Prendergast, Elwiss seal knockouts place for The Blaze

With a 70-run victory over Warwickshire at Edgbaston, the Blaze advanced to the Metro Bank Women's One-Day Cup knockout stage.

The Blaze totalled a meaty 282 for 7 thanks to Orla Prendergast's 69 from 73 balls, a Georgia Elwiss half-century and Kathryn Bryce's 45. Issy Wong, an England fast bowler, went 5 for 58.

Warwickshire were well-placed at 148 for 2 in the 30th over but fell away to 212 all out in 43.3 overs. Skipper Katie George scored an excellent 89 and Brooke Halliday 52 but Lucy Higham took 4 for 41 while Charley Phillips produced the match-winning bowling effort with 8-2-17-1.

The Blaze's eleventh victory from 13 games keeps their powerhouse season very much on track. Warwickshire's defeat keeps them deep in the congested pack chasing a top-four finish for qualification.

Put in, The Blaze lost former Warwickshire favourite Marie Kelly in the first over when she sliced Wong to third. At first, the batters made only three fours in the first ten overs. However, Tammy Beaumont and Kathryn Bryce added 80 in 17 overs before Phoebe Brett struck out both of them in 12 balls. Bryce skidded to mid-off after Beaumont attempted a cut on wicketkeeper Nat Wraith.

Elwiss and Prendergast supplied acceleration, reaching half-centuries from 54 and 64 balls respectively. They added 93 runs in 18 overs before Wong caught Elwiss behind and caught Prendergast at deep square by Halliday. A late cameo by Emma Jones, who scored 19 runs from 12 balls, brought the total up to 300.

Grace Ballinger, a former Warwickshire seamer, then eliminated both openers with two early blows against her former teammates. Meg Austin missed a big drive and Davina Perrin was as plump as a batter can be. George and Halliday responded with a well-judged partnership of 125 in 22 overs which took the match into its final quarter finely balanced.

When Halliday pulled Pendergast to deep midwicket, Kathryn Bryce made an excellent catch, denying the batter a six. She had just hit 64 balls for her half-century. Charis Pavely succumbed shortly after, this time after being pounced on by Higham.

George needed a partner, but Em Arlott lifted Phillips to mid-off after hitting three fours in a Kirstie Gordon over. Higham then took three wickets in nine balls, catching Wraith at cover, Wong through a cut, and Alexa Stonehouse at mid-on. When George drilled a return catch to Kathryn Bryce, it was game over.