Lancashire Women, 241-6, defeat The Blaze, 236-9.

The Blaze's Metro Bank One-Day Cup season came to a close, losing a close semi-final at Trent Bridge to Lancashire despite Kathryn Bryce’s magnificent 124 run effort in chasing the Lancashire total.

Sent in to bat, Lancashire were in hot water before a superb partnership between captain Ellie Threlkeld and Ailsa Lister resuced the visiting side, who were then able to hold their nerve with the ball at key moments. Bryce, supported by Georgia Elwiss, brought The Blaze close with a memorable partnership of their own, but they ultimately fell five runs short in the final over.

Captain Kirstie Gordon won the toss and elected to bowl, welcoming back Georgia Elwiss and Cassidy McCarthy into the XI.

The Blaze made an exceptional start, with Cassidy McCarthy bowling Gaby Lewis (9) with one of the balls of the season, swinging it in to clean up the openers middle stump. Tails up, The Blaze were able to strike twice more in the powerplay, with McCarthy removing Seren Smale (5), before Grace Ballinger snicked off Fi Morris for nought, Lancashire all at sea at 29-3.

Orla Prendergast (who was superb for her ten overs) was next to claim a wicket, bumping Alice Clarke (17) who was caught on the rope by McCarthy.

Ellie Threlkeld and Ailsa Lister were charged with repairing the damage, and took to the task with exceptional ability. At 52-4, Lancashire added 166 runs for the next wicket, in a remarkable display of discipline and steely nerve.

Threlkeld played the epitome of a captain's knock, leading from the front and keeping younger batting partner Lister calm, who showed explosive power to score at a run a ball for most of her innings.

The pair accelerated the run rate and both batters moved into the 90s, before Lister danced down the wicket to Kirstie Gordon and was stumped, finishing with a game-changing career-best 96 from 91 balls, but not before taking Lancashire to 218-5.

Threlkeld was run out in the next over pushing for two to increase the score, but walked off knowing she had rescued her side, finishing on 92 runs as Lancashire pushed late to post 241-6 at the end of their innings. Prendergast was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with economic figures of 1-26.

Chasing 242, Blaze openers Georgie Boyce and Sarah Bryce looked confident early before Sarah Bryce (5) was bowled by Mahika Gaur. The Blaze then suffered a double blow at the end of the powerplay, losing Boyce (14) and Prendergast (0) in the tenth over to slip to 37-3.

But just as Threlkeld and Lister rescued Lancashire, Elwiss joined Kathryn Bryce to turn The Blaze's innings around. Bryce, as has often been the case this season, was unflappable at the crease, and seemed nailed on for her seventh fifty of the campaign from the moment she walked onto the ground, reaching it in 64 balls. 

Smart and sensible cricket was the order of the day, as the pair rotated the strike beautifully, with Elwiss soon raising the bat for fifty herself. Moving into the 90s, Bryce was flawless as she brought up a magnificent hundred, the fifth of her career in List A cricket.

The partnership rached 150, before Elwiss (55) fell to the bowling of Fi Morris, the pair taking the total to 187-4, batting together for nearly 32 overs, with the home side needing 55 off 52 balls.

Unfortunately, Elwiss' dismissal brought about a mini collapse, as Marie Kelly and Michaela Kirk departed cheaply, with Bryce soldiering on valiantly at the other end. Higham fell next, and The Blaze soon needed 33 from 18 balls, with Kirstie Gordon providing a foil for Bryce.

The Blaze resistance ultimately fell when Bryce holed out to mid-off, falling on 124 in a courageous innings, carrying her side and giving them genuine belief that they could win the game.

Lancashire were able to dismiss Cassidy McCarthy, and despite a late surge from Kirstie Gordon, The Blaze fell five runs short as Lancashire defended well off the final two overs to seal their place in the Final.