Summary

  • Play abandoned for the day in the final after a thunder storm hits New Road

  • The Blaze reached 53-4 after 9.3 overs against Southern Vipers after winning the toss and choosing to bat

  • The Blaze were unbeaten in the group stage, including win over Vipers

  • Defending champions Southern Vipers beat Thunder by 18 runs in semi-final

  • Vipers posted 191-6 after Wyatt (76) and Bouchier (56) put on 108 for first wicket

  • Morris top scored with 36 as Thunder fell short on 173-8

  1. wicket

    WICKET Morris c Elwiss b Smith 36published at 8 overs

    Thunder 69-3 - target 192

    What a catch. Georgia Elwiss throws a hand into the sunshine and plucks a super grab at backward point after Fi Morris had slashed Linsey Smith trying to add to her impressive start.

    A big breakthrough. Ellie Threlkeld joins Deandra Dottin who has 14 from 8.

  2. Postpublished at 7 overs

    Thunder 61-2 - target 192

    Georgia Elwiss takes the seventh over.

    Fi Morris keeps ticking over with a two and a couple of singles and Deandra Dottin alternates the strike with a single of her own and finishes the over with an almighty six over deep mid-wicket. A monster hit. She barely moved her feet. The ask is a hair over 10 an over. That blow has kept the Thunder in touch with it.

  3. Postpublished at 6 overs

    Thunder 50-2 - target 192

    Vipers were 50-0 from the powerplay.

    Linsey Smith takes a wicket and only conceded two singles off her over. Fine effort.

  4. Postpublished at 13:55 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Thunder 48-2 - target 192

    Chloe Hill
    Southern Vipers player on BBC Local Radio

    I think Thunder will be happy to see Deandra Dottin coming in. Another hard-hitting batter coming to the crease.

  5. wicket

    WICKET Heap b Smith 15published at 5.2 overs

    Thunder 48-2 - target 192

    Linsey Smith gets the breakthrough. Liberty Heap tries to go inside out across mid-wicket but doesn't connect and sees her stumps clattered.

    Fi Morris is still there on 29. Deandra Dottin joins her.

  6. Postpublished at 5 overs

    Thunder 48-1 - target 192

    Sophie Morris takes a swing at the ballImage source, Getty Images

    Fi Morris perfects the scoop which escaped her team-mate Emma Lamb and gets four to the fine leg fence off Mary Taylor.

    She gets lucky with a colossal swipe and streaky edge away to third which takes her past 200 runs for the season.

    Another nine off the over. Thunder have more runs at this stage than the Vipers did.

  7. Postpublished at 13:51 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Thunder 39-1 - target 192

    Chloe Hill
    Southern Vipers player on BBC Local Radio

    Not a bad start for both teams. One wicket for the Vipers but 39 runs for Thunder in the powerplay so far and they'll be happy with that.

    This wicket of Fi Morris is going to be crucial for this innings.

  8. Postpublished at 4 overs

    Thunder 39-1 - target 192

    Liberty Heap slashes unconvincingly over deep extra cover where the ball just about beats Georgia Elwiss to the ropes. The next ball is cracked commandingly through the covers for another four.

    Fi Morris gets down low to pull the last ball off the over to the deep square leg boundary for a third four of the over. 16 off it and just like that the Thunder are ahead of the asking rate.

  9. Postpublished at 3 overs

    Thunder 23-1 - target 192

    Fi Morris cuts Anya Shrubsole with a lot more authority this time. Short and wide from the experienced Vipers bowler, who sends the next delivery into a similar location which allows Morris to cash in once again. 10 off the over. That's what they need.

    Morris has 16 from 10 deliveries.

    Charlie Dean comes on for over number four.

  10. Postpublished at 2 overs

    Thunder 13-1 - target 192

    Fi Morris finds the ropes but will have her heart in her mouth as the ball flew very close to Freya Kemp's fingers on the way.

    Four singles off the over mean it's eight off the over... which still isn't enough given the mammoth total required.

    Anya Shrubsole is back for the third over.

  11. Postpublished at 1 over

    Thunder 5-1 - target 192

    Linsey Smith will take the second over for the Vipers.

    Fi Morris got off the mark with a single to keep strike, Liberty Heap is yet to face a ball. That mis-timed scoop from Emma Lamb has left the Thunder up against it already, as if the target wasn't imposing enough.

  12. Postpublished at 13:38 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Thunder 4-1 - target 192

    Rita Green
    BBC Local Radio commentator and former Berkshire player

    What a bizarre dismissal. Emma Lamb would love to play that one again.

    That's the best possible start for the Vipers.

  13. wicket

    WICKET Lamb c McCaughan b Shrubsole 4published at 0.3 overs

    Thunder 4-1 - target 192

    Southern Vipers celebrate taking the wicket of Emma LambImage source, Getty Images

    Emma Lamb is fit to bat after receiving treatment earlier on and cracks the opening delivery from Anya Shrubsole to the rope for four, but she's holed out to Ella McCaughan from just the third ball and the Vipers have a breakthrough.

    Fi Morris joins Liberty Heap at the crease.

  14. Thunder chasing 192 to reach finalpublished at 13:34 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Southern Vipers 191-6 (20 overs) v Thunder

    The umpires and players are heading back onto the field at New Road, so I will hand over to Alex Hoad, who is going to guide you through Thunder's run chase.

  15. Postpublished at 13:31 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Southern Vipers 191-6 (20 overs) v Thunder

    Thunder's highest total of this year's tournament is the 165-5 they made in the win against South East Stars in Blackpool on 4 June.

    Emma Lamb top-scored on that occasion with 63 off 38 balls, and you feel Thunder might need something similar from their England international batter to get them close to the Vipers' total.

  16. 'Vipers will be very happy'published at 13:26 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Southern Vipers 191-6 v Thunder

    Kevan James
    BBC Radio Solent commentator

    It's a very, very good total, it could have been more, but I think, having been put in to bat, they'll be happy with this.

  17. Thunder to chase 192 to reach finalpublished at 20 overs

    Southern Vipers 191-6 v Thunder

    Southern Vipers batters Maia Bouchier and Danni WyattImage source, Getty Images

    Southern Vipers post their highest total of this year's competition at just the right time, and will shortly look to defend a total of 191-6 as they bid to reach the Charlotte Edwards Cup final against The Blaze.

    Openers Danni Wyatt (76) and Maia Bouchier (56) got Vipers off to a flying start and, having been 108-0 in the 11th over, they might feel it could have been a few more, but Liv Bell's four wickets pegged them back in the closing overs.

    Even so, it's a daunting chase for Thunder to follow.

  18. wicket

    WICKET Elwiss c Dottin b Ecclestone 20published at 19.4 overs

    Southern Vipers 186-6 v Thunder

    Georgia Elwiss smashes another couple of fours off Sophie Ecclestone but is then caught at point by Deandra Dottin.

  19. Postpublished at 19 overs

    Southern Vipers 176-5 v Thunder

    Georgia Elwiss sweeps Liv Bell for a four to spoil the Thunder bowler's final over but Bell will end with 4-36 - it's been a pivotal contribution for her team to keep them in it.

    Six balls left, to be bowled by Sophie Ecclestone.

  20. 'Thunder have worked hard'published at 13:20 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Southern Vipers 168-5 v Thunder

    Kevan James
    BBC Radio Solent commentator

    This is a good score, but it could have been more and the Vipers will want a few more.

    Thunder have fielded well here, they are working hard.