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

Live Reporting

Harry Everett and Katie Holloway

  1. wicket

    WICKET Graham c Jones b Webb 16

    The Blaze 113-4 - Target 141

    Heather Graham goes aerial again, this time off fellow Australian Courtney Webb and gets a useful four.

    But Webb has her revenge as the next ball is slower and Graham goes higher but not as far and Eve Jones takes the catch in the deep.

  2. 100 runs

    100 up for The Blaze

    The Blaze 108-3 - Target 141

    A great over from Grace Potts with four from the first five balls.

    But Heather Graham takes decisive action off the sixth, taking one step down the pitch and hitting a huge straight six.

    That helps The Blaze a lot. It is now 33 off 30 balls.

  3. 'Sparks couple of wickets away from getting back into it'

    The Blaze 108-3 - Target 141

    Clive Eakin
    BBC local radio cricket commentator

    You just feel that the Sparks are just a couple of wickets away from getting right back into this game.

  4. The Blaze 98-3 - Target 141

    Good stuff from Katie George, showing what a combative cricketer she is.

    Only four runs off it as suddenly The Blaze begin to feel a little pressure.

    They need 43 off six overs, up over seven now.

  5. 'A good little wicket for Sparks'

    The Blaze 95-3 - Target 141

    Charlotte Taylor
    Southern Vipers spinner on BBC local radio

    Another good little wicket for the Sparks.

    If they can just start to peg them back just a little bit at a time then they'll be quite confident that they can maybe make some inroads and put the squeeze on at the back end of the innings.

  6. 'Extra incentive for Bryce'

    The Blaze 95-3 - Target 141

    Kevan James
    BBC local radio commentator

    Kathryn Bryce has an extra incentive to see her side through to this evening's final.

    It wasn’t long ago she led Scotland to their first T20 World Cup finals which are coming up in October.

    If she does the same here then The Blaze will make the final for the first time after missing out at the semi- final stage last season.

    Kathryn BryceGetty Images

  7. The Blaze 95-3 - Target 141

    A great over from Hannah Baker, only four conceded and the wicket of Sarah Bryce.

    It is now 46 from 42 balls for The Blaze.

  8. wicket

    WICKET S Bryce c Freeborn b Baker 9

    The Blaze 94-3 - Target 141

    The sisters won't see this through together.

    Fine bowling from Hannah Baker as she has Sarah Bryce caught behind trying to play off the front foot.

    Good stuff from Baker as she tries to bring the Sparks back into this contest.

  9. The Blaze 91-2 - Target 141

    The Bryce sisters, Kathryn and Sarah, are now together at the crease.

    They accumulate seven runs without doing anything drastic.

    The Blaze need 50 off 48 balls for a place in the final.

  10. Runs on Finals Day

    The Blaze 86-2 v Central Sparks 140-9

    Clive Eakin
    BBC CWR Sport

    The only group game played by Blaze at Derby in the Charlotte Edwards Cup was a low scoring one. Blaze suffered their only defeat after being bowled out for 84 by South East Stars.

    But for Finals Day we have a much better batting track and the crowd are being entertained by some positive stroke play.

    Davina Perrin played a thrilling knock at the top of the Sparks innings and Courtney Webb ensured they ended with a competitive total.

    But England's Tammy Beaumont and the in-form Kathryn Bryce (below) have got Blaze off to a flier with an impressive range of shots which is putting Sparks bowlers under pressure.

    The Blaze's Kathryn Bryce plays a shot against Central Sparks during the Charlotte Edwards Cup Semi-final at the Incora County Ground, DerbyPA Media

  11. The Blaze 84-2 - Target 141

    A terrific ball from Katie George troubles Sarah Bryce, but the nick is past wicketkeeper Abi Freeborn and races away for four.

    That would have made things interesting.

  12. wicket

    WICKET Beaumont c&b George 39

    The Blaze 79-2 - Target 141

    Katie George does exactly what Sparks needed!

    Three balls give up just one run before George gets a leading edge off Tammy Beaumont and takes a good return catch.

  13. 'Blaze are ticking along nicely'

    The Blaze 78-1 v Central Sparks 140-9

    Nikki Chaudhuri
    Surrey bowler on BBC local radio

    It's been a brilliant start here so far from The Blaze.

    They're really just very comfortable and ticking things along nicely.

  14. Halfway mark

    The Blaze 78-1 - Target 141

    The score predictor is currently at 98% for The Blaze.

    A good first over from Courtney Webb gives up only four singles, but it's a 'W' that the Sparks really need.

  15. 50 partnership

    The Blaze 74-1 v Central Sparks 140-9

    A beautiful shot through the offside and that is four for Tammy Beaumont and the 50 partnership between her and Kathryn Bryce.

    Not even halfway through the innings and The Blaze only need 67 from 66 balls.

  16. The Blaze 66-1 v Central Sparks 140-9

    Kathryn Bryce shows the form she is in with a fine cut through backward point off Emily Arlott.

    She's already into the twenties.

    It's nine off the over without really a shot in anger from Bryce and Tammy Beaumont.

  17. The Blaze 57-1 v Central Sparks 140-9

    After six overs, the Sparks were 54-2, three runs more than The Blaze but with one more wicket down.

    That shows how important wickets are to slowing up a run rate.

    Katie George bowls a tidy over, giving up five singles and a couple off the last ball following a misfield.

  18. 50 runs

    50 up for The Blaze

    The Blaze 51-1 v Central Sparks 140-9

    Gorgeous shot down the ground from Kathryn Bryce gets her four more off Hannah Baker.

    She takes a single to bring up the team's 50 as they reach the end of the powerplay.

  19. The Blaze 45-1 v Central Sparks 140-9

    A fifth bowler in five overs for Sparks with Charis Pavely thrown the ball.

    It's a bit of a mixed bag as a couple of dots are spoiled by a wide and then a half-tracker which is a gift for Kathryn Bryce to hit for four.

  20. 'An important breakthrough for Sparks'

    The Blaze 36-1 v Central Sparks 140-9

    Clive Eakin
    BBC local radio cricket commentator

    Eve Jones has taken that catch cleanly, it was straight at her but she had to cling onto it and she did.

    An important breakthrough for the Sparks.

    Central Sparks bowler Hannah Baker celebrates with a team-matePA Media