The Blaze Secures 59-Run Victory Over Durham with Record-Breaking Partnership
The Blaze triumphed over Durham by 59 runs in a rain-affected match at Trent Bridge, solidifying their position at the top of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition. The victory was marked by impressive centuries from Kathryn Bryce and Georgia Elwiss, who scored 136 and 134 not out, respectively, leading The Blaze to their highest-ever List A team total of 356 for 4.
Having opted to bat first, The Blaze faced early setbacks, slipping to 55 for 2. However, Bryce and Elwiss formed a formidable partnership, amassing 233 runs for the third wicket—setting a new record for The Blaze and for the third wicket in the women’s One-Day Cup. Bryce’s century, her first since September last year, came off 117 balls with 11 boundaries, while Elwiss reached her century from 89 balls, hitting 14 fours.
Durham’s innings began under challenging conditions after rain interrupted play. They were set a revised target of 277 runs from 34 overs but struggled against The Blaze’s disciplined bowling attack. Captain Kirstie Gordon led the charge with 4 wickets for 54 runs, supported by Grace Ballinger, who took 3 for 44. Mady Villiers (65 off 34 balls) and Bess Heath (57 off 28) made valiant attempts to chase down the total, but Durham was eventually bowled out for 217.
This setback follows a recent defeat for Durham by 10 wickets to The Blaze in the final of the Vitality Blast women’s competition, highlighting a difficult period for the side. The turning point in the game came when Bryce escaped a catch when on 22, a mistake that proved costly for Durham.
This victory marks The Blaze’s 10th win out of 12 matches, reinforcing their dominance in the tournament.
Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn
