Kirstie Gordon’s maiden T20 five-wicket haul sent The Blaze back to the top of the Charlotte Edwards Cup in emphatic fashion, as her side completed the double over Thunder.

Gordon’s 5-12, the best figures in the history of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, restricted the hosts to 111-9 from their 20 overs after they had won the toss and chosen to bat first.

In reply, an unbeaten 34 from Tammy Beaumont, coupled with knocks of 29 from Teresa Graves and 21 from Kathryn Bryce, eased the visitors to a seven-wicket triumph and a bonus point victory.

At the start of the day, Thunder decided to take first use of a wicket that had already seen heavy use over the past few days.

Gordon found the surface immediately to her liking, striking with her first delivery, Fi Morris caught at point by Josie Groves.

After that early breakthrough, Gordon’s side kept firm pressure on the hosts across the first ten overs, Thunder only able to reach 44 at the halfway stage, for the loss of a further two wickets.

Lucy Higham built on the early work of her fellow bowlers, ripping through the middle order on her way to figures of 3/24, including the dismissal of top scorer Danielle Collins (30).

After Sophie Ecclestone blasted the first maximum of the contest, Gordon struck three times in the last four deliveries to post career-best T20 figures of 5-12, Thunder limping to 111-9.

The skipper’s figures also marked her first five-wicket haul in the format and the best in the history of the Charlotte Edwards Cup.

In reply, Tammy Beaumont and Teresa Graves raced along in the powerplay, more than doubling the Thunder’s efforts in reaching 46/0 after the first six overs.

Graves fell in the seventh over, but Kathryn Bryce picked up where she left off, adding 36 for the second wicket.

After both Bryce sisters fell, looking for the quick boundaries that would secure a bonus point victory, Nadine de Klerk, in her final game before international duty, struck the winning four to send The Blaze back to the top of the table.

Beaumont provided the steady hand throughout, finishing unbeaten on 34 in a crucial knock at the top of the order.