Sarah Bryce stars as The Blaze guide semi-final spot
The Blaze 133 for 4 (S Bryce 67*) beat Northern Diamonds 129 for 7 (Winfield-Hill 40, de Klerk 3-31) by six wickets
Sarah Bryce starred with an unbeaten 67 as The Blaze booked their place within the Charlotte Edwards Cup semi-finals after easing previous Northern Diamonds at Seat Unique Riverside by six wickets.
The guests required 130 to win after Nadine de Klerk and skipper Kirstie Gordon restricted the Diamonds with a wonderful bowling efficiency. Lauren Winfield-Hill top-scored for the hosts, however their rating was at all times underneath par on a floor with a fast outfield.
Bryce took the assault to the Diamonds bowlers, utilizing each energy and guile to propel her crew forward of the required price. She notched her first fifty of the competitors and ended the competition unbeaten after scoring six 4 and three sixes. The Blaze can now put together for his or her final 4 fixture, whereas Diamonds nonetheless have work forward of them after struggling their first defeat.
Diamonds gained the toss and elected to bat within the vibrant sunshine at Chester-le-Street. The Blaze’s opening bowlers made life tough for Winfield-Hill and Leah Dobson, proscribing them to only one run off the primary two overs as Grace Ballinger despatched down a maiden.
Winfield-Hill had bother timing the ball within the early phases earlier than discovering her vary within the fifth over, taking de Klerk for 2 boundaries. Dobson was given a life when she was dropped by Kathryn Bryce for 14 on the boundary, however the guests nonetheless had management of the scoreboard as Diamonds mustered simply 26 from the Powerplay.
Gordon made the breakthrough because the drop proved pricey as Dobson fell for 19. Hollie Armitage provided a semblance of energy as she discovered the rope 3 times in a bid to up the run price. Armitage offered the inspiration of the innings with Winfield-Hill with a stand value 47 earlier than the Diamonds skipper was caught on the fence presenting Gordon along with her second wicket.
Winfield-Hill manoeuvred the hosts into a good place after working her strategy to 40, however Sophie Munro ended her knock along with her first ball of the innings. Bess Heath and Chloe Tryon added fast runs within the closing overs with 19 and 20 respectively, however de Klerk ensured the Diamonds could not push in direction of 140 eradicating Heath earlier than prising out Tryon and Lizzie Scott with the ultimate two balls of the innings.
The Blaze had no points getting off to a powerful begin of their chase of 130. Marie Kelly put the stress on the Diamonds bowlers from the off, scoring 4 boundaries to work herself to 19 earlier than Scott produced an inswinger to prise out the opener.
Sarah Bryce saved up the depth and struck Katie Levick for the primary two sixes of the sport over long-on. She adopted that with additional elegant placing to take 16 off Scott’s third over, placing the guests nearly midway to their victory goal on the finish of the powerplay. Bryce was in full circulation on the crease, simply discovering the gaps within the area.
The 23-year-old notched her first fifty of the season from 30 deliveries, whittling down the required whole. Abi Glen gave Diamonds a glimmer of hope by skittling Kathryn Bruce and Michaela Kirk in successive balls. De Klerk survived the hat-trick ball and with Bryce extinguished the hosts’ hope of a miraculous comeback. The Blaze cantered over the road, securing their win with 4.2 overs to spare.