Kathryn Bryce POTM - 4-for, unbeaten 38 as Blaze win County Cup knockout title

The Blaze Women secured a nine-wicket victory over Essex Women at Chesterfield on September 11, 2026, clinching top spot in the Metro Bank Women's One-Day Cup points table and advancing directly to the final.

Scrivens' Lone Stand: Essex skipper Grace Scrivens anchored her side's innings with a top score of 70 off 116 balls. However, a middle-order collapse triggered by spin and seam reduced Essex from 80 for 2 to 89 for 6.

Blaze Bowling Effort: Captain Kirstie Gordon led the attack with 3 for 25, while Kathryn Bryce, Lucy Higham, and Cassidy McCarthy chipped in with two wickets each to bowl Essex out for 159.

Early Wicket: Essex pacer Esmae MacGregor bowled former England international Tammy Beaumont early in the chase to leave Blaze at 30 for 1. Bryce Sisters' Dominance: Sisters Sarah Bryce (70* off 58 balls) and Kathryn Bryce (67* off 47 balls) shared an unbroken 132-run partnership, chasing down the 160-run target in just 19.1 overs.

Finals Scenario: Having already won the Charlotte Edwards Cup and the Vitality T20 County Cup this season, treble-chasing Blaze advance straight to the Metro Bank final at the Utilita Bowl on September 19. They will play the winner of the eliminator between Hampshire and the winner of Surrey vs Somerset.

In reply, the Blaze suffered an early setback when MacGregor produced one excellent delivery in an otherwise untidy opening spell, bowling former England international Tammy Beaumont with one that came back to clip the top of off stump. But that was the only glimmer of optimism for the visitors as the Scotland international pair were ruthless in their punishment of some fairly ordinary bowling.

Essex Women: 159 all out (45.4 overs) | The Blaze Women: 162/1 (19.1 overs) | Result: The Blaze Women won by 9 wickets (with 185 balls remaining)