Semi-Final—Vitality Blast Women (League 1): The Blaze vs Warwickshire (27 July 2025)
📍 Match context
Both The Blaze and Warwickshire secured their places in the first semi-final of the inaugural 2025 Women’s Vitality Blast. The Blaze ended up second in League 1 with an 8–2 record, while Warwickshire finished third with 8 victories but more losses. The winning team would advance to Finals Day at Northampton.
📝 Toss & teams
Warwickshire, known as Bears Women, won the toss and chose to bat first at the renowned Kennington Oval, creating a thrilling chase situation. Important figures in the teams included Blaze skipper Kirstie Gordon and all-rounder Kathryn Bryce, while Warwickshire showcased standout players like Davina Perrin and promising rookie Millie Taylor.
Summary of the game
Led by outstanding performances from Marie Kelly (57) and Georgia Elwiss (53), The Blaze put up a respectable score of 164/5 in 20 overs. Kathryn Bryce also contributed a useful cameo to raise the score to a defensible total of 165.
As a result, Warwickshire had early setbacks, losing important wickets one after another and never quite recovering. In the end, they were bowled out shy of the target, despite a late push from the middle order. By winning by 27 runs, The Blaze secured their spot in Finals Day.
🌟 Star athletes
From the top, Marie Kelly (Blaze) established the tone with a powerful 57 off little over 40 balls.
Georgia Elwiss (Blaze): Kelly’s aggressive start was backed by a smooth 53.
Kathryn Bryce (Blaze): A solid cameo in the lower order that helped the chaseable total.
Warwickshire’s chase: The team’s early wickets were a disaster, and the middle order’s efforts were too late to change the game’s course.
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The highlights and format of your professional career
Today’s match began with Blaze fresh off a decisive 50-over victory over Warwickshire in the Women’s One-Day Cup (July 24), when they chased them down to win by 47 runs thanks to Kelly’s debut List A 66 and contributions from Kathryn Bryce, Elwiss, and Sarah Bryce.
summary
The Blaze made a strong statement in their Vitality Blast Women semi-final at the Kennington Oval. Warwickshire won the toss and attempted to set the tone, but their pursuit was ruined by early wickets. In the meanwhile, Kelly and Elwiss’s half centuries in the blaze innings helped The Blaze reach a match-winning score.
Although Warwickshire responded enthusiastically, they were unable to establish collaborations or maintain the asking price. The Blaze demonstrated their balance of aggression and composure under duress, resulting in a convincing 27-run victory.
As a result, The Blaze moves on to the championship round of the first Women’s T20 Blast, fueled by confidence and momentum. They are strong candidates for the championship due to their combination of strong hitting and accurate bowling.
Coming up next? A place on Finals Day at Northampton, where supporters may anticipate an exciting conclusion to what has been a fantastic season for The Blaze.
