The Blaze thump Durham by 10 wickets to win T20 BlastImage source, ShutterstockImage caption, The Blaze raced to victory in the final with more than six overs to spareByGlenn SpellerBBC Sport EnglandPublished31 minutes agoTammy Beaumont starred as The Blaze produced a dominant display to claim their first Women’s T20 Blast title, thrashing Durham by 10 wickets at The Oval.The 35-year-old who retired from international cricket with England earlier this summer, made 54 as she shared an unbroken opening partnership of 118 with Sarah Bryce who scored her first half-century of the tournament, finishing unbeaten on 53.
Having disposed of Surrey in the day’s opening semi-final, Kirstie Gordon’s side were always in control against a Durham team who had scored a surprise victory over Hampshire Hawks in the last four.
After being put in to bat, Durham lost captain Hollie Armitage to left-armer Grace Ballinger to the fourth ball of their innings and never recovered on a slow surface which made run-scoring difficult against The Blaze’s battery of slower bowlers.
Australian all-rounder Heather Graham backed-up her 35 against Hampshire with 30 from 23 balls but her dismissal looked crucial and, despite useful knocks of 20 from both Grace Thompson and Emily Windsor a total of 117-8 proved well below par.
Tournament top wicket-taker Charli Knott claimed 2-25 with Gordon taking 3-21, although they were poorly supported in the field with five catches going to ground, albeit they did not prove costly.
With little room for error, Lauren Filer promptly served up two wides from her opening three deliveries of the reply and neither Beaumont or Bryce offered a sniff of a chance as they strolled to victory.
