​The Blaze and Lancashire wrapped up their group stage campaigns with victories in the T20 Blast. Charli Knott delivered a crucial 84 not out as The Blaze edged to a three-wicket win over Yorkshire at Headingley, giving them a warm-up ahead of Friday’s finals day. Knott’s stunning 84 off 57 balls proved pivotal after The Blaze had bowled Yorkshire out for 122 and then stumbled to 41-5 in the eighth over of their run chase, before stabilising and closing the game five balls to spare.
Earlier, left-arm swing bowler Grace Ballinger was a key influence for The Blaze, finishing with 3-31, while Charley Phillips and Kirstie Gordon each claimed two wickets. York’s innings saw three batsmen reach 23 apiece and captain Lauren Winfield-Hill top-scoring with 29, but the innings fell short of a defendable total as The Blaze’s bowlers did enough to limit scoring. Academy leg-spinner Holly Garton also impressed with 2-17, contributing to The Blaze’s victory.
In the other match at Emirates Old Trafford, Lancashire required an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 60 between Skye Thomas and Kate Cross to overhaul Durham. Thomas, on her senior Lancashire debut, produced a remarkable 55 not out off 38 balls to steer her side to a four-wicket success after Durham had posted 132-6, a total built on the back of Hollie Armitage’s 30 and Venus Weerappuli’s 2-20 with the ball.
Durham had defended a modest score with vigour, reducing Lancashire to 75-6 in the 13th over as Heather Graham claimed two wickets. Yet Thomas and Cross steadied the innings, unbroken for seven overs, and their partnership carried Lancashire to the finish line with five balls to spare. Durham’s bowlers had been disciplined up to that point, but the late alliance proved decisive and kept Lancashire on course for a finals appearance on Friday.
Sunday’s remaining fixtures see Surrey facing top-of-the-table Hampshire, while Somerset host Essex, keeping the weekend’s action lively as the race to the finals day continues. Both The Blaze’s win and Lancashire’s late rescue provide a boost to their campaigns, ensuring they head into the final stage with momentum and confidence.
The matches, detailed by the ECB Reporters’ Network with Rothesay support, highlighted The Blaze’s all-round strength and Lancashire’s resilience under pressure. The weekend’s results further shape the atmosphere heading into the Kia Oval showpiece, where the finalists will be decided. Subscriptions and updates for cricket news are available for fans seeking immediate coverage of Friday’s finals day and the broader domestic season.