The Cricketer reviews the best of the action from Finals Day as the 2024 competition reaches a climax in Derby
Derby: Central Sparks 140-9, The Blaze 142-5 - The Blaze won by five wickets
The Blaze booked their place in a third consecutive regional women’s final as they defeated Central Sparks by five wickets with two overs to spare in the first of the two semi-finals on Charlotte Edwards Cup finals day at Derby.
Sparks England Under-19 legspinner Hannah Baker took 3 for 24 but the experience of England opener Tammy Beaumont (39 off 31 balls) and Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce (44 off 39) put The Blaze in control before a cameo 14 off four balls by Baker's international captain Josie Groves saw last year’s runners-up across the line.
Australian Courtney Webb rescued the Sparks innings from 93 for 6 with an unbeaten 45 from 31 balls after Davina Perrin (32 from 17) and Ami Campbell (21 from 14) had helped put on 54 in the powerplay after leg-spinner Sophie Groves, taking responsibility in the absence through injury of England’s Sarah Glenn, had taken two for 16 and left-arm pace bowler Grace Ballinger 2 for 34.
Davina Perrin shone for Sparks (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Derby: South East Stars 162-5, Southern Vipers 157-9 South East Stars won by five runs
South East Stars held their nerve to win the chance to take on The Blaze in the final of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, beating holders Southern Vipers by five runs in a gripping semi-final that went down to the last over.
Although seven wickets down, Vipers fancied that their experience would carry them through after needing 21 from the last three overs but two fine overs from Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Ryana MacDonald-Gay left them with a requirement of 10 off the final over, the key moment coming when Charlie Dean (43 from 29 balls) was run out off Tash Farrant's second ball of that over.
Sophia Dunkley (49 off 34) and Georgia Redmayne (39 off 38) had earlier shared a second-wicket stand of 74 to give the Stars a strong platform after losing skipper Bryony Smith earlier before Paige Scholfield cracked an unbeaten 34 off 22 balls to post 162 for 5.
Danni Wyatt struck 34 from 17 to get Vipers off to a flying start in reply but Corteen-Coleman (2 for 23), Dani Gregory (2 for 25) in particular bowled superbly to give Stars the edge.
Stars surged into the final courtesy of victory over the defending champions
Derby: South East Stars 141-9, The Blaze 144-3 - The Blaze won by seven wickets
Kathryn Bryce continued her outstanding season with a match-winning 62 off 44 balls as The Blaze, who were losing finalists in both women’s regional competitions last season, beat South East Stars by an emphatic seven wickets to lift the Charlotte Edwards Cup at Derby.
Bryce, who led the Scotland side she skippers to qualification for their first T20 World Cup earlier in the summer, shared a decisive partnership of 79 with her younger sister Sarah, who herself rose to the occasion with an unbeaten 52 from 46 balls as the Stars total of 141 for nine was passed with eight balls to spare.
Kathryn finishes the competition as leading runscorer for good measure, having hit an impressive five half-centuries in a tally of 477.
It rewarded The Blaze captain Kirstie Gordon for her own strong leadership after the heartbreak of losing both finals to Southern Vipers last year.
Her team have suffered only one defeat and avoided Vipers this time after the defending champions were knocked out by the Stars in the semi-finals, in which The Blaze beat Central Sparks by five wickets.
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