The Blaze secured their place in the Metro Bank Women’s One-Day Cup knockout stage with a 70-run win over Warwickshire at Edgbaston on Tuesday. Half-centuries from Orla Prendergast and Georgia Elwiss lifted the visitors to 282 for 7, and Warwickshire fell short at 212 despite Issy Wong’s five-wicket haul.
Prendergast, Elwiss Fifties Set Up Big Total
Warwickshire won the toss and chose to field first. The Blaze lost Marie Kelly in the opening over when she sliced Wong to Meg Austin. Tammy Beaumont and Kathryn Bryce steadied the innings with an 80-run stand across 17 overs before Phoebe Brett struck twice in 12 balls, removing Beaumont caught behind, and Bryce caught in the deep.
Elwiss and Prendergast then took charge. Elwiss brought up her fifty off 54 balls, and Prendergast reached hers off 64. The pair added 93 runs in 18 overs before Wong broke the stand, catching Elwiss behind the stumps and having Prendergast taken by Brooke Halliday at deep square leg. Prendergast finished on 69 from 73 balls, and Elwiss made 57. Emma Jones added an unbeaten 19 off just 12 balls near the end, and Wong finished with figures of 5 for 58 to give Warwickshire a route back into the contest.
Higham, Phillips Restrict Warwickshire’s Chase
Grace Ballinger struck early against her former side, removing both Warwickshire openers. Davina Perrin was trapped lbw, and Austin edged a drive to the slip cordon. Katie George and Halliday then rebuilt the innings with a 125-run partnership across 22 overs, taking Warwickshire to 148 for 2 by the 30th over and keeping the chase alive.
Halliday reached her fifty off 64 balls before pulling Prendergast straight to Kathryn Bryce at deep midwicket, falling for 52. Charis Pavely followed soon after, caught by Lucy Higham.
Em Arlott hit three boundaries off one Kirstie Gordon over but holed out to mid-off soon after, and Higham then ran through the tail, taking three wickets in nine balls to dismiss Nat Wraith, Wong, and Alexa Stonehouse.
George, batting through the innings, was eventually out for 89 when she drilled a return catch to Kathryn Bryce, and Warwickshire were bowled out for 212 in 43.3 overs. Higham finished with 4 for 41, while Charley Phillips bowled a tight spell of 8-2-17-1.
Knockout Berth Confirmed as Warwickshire Stay in the Mix
The result marks The Blaze’s 11th win in 13 matches this season and confirms their place in the knockout stage of the competition. Warwickshire remain in a congested group of teams still competing for a top-four finish and a route into the playoffs.
The Blaze earned five points from the victory, while Warwickshire picked up none. The match was played at Edgbaston in Birmingham as part of the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup, with Chris Watts and Kylie White standing as umpires and Helen Pack serving as match referee.
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