The Blaze become first team to seal knockout spot after 70-run win over Warwickshire
The Blaze became the first side to secure a top-three finish in the Women's One-Day Cup and guarantee themselves a place in the knockout stage, after beating Warwickshire by 70 runs at Edgbaston on 26 August BBC Sport.
The competition follows a group phase feeding into a knockout bracket of eight teams, so a confirmed top-three spot locks The Blaze into the business end of the tournament with games to spare. The win — their 10th in 12 matches — stretched their lead over second-placed Hampshire to five points.
Orla Prendergast (69), Georgia Elwiss (57) and Kathryn Bryce (45) did the bulk of the scoring as The Blaze posted 282-7 from their 50 overs. Warwickshire's Issy Wong took 5-58, the standout bowling figures of the match, but her efforts could not stem the run flow.
Warwickshire's chase looked on course at 148-2 in the 30th over. Katie George had made 89 and Brooke Halliday 52. Then the innings folded. Warwickshire were bowled out for 212 in 43.3 overs, losing their last eight wickets for 64 runs. Lucy Higham took 4-41 and Charley Phillips chipped in with 1-17 from eight economical overs.
Despite the defeat, fourth-placed Warwickshire stayed in the hunt for a top-four finish.
Elsewhere on the same day, Somerset, Surrey and holders Lancashire all picked up victories. Lancashire kept their own knockout hopes alive with a four-wicket win over Hampshire at Southampton — their third consecutive win in the competition.
Kate Cross led the way with the ball, taking a season's best 4-33 as Lancashire bowled Hampshire out for 223. Emma Lamb's 68 then anchored the chase, Lancashire reaching 224-6 to win with wickets in hand.
Hampshire's total had been built on Abi Norgove's unbeaten 70 and a quickfire 61 from 54 balls by Freya Kemp. For Kemp, the innings doubled as a warm-up — she is due to link up with England for a three-game series against Ireland next week.
What makes The Blaze's position stand out is the margin of authority. Ten wins from twelve is the kind of record that separates a good side from a dominant one, and they have wrapped up a knockout berth while several rivals are still scrapping for position. Lancashire, as holders, are gathering momentum at the right time too. The final weeks of the group stage now hinge on who joins The Blaze in the top four — and who misses out.
