Summary

  • Kathryn and Sarah Bryce both hit half-centuries as The Blaze beat South East Stars by seven wickets to win Charlotte Edwards Cup

  • Stars took 22 off first over in final but are then restricted to 141-9

  • The Blaze beat Central Sparks by five wickets in first semi-final

  • Courtney Webb's 45 helps Sparks to 140-9 but Kathryn Bryce (44) & Tammy Beaumont (39) guide Blaze into final at 142-5

  • South East Stars edge reigning champions Southern Vipers by five runs in thrilling second semi

  • Sophia Dunkley top-scores with 49 as Stars post 162-5 and Vipers fall just short on 157-9

  1. Goodbyepublished at 21:50 British Summer Time 22 June

    Kirstie Gordon gets her hands on the trophy to confirm that The Blaze are the winners of this year's Charlotte Edwards Cup - and lift it on one of their home grounds too.

    That is all from the competition this year, thanks for joining us.

    The County Championship returns tomorrow do not forget, so do join us from 10:30 BST when tosses will set the course of games for all 18 counties across the country for the next four days.

  2. 'That was a masterclass from the Bryce sisters'published at 21:46 British Summer Time 22 June

    South East Stars 141-9 v The Blaze 144-3

    The Blaze captain Kirstie Gordon speaking to the ECB's Youtube channel:

    "That was a masterclass in how to chase from both Bryce sisters. Kathryn's been unbelievable this season.

    "They've got a great temperament. I feel the ease when they are out there together, they are always on the same wavelength and they've put in another great performance.

    "I'm buzzing. I'm pleased for everybody - all the girls, the background staff.

    "Commiserations to Stars. They've had a great competition and they really put us under the pump today.

    "The crowd was loud today, we could hear them so thanks to everybody. I'm lost for words."

  3. 'Cricket is up and down so you've got to enjoy this moment'published at 21:41 British Summer Time 22 June

    South East Stars 141-9 v The Blaze 144-3

    The Blaze MVP Kathryn Bryce speaking to the ECB's Youtube channel:

    "It's been unbelievable. It's been great to be back in with the team and it's been a fantastic campaign for us.

    "You've got to take it in whilst you're enjoying it. Cricket is very up and down so you've got to enjoy this moment.

    "We've [Kathryn and her sister, Sarah] played a lot of cricket together. We understand each other's games so it's been brilliant to be batting together.

    "Our bowling side this whole competition has been fantastic. Everyone really stood up at different times in the big moments and I think that's been a key part of our success over the matches."

  4. Postpublished at 21:36 British Summer Time 22 June

    The Stars were not far behind The Blaze at the close of the group stage, a clear top two made the final tonight, but the Blaze looked a class above in this evening's match.

    The team who played this morning and put their feet up whilst watching their final opponents this afternoon getting their hands on the trophy and medals around their necks.

  5. Postpublished at 21:34 British Summer Time 22 June

    Easy MVP and POTM decision

    No shock whatsoever here, I have mentioned most of her remarkable statistics, but yes Kathryn Bryce is MVP and player of tonight's match.

    11 double figure scores in a row, the highest score being her 62 tonight in the final.

    Yes she got out, but her younger sister Sarah was there at the end.

  6. Postpublished at 21:29 British Summer Time 22 June

    Shout out the Stars' efforts, a name to look out for

    Though wicket-less tonight, Matilda Rose Corteen-Coleman is a name to look out for.

    Not even 17 yet, but she took 16 wickets at 13 in this tournament, including 2-23 in the earlier semi-final win.

    Remarkably she took more wickets than boundaries she got hit for in this competition.

  7. 'Excellent Blaze'published at 21:27 British Summer Time 22 June

    South East Stars 141-9 v The Blaze 144-3

    Clive Eakin
    BBC CWR Sport

    They have been excellent today.

    Applied the squeeze really well on their opponents.

    Terrific effort - they've dominated the competition from start to finish.

    South East Stars were very good in the semi-final but didn't quite get enough in the final.

  8. Postpublished at 21:24 British Summer Time 22 June

    Blaze chase 142 with seven wickets in hand

    Over 400 runs from Kathryn Bryce in this title-winning campaign, 62 off 45 balls was plenty enough for The Blaze to cruise to victory.

    Do not forget key batter Tammy Beaumont was unfortunately run out at the non-striker's end for just four by Tash Farrant, but she will worry little now, in the thick of the orange celebrations.

    Table-toppers The Blaze get the deserved final win for an imminent trophy lift at Derby.

  9. The Blaze win the Charlotte Edwards Cuppublished at 21:22 British Summer Time 22 June
    Breaking

    A new name on the trophy, that is the Blaze's 18th win from 20 games across this and last season, just the loss to Southern Vipers last season and one group stage loss this season.

    Ryana MacDonald-Gay is smashed over the covers for four to seal it in style.

