Charlotte Edwards Cup: The Blaze see off Central Sparks

Kathryn Bryce hit 44 to steer The Blaze into the Charlotte Edwards Cup final for the second successive season with victory over Central Sparks.

The Scotland captain anchored the East Midlands side’s response to the Sparks, who had posted a competitive 140-9, their highest total in three meetings between the teams this season.

Leg-spinner Josie Groves had slowed an early Sparks charge after Amy Campbell and 17-year-old Davina Perrin had given them a great powerplay, before Courtney Webb’s unbeaten 45 ensured The Blaze would have to sweat for a win.

The side that topped the group standings with nine wins from 10 were pegged back by Hannah Baker’s haul of 3-24 but Kathryn Bryce had broken the back of the run chase before she became Baker’s third victim.

Sparks had struggled to amass enough runs in both their defeats by Blaze in the group stages, so it was no great surprise that they began aggressively, with Campbell and Perrin taking the fight to the opposition bowlers.

Blaze have dominated the competition this season with nine wins from 10 games in the group stage, and they held their nerve, Kirstie Gordon having Campbell caught at long-on and Grace Ballinger knocking over Perrin’s off-stump after the 17-year-old had scored a valiant 32 off 19 balls.