NOTTINGHAM — The Blaze continued their dominant run in the Women's T20 Blast, maintaining their unbeaten streak with a thrilling 15-run victory over Durham at Trent Bridge. England opener Tammy Beaumont was the standout performer, smashing a blistering 81 off just 44 balls to set up a formidable total.
Beaumont's Masterclass
Tammy Beaumont, fresh off her recent international exploits, delivered a batting masterclass that left Durham's bowlers searching for answers. Her innings, laced with 12 boundaries and 2 sixes, provided the backbone of The Blaze's imposing 178/5. "I just wanted to be positive from the start," Beaumont said post-match. "The pitch was good, and I backed myself to play my shots."
Key highlights of Beaumont's knock included:
- A 50-run partnership with Sarah Bryce (22 off 18) inside the Powerplay
- A brutal assault on Durham's spinners, scoring 34 runs off just 12 deliveries against them
- A late flurry of boundaries in the death overs, ensuring The Blaze finished strongly
Durham's Valiant Chase
Durham, led by opener Lauren Winfield-Hill (47 off 32), put up a spirited fight in response. Winfield-Hill and Sterre Kalis (35 off 28) kept Durham in the hunt with a 75-run stand for the second wicket. However, The Blaze's bowlers held their nerve in the crucial moments.
"We knew they'd come hard at us," said Blaze captain Kirstie Gordon. "But our bowlers executed their plans perfectly under pressure." The turning point came when Gordon herself removed Winfield-Hill in the 13th over, triggering a mini-collapse.
Bowling Heroes
The Blaze's bowling attack shared the spoils:
- Grace Ballinger (2/28) provided crucial breakthroughs
- Teresa Graves' economical 1/20 in her four overs built pressure
- Nadine de Klerk's tight final over sealed the win
Unbeaten Streak Continues
With this victory, The Blaze extended their perfect record to five wins from five matches in the competition. They currently sit comfortably atop the North Group table, looking strong contenders for the knockout stages. "We're taking it one game at a time," Beaumont cautioned, "but the confidence in the group is sky-high right now."
Durham, meanwhile, slipped to their third defeat in five matches. Captain Hollie Armitage rued missed opportunities: "We were in the game for long periods, but couldn't quite finish it off. Credit to The Blaze - they were clinical when it mattered."
Looking Ahead
The Blaze will look to maintain their momentum when they face Central Sparks next weekend. Durham, needing to bounce back quickly, host Lancashire Thunder in a must-win encounter. With the tournament reaching its midway point, every match becomes crucial in the race for the knockout stages.
Beaumont's form will be key for The Blaze's continued success. The England star now has 250 runs in the competition at an average of 62.50 and a strike rate of 145.34. "When Tammy fires like that, we're a different team," Gordon acknowledged. "She gives everyone around her so much confidence."
The match also served as a timely reminder of the depth in England's domestic women's cricket. With several international stars on show and young talents emerging, the Women's T20 Blast continues to grow in quality and competitiveness each season.
As the Trent Bridge crowd dispersed, the consensus was clear: The Blaze remain the team to beat in this year's competition. Their perfect blend of explosive batting, disciplined bowling, and sharp fielding makes them formidable opponents. Whether anyone can stop their charge remains to be seen.