Charlotte Edwards Cup 2024 roundup: The Blaze qualify for Finals Day with seventh straight win

The Cricketer reviews the best of the action from the latest round of the T20 competition in 2024

Bristol: Southern Vipers 137-9, Western Storm 119 - Southern Vipers win by 18 runs

Georgia Adams produced a superb all-round performance with bat and ball to guide Southern Vipers to a 19-run victory over Western Storm in an enthralling Charlotte Edwards Cup contest at Bristol's Seat Unique Stadium.

Heather Knight had scored 69 from 56 balls and was threatening to win the game for Storm when Adams struck a crucial blow by claiming her wicket in the penultimate over. The Vipers captain finished with figures of 2 for 23, while fellow spinner Charlie Dean took 3 for 24 as the home side were bowled out for 119 in 20 overs.

Adams had earlier top-scored with a 40-ball 55, mustered six fours and a six and helped stage a progressive stand of 55 in 6.1 overs with Charli Knott as the visitors posted 137 for 9 after losing the toss.

Canterbury: South East Stars 122-8, Central Sparks 123-7 - Central Sparks win by three wickets

Emily Arlott took a hat-trick and then hit the winning runs as the Central Sparks beat the South East Stars by three wickets in a Charlotte Edwards Cup thriller at Canterbury.

Arlott took four for 21 and Katie George 2 for 31 as the Stars were limited to 122 for 8, Sophia Dunkley, the top scorer with 58 from 49 balls.

16-year-old spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman then took 3 for 14 the Stars, but Sparks skipper Eve Jones looked to have taken the game away from the Stars with a crucial stand of 59 with Courtney Webb.

Two late wickets from Ryana MacDonald-Gay left the Sparks needing eight from the last over, but Arlott hit Tash Farrant's first two balls for fours to seal the win with four balls to spare, the Sparks finishing on 123 for 7.

^{Georgia Adams starred for Southern Vipers (Getty Images)}

Headingley: The Blaze 159-7, Northern Diamonds 146 - The Blaze win by 13 runs

Last year's beaten finalists The Blaze have qualified for Finals Day again after winning their seventh successive Charlotte Edwards Cup match of the ongoing campaign, by 13 runs against struggling Northern Diamonds at Headingley.

Blaze, who defended a 160-target, are the runaway leaders at the top of the table but were threatened by a Diamonds side who have lost six of their seven games and now need a miracle to qualify for the showpiece day at Derby on June 22. Even winning their three remaining games may not be sufficient.

International pair Kathryn Bryce and Tammy Beaumont underpinned their side's 159 for 7 with impressive scores of 54 off 39 balls and 45 off 33 respectively. England fringe wicketkeeper-batter Bess Heath then crashed 59 off 32, but the hosts fell from 94 for 2 in the 12th over to 146 all out in the 20th.

England leg-spinner Sarah Glenn claimed 3 for 32 and Bryce continued her excellent day by removing Heath caught at deep cover as one of two wickets with her seamers.

Blackpool: Sunrisers 151-9, Thunder 155-5 - Thunder win by five wickets

Kate Cross hit a six and a four in the final over to deliver a thrilling last over five-wicket victory for the Thunder against Sunrisers in the Charlotte Edwards Cup at Blackpool.

The result leaves the Thunder in fifth place, four points behind Central Sparks who occupy the fourth qualifying spot but Sunrisers, who remain on eight points, now face an uphill task to qualify for the playoffs.

It was an exciting finale after Sunrisers had posted 151 for 9 after winning the toss, one run shy of their best total in this season's competition, led by Lissy Macleod's 60, while Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the Thunder bowlers with 3 for 18.

Seren Smale was the batting hero for Thunder holding the middle of the innings together with an unbeaten 39, her best score in this competition, and late runs from Ecclestone and Cross were vital in clinching the win for the hosts who finished on 155 for 5.

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