Scoreboard pressure is crucial on a Finals day and the Birmingham Bears showed just that as they upset the Blaze, to reach the first ever Woman’s Blast Final at the Oval. Issy Wong starred for the Bears scoring a brutal 59 and taking 4-14 as she led the Bears to victory by 20 runs.

The Bears won the toss and skipper Georgia Davis chose to have a bat. They did not get off to a great start with talented youngster Davina Perrin being dismissed in the second over to the left arm seam of Grace Ballinger trying to go over the top and being caught at cover. England’s Wong was in at 3, makes a statement straight away with an elegant straight drive to the boundary. She then survived being given out LBW off Ballinger second ball with a successful review, a crucial moment in the match. Wong continued to be aggressive in the powerplay,  with the Bears other opener Meg Austin also getting in the act too, hitting Bryce over mid-on and then cutting her through point. The opener then tried to try and take a quick single to Ella Claridge at short mid-wicket and was well short of her ground run-out.

42-2 off 6 at the end of powerplay, Stere Kalis in at 4, and straight away hit Aussie international Heather Graham for two boundaries in her first over. Wong then dispatched Blaze skipper Kirstie Gordon for the first 6 of finals day over mid-on showing the power that she possesses that separates her from her team-mates.. The right hander brought up her half century off of 32 balls with a boundary through mid-wicket off of Ballinger. At 100-2 the Bears were flying but then Sarah Glenn intervened instantly dismissing Wong for 59 off of 39 balls. Laura Harris then hit a Glenn low full toss to long on, first ball to sub fielder Robertson who made no mistake. Keeper bat Wraith just about survived Glenn’s hat trick ball.

Kalis was still there however holding the innings together. She would eventually be dismissed by classy Glenn for 45, the England leggie finishing with figures of 3-29.

Wickets regularly fell for the Bears as they eeked their way to 163-8,  with Em Arlott the only other bat to contribute with 29 off 22 balls which would prove to be vital.

Wong gave the Bears a flying start to their bowling innings cleaning up Tammy Beaumont and then getting Katherin Bryce caught behind with a snorter, in successive balls. Marie Kelly and Georgia Elwiss steadied the ship, but with the last ball of the powerplay Arlott had the in form Kelly caught by Perrin for 35 off of 20 balls.

The wrist-spin of Hannah Baker and Millie Taylor kept pressure on, with left armer Taylor, getting her reward with the dismissal of Heather Graham caught and bowled leaving the Blaze 74-4 after 10 overs.  Wong then picked up her third, rushing Sarah Bryce with a bouncer and having her caught at fine leg. Taylor continued to cause carnage bowling Clarridge leaving the Blaze 89-6. Glenn then strided to the middle and along with Elwiss looked to be dragging the game back to the Blaze but again it was Taylor the 20 year old who stopped the momentum bowling Glenn. She finished with figures of 3-20 off her four overs. Elwiss kept battling for the Blaze but when she was stumped off of Georgia Davis for a well made 53 off of 45 balls the game was done.

A great result for the Bears and disappointment for the Blaze who would have loved to be able to call upon Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones but both were ordered to rest by the ECB.