Summary

  • Southern Vipers beat The Blaze by five wickets at Northampton

  • The Blaze total 200-8 from their 48 overs - game reduced from 50 a side

  • England opener Tammy Beaumont scores 76 off 104 balls

  • Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith takes 3-30 for Vipers

  • Emily Windsor hits unbeaten 57 as Vipers reach 203-5 in 41st over

  • Georgia Elwiss earlier makes 50 off 69 balls in their run-chase

  • Vipers also won the 50-over Heyhoe Flint Trophy in 2020 and 2021

  • They also beat The Blaze in this season's 20-over Charlotte Edwards Cup final

  1. Signing offpublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Southern Vipers with the trophyImage source, Getty Images

    They couldn't quite manage it last year, but Southern Vipers have completed the Charlotte Edwards Cup and Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy double in 2023.

    They beat The Blaze by five wickets at Northampton, with Emily Windsor hitting the winning boundary just as she did in the 2021 Heyhoe Flint final, when they overcame Northern Diamonds.

    After mixed results in the early part of the group stage, they came on strong with five victories in September, including the final itself.

    This was the fifth win in six finals in the two competitions. Quite a record.

  2. Vipers on top againpublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Southern Vipers beat The Blaze by five wickets

    There will be no resting on laurels by Southern Vipers, the most successful team in domestic women's cricket.

    "We want more - keep going," said captain Georgia Adams before lifting the trophy.

    She was their leading run-scorer and wicket-taker in this season's competition and also took 11 catches as well.

  3. Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy - top performers 2023published at 17:22 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Leading run scorers

    Lauren Winfield-Hill (Northern Diamonds) 663

    Georgia Adams (Southern Vipers) 546

    Eve Jones (Central Sparks) 440

    Most wickets

    Georgia Davis (Central Sparks) 27

    Katie Levick (Northern Diamonds) 24

    Danielle Gregory (South East Stars) 21

  4. Vipers complete doublepublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Southern Vipers beat The Blaze by five wickets

    Freya Kemp and Emily WindsorImage source, Getty Images

    Yes, what a summer this has been for south-coast women's cricket.

    Southern Vipers have won both domestic limited-overs competitions and Southern Brave won The Hundred women's final.

    The common denominator was head coach Charlotte Edwards, but she would be first to direct all the praise to her players.

    Vipers seized the automatic path to the final by winning their final four group games - the final one against The Blaze - and beat the same opponents again to lift the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for the third time in its four-year history.

  5. Postpublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Kevan James
    BBC Radio Solent commentator

    It's three wins out of four for Vipers in this competition and another trophy for Charlotte Edwards

    She has picked up all three women's domestic trophies this year.

  6. SOUTHERN VIPERS BEAT THE BLAZE BY 5 WICKETSpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 24 September 2023
    Breaking

    The Blaze 200-8 v Southern Vipers 203-5

    There it is.

    Emily Windsor drives Kirstie Gordon over mid-off for four and the Vipers add the Heyhoe Flint Trophy to the Charlotte Edwards Cup they won earlier in the season.

    The Blaze had their chance when Josie Groves removed Georgia Elwiss (50) and Georgia Adams (39) in the same over.

    But Windsor shared an unbroken stand of 94 with 18-year-old Freya Kemp and reached 57 not out to see them home with 7.4 overs to spare.

  7. 50 runs

    for Emily Windsorpublished at 40 overs

    Vipers 198-5 - target 201

    Emily WindsorImage source, Getty Images

    Emily Windsor lofts Lucy Higham down the ground for her eighth four and reaches a 51-ball half-century - her third in this season's Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy this season.

    She has gone past 400 runs in the 2023 competition in this innings and two off the final ball takes her to 53 and leaves her side needing three more to win.

  8. Postpublished at 17:04 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Kevan James
    BBC Radio Solent commentator

    Difficult chance, but Windsor didn't get hold of that.

  9. dropped catch

    Postpublished at 39.1 overs

    Vipers 190-5 - target 201

    Lucy Higham comes in - or Lucy Higha as her shirt tells us.

    Emily Windsor hammers the ball back down the pitch but the spinner spills the catch.

  10. Postpublished at 39 overs

    Vipers 190-5 - target 201

    Grace Ballinger gets away with a full toss to Emily Windsor which the Vipers batter splices back down the pitch to her.

    A very un-Ballinger like leg-side wide is followed by a Windsor drive to cover for one.

    Ballinger offers a little bit of width and Freya Kemp slices it to third man for four.

    Just 11 needed now as Vipers look to regain the trophy they won in 2020 and 2021.

  11. Postpublished at 38 overs

    Vipers 181-5 - target 201

    Josie Groves - 3-36 so far - is back into the attack.

    The Blaze could do with another double-wicket over from her.

    Three singles will do for the Vipers - they need 20 off 60 balls to win.

  12. Postpublished at 37 overs

    Vipers 178 - target 201

    Two singles and Grace Ballinger switches to round the wicket to Emily Windsor.

    Mid-off can't prevent Windsor adding another run to the total and Freya Kemp punches the next back past her for one.

    An 'expensive' over by Ballinger - four from it.

  13. Postpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Melinda Farrell
    Sports broadcaster/journalist

    The calm way they have approached this chase has been so impressive.

    But there's always time for another wobble!

  14. Postpublished at 36 overs

    Vipers 174-5 - target 201

    A big swipe by Emily Windsor and an edge flies away to the boundary.

    Too much room again and she slashes it away for her second four in three balls.

    Eleven from that one, bowled by Kathryn Bryce, and the Blaze appear to be running out of kindling now.

    The PA plays I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas....we gotta feeling that the Vipers are cruising at the moment.

  15. Postpublished at 35 overs

    Vipers 163-5 - target 201

    The Blaze need a wicket - and they need it now.

    Can Grace Ballinger deliver it? No, but there's only one run from it.

    She has 0-3 from six overs now.

  16. Postpublished at 34 overs

    Vipers 162-5 - target 201

    Kathryn Bryce returns and Emily Windsor pulls her over the head of Lizelle Lee and it runs away for four.

    She repeats the shot to end the over but finds the fielder and can only take one. She is 30 not out and Freya Kemp has 21.

  17. Postpublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Wonder what England's Lauren Bell is thinking.

    She's not involved in this game but is at Wantage Road to watch her Southern Vipers team-mates.

    Lauren BellImage source, Getty Images
  18. Postpublished at 33 overs

    Vipers 156-5 -target 201

    Poor ball from Josie Groves and Emily Windsor helps it on its way for four to take the Vipers total past 150.

    Did that carry? Freya Kemp chips back down the pitch and the ball squeezes through Groves' gingers and it's a single.

    Nine from that one and Vipers need another 45 to win the trophy for the third time.

  19. Postpublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Melinda Farrell
    Sports broadcaster/journalist

    It's basically a case of pass the wobble from side to side.

    The wobble has existed throughout the game and they have each taken a turn.

  20. Postpublished at 32 overs

    Vipers 147-5 - target 201

    Emily Windsor clearly likes the cut shot.

    She uses it for a single off Kirstie Gordon and Freya Kemp unfurls her own cut off the final ball of the over and finds the boundary.

    Vipers need 54 off 96 balls.