Finals Day at the Kia Oval on 17 July has its full complement of four teams, and the Women's T20 Blast is better for it. The Blaze's clinical dismantling of Somerset at Trent Bridge on Saturday not only wrapped up their own semi-final berth but also handed Durham a lifeline they gratefully accepted — despite losing their own fixture against Essex. Hampshire Hawks and Surrey were already confirmed, and now The Blaze and Durham complete what looks like a genuinely competitive last-four line-up. For those tracking the outright market, Hampshire's top-of-the-table finish will likely see them installed as narrow favourites, but The Blaze's form — particularly Charli Knott's remarkable all-round season — makes them worthy dark horses.
Knott Dismantles Somerset With Unbeaten Half-Century
Somerset had come into this fixture in genuine contention, sitting just one position and two points behind The Blaze ahead of play. Winning the toss and choosing to bat looked reasonable enough on paper, but their innings never truly gathered momentum. The Blaze's bowlers kept a stranglehold through the middle overs, leaving Somerset in real trouble at 62-5 after eleven overs. Charlie Dean battled hard at the top of the order, eventually finishing as top scorer with 41, but it proved insufficient as Somerset were restricted to 118-8 from their 20 overs — a total that always looked below par at Trent Bridge.
The chase started badly when Dean, switching to the ball, snapped up two quick wickets to reduce The Blaze to 5-2. For a brief moment, Somerset had reason to believe. But Knott — who has been the standout performer of the group stage — had other ideas entirely. She constructed a composed 87-run partnership alongside Sarah Bryce, who chipped in with 29, before finishing unbeaten on 63 off just 43 deliveries. The Blaze crossed the line with a full 34 balls to spare. A result that emphatic removes any lingering doubts about their readiness for knockout cricket.
Durham Hold On Despite Home Defeat to Essex
Up at Chester-le-Street, Durham's afternoon was considerably more fraught. Essex arrived and batted first with real intent — captain Grace Scrivens and Anneke Bosch put on an opening stand of 94, which effectively set the tone for the entire match. Bosch fell for 48, but Scrivens was immovable, driving and threading her way to 85 off 64 balls as Essex posted a formidable 162-4.
Durham's reply never quite clicked into gear. Captain Hollie Armitage made a competitive 43, but wickets from Eva Gray (2-27) and Esmae MacGregor (2-39) constantly interrupted any momentum Durham managed to build. They finished on 150-6, falling 12 runs short. In any other scenario, that defeat might have been devastating. Instead, by the time the final over arrived at Chester-le-Street, The Blaze's win had already guaranteed Durham's top-four finish regardless of the outcome. A fortunate way to qualify, perhaps, but Durham's body of work across the group stage justifies their presence at Finals Day.
Hampshire Top the Table; Yorkshire Win First Women's Roses T20
Elsewhere, Hampshire Hawks wrapped up first place in the league phase by beating Warwickshire by four wickets at Edgbaston — a result that will give their bowlers and batters confidence heading into the semi-finals. Meanwhile, in a historic footnote to the day's cricket, Yorkshire beat Lancashire Thunder by 29 runs in what was the first-ever women's Roses T20 fixture played at Emirates Old Trafford. A convincing margin and a memorable occasion for women's cricket in the north of England.
Finals Day on 17 July shapes up as a genuinely open contest. Hampshire's consistency makes them the team to beat, but The Blaze — with Knott registering three half-centuries and 20 wickets in this campaign alone — are the kind of complete performer that wins knockout tournaments. Whoever lifts the trophy at the Kia Oval, this Women's T20 Blast has delivered a summer to remember.
