The Blaze completed a T20 double after beating Surrey by seven wickets in the T20 Women’s County Cup final at Old Trafford. Surrey made 91 for 8 from 13 overs after being asked to bat first. The Blaze reached 92 for 3 in 12 overs, finishing with an over to spare. Kathryn Bryce was the star, taking 4 for 18 before scoring an unbeaten 38 from 30 balls.
The Nottingham-based side had already beaten Essex in a semi-final reduced to five overs per side because of rain. Their win over Surrey gave them the County Cup to go with the T20 Blast trophy they won last month. The Blaze are also leading the Metro Bank One Day Cup table. With two T20 trophies secured, they can now focus on a domestic treble.
Surrey did not get the start they wanted, although Kira Chathli made 25 from 23 balls. Alice Monaghan made 18 from 16, while Alice Davidson-Richards stayed unbeaten on 19 from nine balls. Kathryn Bryce caused most of the trouble with her bowling. She finished with 4 for 18 from three overs, while Grace Ballinger, Charley Phillips and Josie Groves took one wicket each.
The Blaze also faced early trouble in their chase, losing three wickets early. Emma Jones gave them a quick start with 22 from 13 balls, and Georgia Elwiss later made 17 from 11. Elwiss and Kathryn Bryce put together a useful stand that brought the target closer. Bryce then stayed at the crease and made sure Surrey had no chance of putting the pressure back on.
Bryce ended the chase unbeaten on 38 from 30 balls, with four fours, and Sarah Bryce joined her at the end as The Blaze took the winning single. Bryce praised her team-mate and explained how her approach helped others in a difficult chase. “The way Jonesy (Emma Jones) played in both games was fantastic – she put us ahead of the rate and made it easier for the rest of us coming in.”
Rain had made the whole of Finals Day uncertain at Emirates Old Trafford. Heavy drizzle continued, and the indoor school was prepared for bowl-outs. Under rules introduced in 2024, bowl-outs could be used for semi-finals but not for the final. The semi-finals were reduced to five overs per side, with the final starting at 7.45pm.
Bryce was happy with how The Blaze handled the final, especially their work with the ball and in the field. She also pointed out that Surrey are an aggressive side and that taking wickets was an important part of their plan. “It’s really great to have the two T20 trophies – and it sets us up really well to go for the Metro Bank,” she said. “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.”
Surrey had reached the final after beating Somerset in their own five-over semi-final. Chathli was their leading scorer, but her dismissal came through sharp fielding from Sarah Bryce. Kathryn then removed Jemima Spence, Phoebe Franklin, Kalea Moore and Priyanaz Chatterji. Davidson-Richards added late runs, but Surrey could only reach 91 for 8. The Blaze’s reply was not perfect, but Jones, Elwiss and Bryce kept the chase moving.
For The Blaze, the final brought another important moment. They now have both T20 trophies and remain in a good position in the Metro Bank One Day Cup. Kathryn Bryce played the leading role, first with four wickets and then with the bat in the chase. Jones also made an important contribution by putting the innings ahead of the required rate early on. After a rain-affected day, The Blaze found a way to win and leave Old Trafford with another trophy.
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