caught-and-bowled by Charli Knott. Surrey women batting: Bryony Smith 29(28); Alice Davidson-Richards 20(17); Laura Harris 18(7); The Blaze women bowling: Charli Knott 4/15(2.2); Grace Ballinger 3/18(3); Josie Groves 2/18(3); Kathryn Bryce 1/11(1);
The Blaze women wearing orange stripe with over black with half-white vertical trouser stripe and black pads; *skipper Kirstie Gordon; [Kira Chathli keeping wicket for Surrey women]; *With international player Charli Knott (Australia WBBL); including England squad returner Tammy Beaumont; *Mis-timing a ‘cover drive,’ Sarah Bryce was clean-bowled by Kalea Moore; *After six overs power-play 41/1 (vs 50/3); Score: 61/1 (vs 79/6) by mid-way;
*Tammy Beaumont was caught at ‘long-off’ by Alice Davidson-Richards running round, from left-armed spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman; *With level-scores, Kathryn Bryce was caught at ‘cover’ by Danni Wyatt-Hodge, from Tilly Corteen-Coleman; *Next ‘over’ Charli Knott was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Danni Wyatt-Hodge, from Ryana Macdonald-Gay; *No further wickets fell;’ The Blaze women batting: Kathryn Bryce 34(34); Tammy Beaumont 29(30); Charli Knott 21(18); Sarah Bryce 16(15); Surrey women bowling: Tilly Corteen-Coleman 2/25(4); Kalea Moore 1/21(3); Ryana Macdonald-Gay 1/24(3.3);
Match result: The Blaze (women) 106/4 (6.4 runs-per-over, target 106 from 16.3/20 overs) beat Surrey (women) 105 ‘All out’ (@6.8 r-p-o from 15.2/20ov ) by six wickets with 21 balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#m32d713a3-ec6b-4011-84f7-a9a899f62b15
*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 one’ top-ten for 2026 @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/07/28/womens-vitality-blast-league-one-top-ten-for-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/
