The Blaze warmed up for their return to competitive action following the mid-season break with two clinical victories over Surrey in a T20 double-header.

In steaming hot conditions at Notts Sports Ground, Georgia Elwiss carried over her purple patch to strike 57 off 40 in a 20-run win in the first encounter.

Michaela Kirk then top-scored with 46, backing up Charley Phillips and Josie Groves’ three wickets apiece, to tee up an eight-wicket victory in the second clash.

The games come as part of The Blaze’s build-up to the final six Vitality Blast group stage games following a two-week break from competitive action.

Elwiss’ 57 in the first encounter included ten fours and underpinned a total of 161-8, with captain Marie Kelly also contributing 39 off 26 as part of a 68-run opening stand.

Bethan Miles was the pick of the Surrey bowlers with 2/33, while Alice Davidson-Richards made 56 from 37.

However, Surrey were only able to muster 141-8 in reply as Amy Wheeler returned miserly figures of 2/12 from three overs.

Chasing the visitors’ 123 all out in the second game, The Blaze passed their target comfortably, going on to eventually reach 150-2 as three batters, including top-scorer Kirk, retired not out.

Kirk faced 27 balls for her runs, striking five fours and three sixes, while Kelly, Georgie Boyce, and Ella Claridge all made scores in the twenties, with the former two also retiring not out.

The low target had been set despite Kalea Moore making 33 and Sunette Viljoen-Louw adding 31, as Phillips collected 3/19 from 3.5 overs and Groves bowled out for 3/20.

The target was nominally reached without The Blaze losing a wicket, as only two not-out retirements preceded Boyce clipping Moore for the single that took the hosts past Surrey.

However, a further 2.2 overs unfolded to give more batters time at the crease, allowing The Blaze to comfortably usurp the Brown Caps’ total.

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