Brilliant Blaze defeat Durham to claim their first victory of 2025
Women’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup: The Blaze, 201-5 defeat Durham, 200 all out, by five wickets
Scotland all-rounder Kathryn Bryce and England leg-spinner Sarah Glenn starred to help The Blaze claim a comeback win, bouncing back from an opening day defeat to topple Durham at the Banks Homes Riverside.
Bryce took two wickets before top scoring for The Blaze with 54, while Glenn was the mastermind in creating a middle-order collapse for Durham. The spinner took three big wickets after changing ends, including that of Durham skipper Hollie Armitage, and the dangerous Bess Heath.
Durham motored to 164-2 after 36 overs, but lost eight wickets for 36 to be bowled out for 200 in the 48th. The collapse saw Hollie Armitage and Mady Villiers fall for 81 and 45 after they had shared an impressive third-wicket 114, which threatened to put the home side in a strong position.
In all, five Durham batters fell to leg-spin. Glenn returned 3-45 from her 10 overs, ably supported by Josie Groves, who bowled four crucial overs which claimed two wickets for just 12 runs. Kathryn Bryce returned two for 26 from 8.2 overs of seam.
The Blaze, beaten by Lancashire in Wednesday’s opener, eased to their target for the loss of five wickets inside 38 overs. Kathryn Bryce - fresh off 70 runs against Lancashire - was the catalyst again, scoring her second consecutive half century off just 57 balls, including seven fours.
Home captain Armitage and Villiers united with Durham at 50-2 in the 12th over following the early departures of Suzie Bates and Emma Marlow - the latter for 27.
Six-time international Armitage was strong square on both sides of the wicket against the Blaze attack, and calmly reached her second fifty in as many matches. Villiers played a lovely supporting role, and Durham threatened to post a strong total.
But suddenly, The Blaze found their rhythm, thanks to brilliance from Sarah Glenn.
The eight-wicket collapse was started by Villiers pulling Groves to Glenn, who took a very sharp catch off a well struck ball. Glenn then clean bowled three batters in superb fashion - England team-mate Bess Heath for six on the reverse lap, Armitage as she aimed to pull one which scooted through, and Leah Dobson too.
Sandwiched in between, Phoebe Turner was caught and bowled by Groves, and the score was 186-7 after 42 overs.
Kathryn Bryce then struck twice to help mop up the tail - restricting the home side to a total of 200 runs when much larger seemed achievable.
England duo Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones set the platform in reply by sharing 54 runs in ten overs, with Jones in particular showing her class with a range of flowing boundaries.
But both fell inside two overs to give Durham hope at 58-2 in the 12th.
The Bryce sisters were typically calm and ensured the good work continued, sharing 81 for the third wicket. Kathryn was eye-catching on the drive, while Sarah was busy for 34.
When the latter was trapped lbw by the off-spin of New Zealand’s Bates - 139-3 after 24 overs - The Blaze still felt in control of the flow of the game.
That view stayed true even when Durham's Phoebe Turner - 3-29 from nine overs - had Kathryn Bryce caught at cover, and Georgia Elwiss caught behind for 20, leaving The Blaze 179-5.
Orla Prendergast and Ella Claridge saw The Blaze home, kickstarting their 2025 campaign by claiming the full five points on offer, including the bonus.