The Blaze make history with cup double

After crushing Essex in a semi final reduced to five overs per side, the Nottingham-based Blaze added another convincing seven-wicket victory over Surrey in a longer final to add the knockout title to the Vitality T20 Blast they lifted last month.

Experienced Scotland all-rounder Kathryn Bryce set up the win with four for 18, with her younger wicketkeeping sister Sarah adding a catch and a run out as Surrey struggled to find any momentum in their 13 overs after being put in.

Bryce, The Blaze player of the match, said: “It’s really great to have the two T20 trophies – and it sets us up really well to go for the Metro Bank.

“The last couple of days have been quite unknown with so much rain around, and a lot of people have been up and down through today, with a lot of hanging around.

“But it’s been great for the day having three games of cricket played, rather than bowl-offs.

“It was a fantastic final for us, the way we bowled and restricted them, in the field as well. In any format they play, we know Surrey will be really aggressive – we’ve been clear on our plans, and taking wickets is always the key.”

Emma Jones gave The Blaze’s reply a rapid start with 22 from 14 balls and although she and Tammy Beaumont both holed out off Alice Monaghan, Georgia Elwiss joined Kathryn Bryce in a decisive third wicket stand of 40 in four overs.

Bryce was joined by her sister to scamper the winning single with an over to spare, ending unbeaten on 38 from 30 balls to leave no doubt about the player of the match award.

Surrey had just held off Somerset in their high-scoring five-over semi final only to fall short in the title deciding match as they had against Lancashire when the T20 County Cup was introduced last summer.

Kira Chathli top-scored with 25 from 23 balls but after she was run out by a smart piece of work from Sarah Bryce, the elder Bryce sister took over with her nagging inswing – and she had remarkable figures of four for eight until Alice Davidson-Richards plundered 10 off the last three balls of the innings.

Finals Day seemed to be heading for a complete washout as heavy drizzle fell constantly, with the indoor school at Emirates Old Trafford prepared for bowl-outs – although under regulations introduced in 2024, they would only be permitted for semi finals and not the final.

But the umpires and groundstaff pounced at the first sight of a break in the rain, and agreed on a 450pm start – with each of the semi finals reduced to five overs per side to leave as much time as possible for the final, which began at 745pm.