    Heather Graham hits the winning runs to be seven not out from eight balls.

    But the win was set up by super knocks from both Bryces, Sarah ends 52 not out after her older sister's 62 earlier in the piece.

  10. 50 runs

    50 for Sarah Brycepublished at 18.2 overs

    3 needed off 10 balls

    Sarah Bryce batting for The BlazeImage source, Getty Images

    Heather Graham does the right thing first ball in giving her partner the strike.

    A wide down leg, then on the offside shows little improvement for Ryana MacDonald-Gay after her expensive first over.

    Two squirted through backward point allows double delight in the Bryce household tonight, top knock, 51 off 45 balls, Blaze one hit away now.

  11. Postpublished at 18 overs

    8 needed from 2 overs

    Spinners all bowled out, Tash Farrant is now too.

    Her last goes for four, a miserly spell, but not enough Stars runs on the board for that to be in a winning cause.

    The younger Bryce sister, Sarah, is one away from joining Kathryn with a final half-century.

    Blaze took 4-23 at end of the first innings, it is sadly too late for Stars to do even that now.

  12. Postpublished at 21:14 British Summer Time 22 June

    The Blaze 130-3 - Target 142

    Clive Eakin
    BBC CWR Sport

    If there was any pressure mounting for the Blaze, that's lifted it.

  13. Postpublished at 17 overs

    12 needed from 3 overs

    Plenty of spin as you would expect in the sixth innings on a finals day pitch.

    Bryony Smith for her fourth.

    Sarah Bryce is happy to keep calm and take her time, waiting on bad balls, picking off a drag down, pulled cleanly for four.

    Or maybe not... one of the best shots of the innings sees Bryce skip down the track and hit over extra cover for four.

    And of course she then does the right thing and takes one to keep the strike and maybe finish this next over?

  14. Postpublished at 16 overs

    21 needed off the final four overs of this year's competition

    Tilly Corteen-Coleman had bowled her first three overs for 21, alongside four of her compatriots with their economy rate between six and seven runs per over.

    She impresses further with only three off her final over.

    But it is wicket-taking not being miserly that the Stars need now, The Blaze will not drag this out, especially whilst wicketkeeper-bat Sarah Bryce is set at the wicket.

  15. 'Too little, too late'published at 21:08 British Summer Time 22 June

    The Blaze 118-3 - Target 142

    Clive Eakin
    BBC CWR Sport

    If it hit the boundary and music blared out, 'Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves' would seem an appropriate track.

    Is it too little too late for the Stars? Probably.

    They would need three or four more fairly quick wickets to put the Blaze under pressure.

  16. Postpublished at 15 overs

    24 needed by Blaze to win off 5 overs

    Consecutive wides to the new batter Heather Graham seem unnecessary when the new bat has anything but her eye in.

    The first legitimate ball she faces is well stopped at extra cover for a dot.

    Key breakthrough by Dani Gregory, but two free wides is not the way she wanted to follow up that crucial wicket.

  17. wicket

    WICKET: K Bryce b Gregory 62published at 14.5 overs

    Blaze need 26 off the last 5.1 overs

    Kathryn Bryce is bowled for 62 by Dani Gregory in the Charlotte Edwards Cup finalImage source, Getty Images

    Sisters are expected to be good between the wickets with years of familiar understanding, but the first ball here nearly poses problems.

    This game is very unlikely to go the distance so Stars have to bowl their best bowlers now, last chance saloon for the side in yellow.

    Dani Gregory gets the key scalp though!

    Kathryn Bryce is bowled around her legs for a 45-ball 62 going for a reverse sweep.

  18. Postpublished at 14 overs

    South East Stars 141-9 v The Blaze 111-2

    Blaze well on top here, Stars know it is now or never.

    Bryony Smith goes to her star white-ball bowler in Tash Farrant.

    The partnership was worth 66 off 52 balls at the start of the over, now it is worth 74 off 58.

    Good fielding from Sophia Dunkley saves three on the leg-side boundary.

    But Farrant slightly ruins her over of singles with a bizarre no ball leg-side bumper that is clothed for one, then the extra ball worked for another single.

  19. Postpublished at 13 overs

    Blaze need 39 off the final seven overs

    The Blaze's Kathryn Bryce batting in the Charlotte Edwards Cup finalImage source, Getty Images

    Player of the tournament in waiting?

    Just the winning runs to boot now for Kathryn Bryce surely.

    Losing in both finals last season could soon be a forgotten memory for the first drop bat.

    And with her sister there batting together as the competition is won?

    If fairytales could be written.

    Good over, one four, so just six from Dani Gregory, but Stars need wickets.

  20. Postpublished at 20:56 British Summer Time 22 June

    The Blaze 99-2 - Target 142

    Nikki Chaudhuri
    Surrey bowler on BBC local radio

    There would need to be some major mishap for this not to end up the Blaze's way.