Blaze into Blast final after seeing off holders Surrey
Charli Knott (right) took four wickets for The Blaze in the Vitality Blast semi-final
- Published
The Blaze will take their place in the Vitality Women's Blast final at The Oval later on Friday after easing to a six-wicket victory over reigning champions Surrey Women in the first semi-final on Finals Day.
Surrey, put in, were skittled for just 105 in the 16th over of their innings after spin success for Australian all-rounder Charli Knott (4-15) and Josie Groves (2-18). Only three Surrey batters reached double figures.
In response, The Blaze chased down their target with six wickets in hand and 21 balls to spare. They will now await to discover if they face face Hampshire Hawks or Durham in the final.
Grace Ballinger (3-17) claimed the prize wicket of England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge for a two-ball duck at the beginning of the third over and then dismissed Kira Chathli five deliveries later, when the Surrey keeper ramped straight up in the air to Charley Phillips.
Laura Harris posted a blistering 18 from just seven balls which included three fours and a six to lift Surrey up towards 50, but when she too perished in the powerplay, The Blaze were on top.
Seamer Ballinger had inflicted the early damage, but the track at The Oval is proving to be a turning wicket on Finals Day and Knott and Groves found plenty in the surface to exploit.
Surrey, meanwhile, lost regular wickets due in no small part to continuous poor shot selection; Jemima Spence went for three when she failed to connect with Kathryn Bryce's delivery when intending to ramp and then captain Bryony Smith departed for 29 when she gave in to frustrations and skied Knott up in the air.
Groves took a catch off her own bowling when she found the leading edge of the remaining set batter Alice Davidson-Richards (20) and from there the prospect of Surrey failing to bat out their overs was brought sharply into focus.
The innings was wrapped up with 28 deliveries still remaining when Knott took another sharp caught and bowled opportunity to get rid of tail-ender Tilly Corteen-Coleman, and Surrey were left to defend a meagre total having limped to 105.
The Blaze, with no scoreboard pressure and needing less than a run a ball, were free to conduct the chase as they chose.
Surrey did manage to see off Sarah Bryce (16) when she was bowled by spinner Kalea Moore and Corteen-Coleman (2-24) also sent Tammy Beaumont back to the pavilion for 29 off 30 balls.
But Knott (21) returned to the middle and put on 43 with Kathryn Bryce (34) to steer The Blaze to victory - although both batters departed with a single run still required and the honours were applied by a leg-bye via Emma Jones.
