The Blaze began their Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign with a low-scoring thriller at the Utility Bowl, beating last year’s champions, Southern Vipers, by three runs.

After Kirstie Gordon (29) and Lucy Higham (36*) had helped lift the visitors to 112/9, a fine all-round effort with the ball and in the field left the Vipers three runs short on 109/9 at the end of their allotted overs. 

The match pitted the two best sides from 2023 against each other, with the finals of both the 50-over and T20 competitions played out between the teams last summer.

Put in to bat at the Utilita Bowl, Kirstie Gordon’s side found themselves in trouble early on, falling to 25/5 at the end of the power play.

Freya Davies and Mary Taylor, both with two wickets apiece, and Charlie Knott with one, all contributed in first six overs, as all the hosts’ bowlers made breakthroughs in their first spells.

By the halfway stage of the innings all five of the Vipers’ attack had opened their 2024 T20 wicket tally, The Blaze reaching the ten over mark on 43/7.

Five more runs had been added before Josie Groves fell LBW without scoring, leaving the visitors struggling to post three figures.

However, skipper Gordon (29) and Lucy Higham (36*) combined for an ninth-wicket stand worth 52 to lift the final total up to 112/9 from the 20 overs.

In reply, the double champions of 2023 lost Knott early on, the Vipers opener unable to clear Gordon at mid-on, Kathryn Bryce the beneficiary on her return to the side from international duty.

Taylor added a 14-ball 13 before sharp work from Michaela Kirk in the deep, and Lucy Higham at the stumps, saw her depart.

She was quickly followed back to the dressing room by Freya Kemp, Bryce once again combining with Gordon to dismiss the England international for 6, the Vipers reaching 49/3 at the halfway stage.

Regular wickets continued to fall, Bryce and Gordon with two apiece and Grace Ballinger, on her 50th appearance for the side, chipping in with 1-18 from her four overs.

With ten required from the final over, the experience of Nadine de Klerk shone through, taking two wickets in the first three deliveries to all but end the Vipers’ challenge.

Returning with the spoils from the South Coast, The Blaze return to action in home comforts on Thursday when they welcome Northern Diamonds to Trent Bridge, 6:30pm start.