The Blaze 59-0, defeat Essex, 211, by 35 runs (DLS)

The Blaze have secured a home semi-final in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, locking in a thrilling matchup with Lancashire at Trent Bridge on Tuesday after winning a rain-affected encounter with Essex.

Orla Prendergast and Lucy Higham led the charge with the ball as The Blaze managed to dismiss Essex for 211 at Chelmsford, assisted by some excellent fielding efforts to produce two run outs.

Blaze openers Sarah Bryce and Georgie Boyce looked supreme as they began the chase, and reached 59-0 before the heavens opened, with play ultimately unable to continue.

The Blaze welcomed back Marie Kelly and Charley Phillips for Georgia Elwiss and Cassidy McCarthy, and captain Kirstie Gordon won the toss and elected to bowl.

Ariana Dowse and skipper Grace Scrivens got Essex off to a solid start, and nearly reached the end of the powerplay without loss, before Scrivens (16) mistimed the spin of Gordon to Ella Claridge.

38-1 became 44-2 just three overs later, as the impressive Dowse (20) was run out by a superb bit of fielding from Georgie Boyce, who collected the ball sharply and threw the stumps down, with barely more than one to aim at.

Essex responded well to the loss of wickets, with Lissy Macleod and Liberty Heap adding nearly 60 runs from the next ten overs, with Heap in particular going on the attack. But just as the home side began to build momentum, The Blaze struck back and orchestrated a mid-innings collapse.

Orla Prendergast struck to dismiss Heap (33), banging one in short and drawing a mistimed stroke which was well taken by Kathryn Bryce, Essex now 103-3. In her next over, Prendergast claimed another victim, this time removing Flo Miller (2) - who top edged behind to Sarah Bryce.

Lucy Higham was next to get in on the act, removing the other set batter in Macleod (30) by collecting a sharp caught and bowled change, and suddently Essex were 5-109 after 24 overs.

Higham was able to make an impact again four overs later, bowling Amara Carr (7) with a delivery that grabbed in the pitch and turned in. Essex desperately needed a partnership, and Sophia Smale and Jo Gardner obliged.

The pair were composed as they took Essex beyond 150, rotating the strike nicely and picking off boundaries when it was in their chosen area. Gardner in particular began to find her flow, but Prendergast struck again at the perfect time, yorking her for 36 with Essex at 185-7.

Smale continued her resistance, but Lucy Higham found herself in the action again, showing excellent fielding awareness to throw the ball to the keepers end and run out Eva Gray with help from Sarah Bryce.

Ballinger had Smale (41) caught three overs later, and Kathryn Bryce finished the task for The Blaze, beating the bat of Esmae MacGregor with sister Sarah completing the stumping, Essex all out for 211.

Prendergast (3-43) and Higham (2-33) were the pick of the bowlers, managing to strike at critical times, and shift the momentum back The Blaze's way when needed.

With weather always threatening, Georgie Boyce and Sarah Bryce wasted no time making their reply. Boyce struck the fourth ball of the game to the fence, before Sarah Bryce struck two boundaries off Eva Gray shortly after. 

Boyce played a gorgeous straight drive, before Bryce went aerial to clear the rope for six, as the pair surged to 59-0 after 11.2 overs before rain forced players from the field.

Bryce (33*) and Boyce (23*) would finish there, as play was unable to continue, with The Blaze taking a convincing 35 run victory on DLS.