Charli Knott’s career-best 84 not out led The Blaze to a three-wicket win over Yorkshire in a productive warm-up for Friday’s Vitality Blast Finals Day.
Australian all-rounder Knott faced 57 deliveries, hitting 11 fours and one six, and also returned 1/19 with the ball as she took The Blaze past the hosts’ 122 all out in the final over.
Craig Cumming’s charges had already qualified for the Kia Oval showpiece but clinched an eighth win in 12 games and a third-place finish in the Blast group-stage table.
In turn, and coupled with Durham’s defeat to Lancashire Thunder at the same time, that confirmed they will face second-placed Surrey in the first semi-final in London on Friday.
Left-arm swing bowler Grace Ballinger returned 3/31, while Charley Phillips and Kirstie Gordon struck twice apiece added to two run outs, as the hosts were skittled for a meagre score.
Yorkshire had three batters make 23, while Lauren Winfield-Hill top-scored with 29, but the visiting attack ensured they capitulated from 83-2 to lose their last eight wickets for 39.
Phillips had Ami Campbell caught at midwicket in the opening over, and Jess Jonassen fell for 23 to the last ball of the powerplay when chipping Gordon’s left-arm spin to mid-on.
Opener Erin Thomas later miscued Ballinger to mid-off, before captain Winfield-Hill, having looked ominous in advancing to 29, was lbw to Knott in a decisive intervention.
Yorkshire were then plunged into big trouble when Sarah Glenn, caught at backward square leg, and Alice Clarke, run out, fell in the 16th over, leaving the score at 104-6.
Gordon struck again as The Blaze tightened the screw before three wickets fell in Ballinger’s last over of the innings, including another run out.
She bowled Sterre Kalis, watched as Hannah Rainey was caught short from Lucy Higham’s throw after a mix-up in the middle, and then finished the innings by castling Jess Woolston.
Yorkshire did take an early upper hand in the chase as The Blaze suffered a tough powerplay and were 41-5 in the eighth over as the hosts’ spinners threatened an upset.
However, the presence of Knott, in at four, remained a calming influence for The Blaze, and she hit four of her first six balls to the boundary to allay any fears.
She reached her fifty in 36 balls, having restored more of an even keel at 72-5 in the 14th over, and by that time had impressive captain Gordon for company.
The sixth-wicket pair chipped away at the target, sharing 75, of which Gordon contributed 24 before falling to take the total to 116-6 with two overs to go.
At that point, The Blaze needed just seven more, and although Beth Langston removed Josie Groves, Knott completed the job in the final over by hitting Rainey for the winning boundary.