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. Postpublished at 8 overs

    Southern Vipers 71-0 v Thunder

    Danni Wyatt hits her England colleague Sophie Ecclestone for three fours in the over - two of them slog sweeps and another one through the off side.

    The acceleration is starting now.

  2. Postpublished at 7 overs

    Southern Vipers 57-0 v Thunder

    Seven runs from the seventh over and Vipers continue their serene progress.

  3. 'Thunder can't let this get out of control'published at 12:25 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Southern Vipers 50-0 v Thunder

    Mark Church
    BBC Local Radio commentator

    The Vipers will be absolutely delighted with this start, I'm sure. Maia Bouchier has shown some beautiful footwork.

    This is just about the perfect scenario, powerplay done, 50 on the board, no wickets down.

    Thunder can't afford to let this get out of control... they just can't get any control out there at the moment.

  4. Postpublished at 12:25 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Chloe Hill
    Southern Vipers player on BBC Local Radio

    Maia Bouchier batting for Southern VipersImage source, Getty Images

    Vipers will be really happy with that powerplay. They couldn't have asked for a better start.

    These two have a licence now to pierce more boundaries.

  5. Postpublished at 12:24 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Jemma Green
    BBC Local Radio commentator and former Hampshire women player

    Vipers are not giving Thunder anything here. Anything back of a length is being punished.

  6. Postpublished at 6 overs

    Southern Vipers 50-0 v Thunder

    Thunder were starting to build a little bit of pressure but Maia Bouchier releases the valve, swatting a full toss from Fi Morris over mid-wicket for four and then finding the fence against with a gorgeous cover drive.

    That brings up the 50 for Vipers.

  7. Postpublished at 5 overs

    Southern Vipers 40-0 v Thunder

    Naomi Dattani into the attack - another left-arm seamer - and it's a very tidy over with just the one single from it.

    It was a scrambled one as well, which could have easily resulted in a run out.

    Fi Morris will bowl the final over of the powerplay.

  8. Postpublished at 4 overs

    Southern Vipers 39-0 v Thunder

    Maia Bouchier drives the first ball from Mahika Gaur straight down the ground for another four and after a couple of twos she drives uppishly to the fence at long on for another boundary to move to 22 from 11. Danni Wyatt has 16 from 13.

    13 off the over and 39 off the first four. Some start from the defending champions.

  9. Postpublished at 12:17 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Jemma Green
    BBC Local Radio commentator and former Hampshire women player

    This is really good batting from the Vipers at the moment. When they're not picking up boundaries they are scoring in ones and twos.

  10. Postpublished at 3 overs

    Southern Vipers 26-0 v Thunder

    Another 10 off the third over as Tara Norris struggles to find her line and length in her first over.

    Danni Wyatt and Maia Bouchier both find the ropes with clips through the leg side. It looks a good pitch and an incredibly fast outfield already. Could be some good scoring today.

    Wyatt did edge through the vacant slip area with the ball falling just short of Mahika Gaur.

  11. Postpublished at 2 overs

    Southern Vipers 16-0 v Thunder

    Left-arm seamer Mahika Gaur is sharing the new ball with Sophie Ecclestone for Thunder.

    The 17-year-old gets a bit of inswing early in the second over and there's a strangled appeal for lbw against Danni Wyatt turned away, before Gaur then drops short and Wyatt pulls her away for four.

  12. Postpublished at 1 over

    Southern Vipers 9-0 v Thunder

    Sophie Ecclestone drops a tad short in the first couple of balls, allowing Maia Bouchier to cut her away for the day's first boundary, and the opening over goes for nine runs in all.

  13. Vipers to bat firstpublished at 12:00 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Semi-final: Southern Vipers v Thunder (12:00 BST)

    The Thunder team, all in red, are led onto the pitch by their captain Ellie Threlkeld, closely followed by Vipers openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt.

    Sophie Ecclestone is going to take the new ball.

  14. 'Vipers have shown they are fallible'published at 12:00 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Semi-final: Southern Vipers v Thunder (12:00 BST)

    Jemma Green
    BBC Local Radio commentator and former Hampshire women player

    Vipers have been at every Finals day in both the Charlotte Edwards and Rachel Heyhoe Flint competitions but Thunder are a bit of a surprise this year.

    After losing heir first two games they have rebuilt and managed to get here by beating Northern Diamonds who are regulars at Finals Days.

    I think Vipers are favourites, they know how to win games, but they have had a few upsets this year and shown they are fallible.

  15. Players to watchpublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Semi-final: Southern Vipers v Thunder (12:00 BST)

    With the Ashes against Australia upcoming, we'll get a decent look at some of the England players expected to be involved in that series.

    Southern Vipers will hope Danni Wyatt will be at her destructive best at the top of the order, while the experience of Anya Shrubsole - who retired from England duty last year - could be crucial with the ball.

    For Thunder, Sophie Ecclestone will be a key component in both disciplines.

    Ranked number one in the ICC's lists for ODI and T20 international bowlers, Ecclestone's left-arm spin can cause lots of problems for any batting line-up. And she is more than handy with the bat, too.

  16. Thunder win toss and field firstpublished at 11:55 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Semi-final: Southern Vipers v Thunder (12:00 BST)

    Under sunny skies at New Road, Thunder have won the toss and chosen to field first.

    As for the line-ups, there are plenty of England internationals on show in this semi-final.

    Among them are Danni Wyatt, Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean and Freya Kemp, who are all included in the Vipers' team.

    Sophie Ecclestone and Emma Lamb are in the Thunder side, as is West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin.

  17. Listen livepublished at 11:52 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Semi-final: Southern Vipers v Thunder (12:00 BST)

    BBC local radio

    In addition to our text updates, you can listen to live radio commentary of Finals Day by clicking on the audio icon at the top of this page.

  18. Blaze await the winnerspublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Final: The Blaze v Southern Vipers/Thunder (16:00 BST)

    The Blaze's Nadine de Klerk (right) celebrates taking a wicketImage source, Getty Images

    The Blaze have been the standout team in this season's 20-over competition, winning all seven of their group games to go straight through to today's final.

    England duo Nat Sciver-Brunt and Tammy Beaumont have led the way with the bat, while South Africa's Nadine de Klerk goes into Finals Day as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 14.

  19. Thunder save best for lastpublished at 11:48 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Semi-final: Southern Vipers v Thunder (12:00 BST)

    Thunder booked their place at Finals Day at the very last gasp, beating Northern Diamonds in their concluding group game to finish third in the table.

    Liv Bell took 3-9 as they bowled out Diamonds for just 96, the lowest total in this year's competition.

  20. Holders Vipers aim to repeat 2022 triumphpublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 10 June 2023

    Semi-final: Southern Vipers v Thunder (12:00 BST)

    Southern Vipers won the 2022 Charlotte Edwards CupImage source, Getty Images

    Southern Vipers are hoping to defend their domestic 20-over trophy after winning the Charlotte Edwards Cup in 2022.

    They won five of their seven group games to finish second in the table, including a four-wicket victory against semi-final opponents Thunder at the end of May.