Blaze beat Surrey and rain to win T20 County Cup

Kathryn Bryce starred with bat and ball in the final as The Blaze completed their second win of a rain-hit Finals Day to win the T20 Women's County Cup.

The Blaze followed in the footsteps of Lancashire, who won the competition when it was played for the first time in its inaugural year in 2025.

But all four teams involved did well to get any cricket in at all on a rain-hit day at Old Trafford.

Having not managed to get onto the field until just before 17:00 BST, the two semi-finals were limited to five overs each.

The Blaze beat Essex in a one-sided first semi before 2025 runners-up Surrey booked a quick return to the final when they beat Somerset off the last ball.

But The Blaze, who won the T20 Blast in July and are are also well clear at the top of the group in the One-Day Cup, took the second leg of a potential trophy treble as they beat Surrey in the 13-over final with six balls to spare.

Bryce followed her four wickets with the ball by top scoring with 38 not out.

After a six-hour wait to get going on an unfamiliar wet day in Manchester this summer, The Blaze comfortably won the first semi-final against Essex.

Emma Jones, a beaten finalist with Surrey in 2025, hit an unbeaten 26 from 14 balls as The Blaze burned up just 21 out of their 30 balls to roar past the Essex total of 44-3.

It was a lot tighter in the second semi as Surrey ran up 62-2, spearheaded by 25 from Bryony Smith.

Bex Odgers took Somerset close but she holed out to deep midwicket after making 29 from 12 balls and, needing a four to win off the last ball, they fell just short to lose by two runs on 60-6.

In the final, Kira Chathli top-scored with 25 from 23 balls as Surrey posted 91-8, Bryce taking 4-18, while her younger sister, wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce chipped in with a catch and a run-out.

Emma Jones then hit 22 from 14 balls and, although she and Tammy Beaumont both holed out off Alice Monaghan, Georgia Elwiss joined Kathryn Bryce in a decisive third-wicket stand of 40 in four overs.

Essex 44-3 (5 overs): MacLeod 18* (11), Scrivens 15 (10)

The Blaze46-1 (3.3 overs): Emma Jones 26* (14), Beaumont 11 (7)

The Blaze won by nine wickets

Match scorecard

Surrey 62-2 (5 overs): Smith 25 (7), Chathli 19* (10), Monaghan 18* (11)

Somerset 60-6 (5 overs): Odgers 29 (12), Griffiths 11 (5), Corney 11 (6)

Surrey won by 2 runs

Match scorecard

Surrey 91-8 (13 overs): Charthli 25 (23), Monaghan 18 (16); K Bryce 4-18

The Blaze 92-3 (12 overs: K Bryce 38* (30), Jones 22 (13), Elwiss 17 (11)

The Blaze won by seven wickets

Match scorecard