The Blaze (women) vs Durham Cricket (women) – match 51 – League One – at Trent Bridge Nottingham on 19 August 2026
The Blaze women (top—of-table with 10 wins) have an unassailable lead the top team expected to qualify for the competition’s finals. Playing a full innings, Kathryn Bryce [136runs(from 138 balls) partnered by Georgia Elwiss 134(110) set a ‘league one’ record double-century third-wicket partnership of 223 runs; albeit 23 runs short of ‘league-two’ record 256 set four days previously by Blaze academy batters Lara Shaw and Lauren Kenvyn (Competition’s best-to-date, for Derbys Falcons (w) third-wicket partnership vs SussexSharks.) Dark clouds descended during Durham Cricket womens’ reply, with floodlights switched-on, precipitating sudden rain. Resuming play after one-and-a-half hours with 16 overs docked and a lower DLS target set, commentators complemented stand-out batters ‘scintillating’ Mady Villers 65(34); also ‘brilliant’ Bess Heath 57(28.) Although Durham Cricket women were well ahead after 25 overs [160/5 (vs 142/2)]; their required-run-rate escalated with their ‘big-hitters’ gone. Commentators for Trent Bridge Live Stream (unannounced) believed to be James Carr, as visiting ECB Regional Director of Women’s Cricket for the North East (incorporating Durham) with Ash Thorpe as managing academy partner to ‘Durham Cricket.’ Weather: rain-interrupted 16-22C.
The Blaze women wearing orange-and-black ‘paper tiger’ stripes with black joggers; *acting skipper Marie Kelly *[Mia Rogers keeping wicket for Durham Cricket women]; *with Kathryn and Sarah Bryce (Scotland internationals); *Also with Orla Prendergast (Republic of Ireland international); *Marie Kelly caught at ‘mid-off’ by Bess Heath, from Eleanor Larosa; *Score 51/1 after 10 overs power-play; *Tammy Beaumont went plumb ’leg-before’ to Katie Levick; *Mid-way score 142/2 after 25ov; *Kathryn Bryce went plumb ’leg-before’ to Katherine Fraser; *Orla Prendergast caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Mady Villiers running-in, from Trudy Johnson; The Blaze women batting: Kathryn Bryce 136(138); Georgia Elwiss 134(110); Orla Prendergast 27(18); Tammy Beaumont 19(26); Durham Cricket women bowling: Eleanor Larosa 1/32(10); Katherine Fraser 1/43(10); Katie Levick 1/51(10); Trudy Johnson 1/59(10);
Durham Cricket (women) wearing three-toned blue-mauve-red vests with yellow logos; *Skipper Hollie Armitage [Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for The Blaze]; *debutante guest international Eleanor Larosa (Australia WBBL); *with Katherine Fraser (Scotland international); *Mia Rogers was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by left-armed spinner Kirstie Gordon: *Score 43/1 (vs51/1) after 10 overs power-play; *Hollie Armitage caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Orla Prendergast, from Kirstie Gordon; *Emma Marlow was bowled ‘top-of-middle-and-off,’ by Grace Ballinger’s first ball after the rain break; *Playing a ‘scintillating’ innings, Mady Villiers played-on from an ‘inside-edge,’ bowled by Kathryn Bryce; *Mis-timing a straight ‘slog,’ Grace Thompson was clean-bowled ‘top-of-middle-and-leg,’ by Kirstie Gordon; *Mid-way score 160/5 (vs 142/2) after 25overs; *Mis-timing ‘slog-sweep,’ Eleanor Larosa lost her footing and was stumped by keeper Sarah Bryce, from Kirstie Gordon; *Katherine Fraser was bowled with ‘off-stump’ bail dislodged by Grace Ballinger; *Mis-timing a ‘slog’ four balls later, Abi Glen was clean-bowled, with ‘off-stump’ knocked back by Grace Ballinger; *Having played a ‘brilliant’ innings, Bess Heath mis-timed a ‘slog,’ went plumb ’leg-before’ to Charlotte ‘Charley’ N Phillips; *Three balls later, Katie Levick was caught from a ‘top-edge’ at ‘extra cover’ by Georgia Elwiss, (also from Charlotte ‘Charley’ N Phillips); Durham Cricket women batting: Mady Villiers 65(34); Bess Heath 57(28); Emma Marlow 29(34); Grace Thompson 20(28); Mia Rogers 13(31); The Blaze women bowling: Kirstie Gordon 4/54(6); Grace Ballinger 3/44(7); Charlotte ‘Charley’ N Phillips 2/21(5.5); Kathryn Bryce 1/28(4);
Match result: The Blaze (women) 356/4 (@7.1 runs-per-over from 50 overs) beat Durham Cricket (women) 217 ‘All out’ (@7 r-p-o/DLS target 277 from 30.5/34 ov.) by 59 runs (Duckworth-Lewis Stern – DLS method)
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#c43d251c2-5e06-43de-826f-47d67a843862_mc5520000-6664-a623-8301-08de2dc24b66
*Mid-term results with upcoming League one fixtures @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/05/17/metro-bank-one-day-cup-league-one-women/
*Group-stage results with remaining League two fixtures @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/08/19/metro-bank-one-day-cup/
