The Blaze batter Tammy Beaumont believes her side's victory over Southern Vipers counted for more than simply points gained after history was made at the Incora County Ground. 

The England International managed an unbeaten 49 as the East Midlands outfit won against the current holders by five wickets.

That was despite the absence of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sarah Glenn, whilst England U19 leg-spinner Josie Groves made her first appearence, collecting figures of 1-14. 

“We are breaking a lot of our own records this year,” said Beaumont. “We haven’t ever beaten the Southern Vipers before today in any format, so that’s a really big win for us, not just in terms of points on the board but for our mindset as well,”

“We’ve taken on the top team in the league, with the best record in the league and won, even without two England players.”

The triumph continued a winning start for The Blaze, who sit at the top of the Charlotte Edwards Cup table with four wins from their first four matches.

However, they had to work hard to overcome the Southern Vipers in a crucial battle at the County Ground.

The away side totted up 118 batting first, and made life difficult for the hosts who slipped to 45-3.

However, cameos from Sarah and Kathryn Bryce, and Sophie Munro, eased the home side to victory with two balls to spare.

“I thought at the halfway stage that we had done pretty well to keep them to under 120.” Beaumont added, “It wasn’t as good a wicket as we played on at Leicester the other night when we scored 200 but I thought we’d kept well under par and that we should be getting that quite easily.”

“But even without Charlie Dean and Lauren Bell they bowled very well. In Anya Shrubsole, Linsey Smith and Georgia Elwiss they still had three bowlers with England experience and they made it hard for us.”

“We needed to score at eight an over at one point, but I knew they had some overs to make up from less experienced players, so I kept telling myself that they would be feeling under just as much pressure as us. Then Sarah Bryce came in and hit a couple of boundaries and that probably swung the game our way.”

The Blaze travel to the Northern Diamonds on Friday, before returning home to Trent Bridge for a double header alongside Notts Outlaws on Sunday.