The fourth match of the Women’s T20 Blast 2026 produced a thrilling contest at Nottingham as Yorkshire Women and The Blaze Women battled in a high-scoring encounter that went right down to the wire. In front of an enthusiastic crowd, the game showcased fearless batting, crucial partnerships, and pressure-filled overs before The Blaze Women eventually chased down the target with four wickets in hand and three balls to spare. The contest was packed with momentum swings, making it one of the most entertaining fixtures.
Yorkshire Women began their innings positively after being asked to bat, but the start was disrupted early when captain Lauren Winfield-Hill managed only 7 runs from 6 balls before becoming the first wicket to fall at 17. Kirstie Gordon struck the breakthrough, while Erin Thomas looked fluent during her brief stay, scoring 11 from 7 deliveries with two boundaries. Yorkshire reached 25 before Charley Phillips removed Thomas, giving The Blaze Women another important breakthrough during the powerplay. With the innings in slight danger at 25/2, experienced all-rounder Jess Jonassen joined Sterre Kalis and shifted the momentum through a calculated rebuilding partnership.
The partnership between Jess Jonassen and Sterre Kalis proved to be the backbone of Yorkshire Women’s innings. Jonassen attacked from the outset, playing elegant strokes all around the ground, while Kalis anchored the innings smartly from the other end. Together, they added 76 runs for the third wicket and completely steadied Yorkshire after the early setbacks. Jonassen was particularly destructive, smashing 52 runs off just 29 deliveries, including eight fours and one six at a strike rate of 179.31. Kalis complemented her beautifully with a composed 47 from 40 balls, striking six boundaries. Their stand lifted Yorkshire past the 100-run mark and placed pressure firmly back on The Blaze Women bowlers.
After Jonassen departed at 101/3 in the 11.2 over, caught by Tammy Beaumont off Charley Phillips, Yorkshire continued to maintain the scoring rate through Ami Campbell. Campbell played an aggressive cameo of 30 from 22 balls with four boundaries and formed another useful partnership with Kalis. The pair added 46 runs for the fourth wicket before Sterre Kalis was dismissed in the 17th over by Kirstie Gordon after a well-made innings. Ami Campbell soon followed at 161/5, but Yorkshire finished strongly thanks to Maddie Ward and Beth Langston, who remained unbeaten on 13 and 7 respectively. Their late runs pushed Yorkshire Women to a competitive 179/5 from 20 overs at a run rate of 8.95.
The Blaze Women bowlers had mixed fortunes in the contest. Charley Phillips was the standout performer with figures of 3/31 from her four overs, picking up crucial wickets including Erin Thomas, Jess Jonassen, and Ami Campbell. Kirstie Gordon also contributed effectively with 2/29, dismissing both Lauren Winfield-Hill and Sterre Kalis. Charli Knott bowled economically for her 19 runs in four overs, while Kathryn Bryce and Lucy Higham proved expensive during the death overs.
Chasing 180 for victory, The Blaze Women started aggressively despite losing Tammy Beaumont early for 8 runs. Marie Kelly counterattacked with authority and found support from Kathryn Bryce, whose quickfire 17 off only 8 balls shifted momentum rapidly. The Blaze reached 63 before Bryce departed, but Kelly continued to dominate the Yorkshire bowling attack with crisp strokeplay. She scored 29 from 26 balls before Olivia Thomas produced a vital breakthrough. Georgia Elwiss then joined Charli Knott, and together they added another valuable partnership that kept the required run rate under control. Elwiss contributed 20 from 17 deliveries before Holly Garton dismissed her at 120/4.
The turning point of the chase came through Charli Knott’s sensational innings. The all-rounder played one of the finest knocks of the tournament so far, blasting 57 runs from only 29 balls at a remarkable strike rate of 196.55. Her innings included nine boundaries and completely changed the complexion of the chase. Knott and Sarah Bryce added a rapid partnership that brought The Blaze Women within touching distance of victory. Even after Knott fell at 148/5 in the 17th over, Sarah Bryce remained calm under pressure. The wicketkeeper-batter anchored the final phase brilliantly, finishing unbeaten on 28 from 17 balls, while Ella Claridge stayed not out on 1 as The Blaze Women completed the chase at 181/6 in 19.3 overs.
Yorkshire Women bowlers fought hard throughout the innings. Holly Garton was the pick of the attack with impressive figures of 3/23 in four overs, dismissing Tammy Beaumont, Kathryn Bryce, and Georgia Elwiss at key moments. Olivia Thomas chipped in with 2/26 from 2.3 overs, including the important wickets of Marie Kelly and Emma Jones late in the innings. Beth Langston picked up one wicket but proved expensive, while Jess Jonassen and Rachel Slater bowled tidy spells without reward.
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