Josie Groves claimed figures of 4/14 as The Blaze thrashed holders Lancashire Thunder by 65 runs in the Vitality Women’s T20 County Cup at Lady Bay.

Leg-spinner Groves’ miserly return was backed up by fellow twirler Lucy Higham, who snared 3/15, as the hosts comfortably defended their 160-8 by bowling the Thunder out for 95.

Kathryn Bryce also picked up two scalps to go with her innings top score of 33, while Ella Claridge chipped in with a valuable 18-ball 31 and Michaela Kirk added 29.

It saw The Blaze post a lot more than they ended up needing, as despite a rapid start from openers Eve Jones and Emma Lamb, the Red Rose were dismissed with seven balls to spare.

Lamb top-scored for the visitors with 30 from 23 balls, while Jones added 24 off 18 as the duo raced to 52 without loss from 34 balls.

However, when the latter became Higham’s first wicket one ball later, the hosts put the brakes on in style as the Thunder crumbled to lose all ten wickets for just 43 more runs.

From the hosts’ point of view, the zenith came when Higham, Groves, and Bryce hunted in a pack to rip through the Lancashire top order and take four wickets for seven runs in 13 balls.

That left the visitors adrift at 68-5 at halfway, and only Kate Cross, the trailblazer who on Friday announced she would retire at the end of the season, made double figures with her 10.

Despite some late resistance from last-wicket pair Sophie Morris and Venus Weerappulli after Cross had departed, Grace Ballinger removed the latter to confirm a commanding win.

The Blaze will face Essex in the first semi-final at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground on Saturday, while Surrey and Somerset will square off in the other.