By ECB Reporters Network
DEFENDING champions Surrey bowed out in the semi-final of the 2026 Vitality Blast as off-spinner Charli Knott took 4-15 for The Blaze at The Kia Oval on Friday afternoon.
Knott, whose performance lifted her to the top of the tournament’s wicket-taking charts on 25, was backed up by fellow spinner Josie Groves (2-18) and seamer Grace Ballinger (3-18).
The Blaze were thoroughly efficient in the field at the Kia Oval as Surrey were all out for 105 in 15.2 overs. The visitors reached the target in the seventeenth over, with Kathryn Bryce (34 from 34) top-scoring to seal victory.
The win banished memories of The Blaze’s semi-final defeat to Birmingham Bears a year ago as they secured a place in this year’s showpiece game, against either Hampshire or Durham.
Having won the toss, The Blaze gained early successes when Ballinger sent down a slower-ball yorker to dismiss Danni Wyatt-Hodge without scoring, then had Kira Chathli caught attempting to ramp her.
The hard-hitting Laura Harris injected some momentum, thumping three boundaries off Charley Phillips to reach 18 from seven balls – only to be tempted by a floater from Knott that she drilled straight to cover.
Surrey skipper Bryony Smith (29 from 28) did her best to hold the innings together but, once she top-edged Knott to mid-off in the 10th over, the spinners tightened their grip ever more firmly.
Groves struck twice in quick succession to dismiss Alice Davidson-Richards (20 from 17) and Kalea Moore and, although Surrey did manage to go past three figures, Ballinger and Knott got through the tail quickly.
Tammy Beaumont and Sarah Bryce started their chase watchfully, adding 38 in the powerplay before Bryce (16 from 15) was clean bowled by Moore.
Having begun slowly, Beaumont (29 from 30) soon found her rhythm after clipping Ryana MacDonald-Gay through midwicket for four and looked on course to steer her side home until she holed out chasing a wider delivery from Tilly Corteen-Coleman (two for 25).
Knott (21 from 18) cut and drove to the boundary with authority, while Bryce slammed successive fours off Moore but both perished with the scores level, leaving it to Emma Jones to sweep the winning run.
