Charlotte Edwards Cup final: Danni Wyatt hits rapid 50 as Southern Vipers beat The Blaze

Danni Wyatt (right) has made 245 appearances for England in the one-day and T20 formats

Danni Wyatt warmed up for potential involvement in the Women's Ashes series with 50 off 28 balls as Southern Vipers retained the Charlotte Edwards Cup.

The Blaze, who were 53-4 in the 10th over when rain halted play on Saturday, managed to push their total to 114-8.

Wyatt and Maia Bouchier made the most of the powerplay fielding restrictions with an opening stand of 67 in reply.

Nadine de Klerk had Wyatt lbw in the 11th over, but Vipers finished the job on 118-3 with 34 balls to spare.

Skipper Georgia Adams edged successive boundaries off Sophie Munro as she finished the match 16 not out, with Freya Kemp - who struck Lucy Higham for a superb straight six in the previous over - on 13.

The Blaze - formerly Lightning - had earned their place in the final by winning all seven of their group games, including a five-wicket victory over the Vipers at Derby.

But the big match know-how of Adams' side proved decisive in the final as they collected their fourth trophy in four years - and once again, their coach was able to get her hands on the trophy that bears her name.

It was also a fitting way for seam bowler Anya Shrubsole (2-24) to sign off for the team as she afterwards announced that she will retire following The Hundred later this summer.

Vipers seamer Anya Shrubsole was named player of the match

The Blaze needed boundaries when they resumed their innings, but having lost Sarah Glenn, who was caught by Kemp off Charlie Dean, they had to wait until the start of the 15th over for De Klerk to provide one, swept away off Adams' off-spin.

De Klerk was dropped at deep mid-wicket by Wyatt, but it did not prove costly as she was bowled by Dean at the end of the 17th over as she backed away trying to create room to cut.

The Blaze total did not look enough, although it was five runs more than Central Sparks managed batting first against Vipers in the 2022 final.

• Relive Charlotte Edwards Cup final as it happened

With the fielders in at the start of their chase, Wyatt continued the form which brought her 76 off 50 balls in Saturday's semi-final win over Thunder, with four boundaries in Grace Ballinger's opening over.

There was no let-up from the Vipers openers and The Blaze could ill-afford a dropped catch in the covers off Kathryn Bryce when Bouchier was on 20.

Opening partner Wyatt only just cleared Higham at square leg as she picked up another boundary off Glenn, but the leg-spinner finally made a breakthrough in her next over by bowling Bouchier for 25.

Wyatt's 27-ball half-century took her total runs to 273, the highest in this year's competition, but she departed trying to pull De Klerk and Ella McCaughan was stumped off Higham in the next over.

Only 21 runs were needed at that point and Adams wrapped things up three overs later as Vipers added a second T20 title to their 2020 and 2021 wins in the 50-over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

Post-match reaction

Southern Vipers captain Georgia Adams told BBC Radio Solent:

"To win like that in a final is something you probably never expect, especially coming up against a very strong and positive Blaze side.

"They had a lot of momentum coming into this final, they've been the team to beat this tournament.

"This team is so special because people find a way of stepping up when we've been in tricky situations.

"Danni and Maia getting us off in the powerplays like they do, and batting in that style, does make it easier that little bit easier in the middle [order], especially chasing totals."

Vipers head coach Charlotte Edwards:

"This is probably our best win since the regional structure has been in place.

"We've had to really dig deep throughout this competition, it's not been easy for us.

"Anya has been instrumental [to our success], she's been great with our young bowlers. Her body is sore but she just keeps running in delivering performance after performance.

"To have her around as a coach as well is fantastic, it was a no-brainer for me that we got her involved and to end like she has done is very fitting."