The 2024 season saw The Blaze compete in the 50 over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the Twenty20 Charlotte Edwards Cup. The season was their second since their rebrand as The Blaze, having previously been known as Lightning. In the Charlotte Edwards Cup, the side finished top of the group stage, winning nine of their ten matches, before defeating Central Sparks in the semi-finals and South East Stars in the final to win their first ever trophy. In the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, the side finished fifth in the group, winning seven of their fourteen matches.
The side was captained by Kirstie Gordon and coached by Chris Guest. They played four home matches at Trent Bridge, two apiece at Grace Road, the County Ground, Derby and Queen's Park, Chesterfield and one apiece at Haslegrave Ground and Lindum Sports Club Ground.
Squad Departures On 22 May 2024, it was announced that the side had loaned out Sophie Munro to Sunrisers for the Charlotte Edwards Cup. Munro's loan was later extended until the end of July, and later extended again until the end of the season.
Arrivals On 20 December 2023, it was announced that The Blaze had signed Scarlett Hughes from Sunrisers. On 11 January 2024, it was announced that The Blaze had signed Nadine de Klerk as an overseas player for the entire 2024 season. de Klerk had previously played for the side in 2023. On 17 April 2024, the side announced the signing of Heather Graham as an overseas replacement for de Klerk in June and July. On 19 April 2024, it was announced that the side had signed Daisy Mullan on loan from North West Thunder for the opening six rounds of the 2024 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. On the same day, Bethan Gammon and Prisha Thanawala were included in a matchday squad for the first time. On 26 April 2024, Bella Howarth was named in a matchday squad for the first time. On 30 April 2024, Brianna Ray was named in a matchday squad for the first time. On 18 June 2024, Rhiannon Knowling-Davies was included in a matchday squad for the first time. On 16 August 2024, the side announced the signing of Orla Prendergast as an overseas player for the remainder of the season, replacing the injured Nadine de Klerk. On 2 September 2024, it was announced that the side had signed Charley Phillips on loan from Sunrisers until the end of the season.
Squad list Age given is at the start of The Blaze's first match of the season (20 April 2024). Name Nationality Birth date Batting Style Bowling Style Notes Batters Georgie Boyce Right-handed Right-arm medium Bethany Harmer Right-handed Right-arm off break Marie Kelly Right-handed Right-arm off break Prisha Thanawala Right-handed Right-arm off break Joined April 2024 All-rounders Kathryn Bryce Right-handed Right-arm medium Nadine de Klerk Right-handed Right-arm medium Overseas player Heather Graham Right-handed Right-arm medium Overseas player; June to July 2024 Teresa Graves Right-handed Right-arm medium Bella Howarth Unknown Right-handed Right-arm medium Joined April 2024 Brianna Ray Right-handed Right-arm medium Joined April 2024 Orla Prendergast Right-handed Right-arm medium Overseas player; August to September 2024 Nat Sciver-Brunt Right-handed Right-arm medium Wicket-keepers Tammy Beaumont Right-handed — Sarah Bryce Right-handed — Ella Claridge Right-handed — Bethan Gammon Right-handed — Joined April 2024 Scarlett Hughes Left-handed — Michaela Kirk Right-handed Right-arm off break Bowlers Grace Ballinger Left-handed Left-arm medium Sarah Glenn Right-handed Right-arm leg break Kirstie Gordon Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Captain Josie Groves Right-handed Right-arm leg break Lucy Higham Right-handed Right-arm off break Rhiannon Knowling-Davies Unknown Right-handed Right-arm medium Joined June 2024 Cassidy McCarthy Right-handed Right-arm medium Sophie Munro Right-handed Right-arm medium Loaned to Sunrisers from May to September 2024 Charley Phillips Right-handed Right-arm medium On loan from Sunrisers, September 2024
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Season standings
advanced to the Semi-finals
Fixtures
Tournament statistics Batting Player Matches Innings Runs Average High score 100s 50s 14 13 0 2 8 7 0 2 8 7 0 2 14 13 0 1 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 200 runs.
Bowling Player Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi 13 19 0 14 17 0 8 15 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 10 wickets.
Charlotte Edwards Cup Season standings
advanced to the Semi-finals
Fixtures
Semi-final
Final
Tournament statistics Batting Player Matches Innings Runs Average High score 100s 50s 12 12 0 5 12 12 0 2 12 10 0 1 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 150 runs.
Bowling Player Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi 12 22 1 7 15 0 12 11 0 12 10 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 10 wickets.
Season statistics Batting PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Runs High score Average Strike rate 100s 50s Matches Innings Runs High score Average Strike rate 100s 50s Grace Ballinger 14 8 63 25 21.00 38.18 0 0 12 3 2 1* 2.00 40.00 0 0 Tammy Beaumont 5 4 131 59 32.75 80.36 0 1 9 9 141 45 17.62 98.60 0 0 Georgie Boyce 1 1 27 27* – 57.44 0 0 – – – – – – – – Kathryn Bryce 8 7 272 87* 45.33 83.18 0 2 12 12 478 62 43.45 120.10 0 5 Sarah Bryce 8 7 279 81 39.85 94.57 0 2 12 12 230 54* 25.55 107.98 0 2 Ella Claridge 14 13 324 71 36.00 76.59 0 2 12 8 84 18* 16.80 102.43 0 0 Nadine de Klerk 6 6 177 106* 35.40 69.68 1 0 5 5 60 25 15.00 93.75 0 0 Bethan Gammon 4 4 66 39 16.50 70.96 0 0 – – – – – – – – Sarah Glenn 3 3 5 3 1.66 16.66 0 0 4 3 29 21 14.50 82.85 0 0 Kirstie Gordon 13 11 176 43 19.55 51.16 0 0 12 4 38 29 12.66 90.47 0 0 Heather Graham 4 3 117 78 39.00 123.15 0 1 7 6 50 16 12.50 96.15 0 0 Teresa Graves 9 9 111 33 12.33 54.14 0 0 8 8 59 29 7.37 88.05 0 0 Josie Groves 9 5 23 10* 5.75 31.94 0 0 11 5 63 24* 31.50 134.04 0 0 Bethany Harmer 2 2 22 17 11.00 52.38 0 0 – – – – – – – – Lucy Higham 11 8 129 62* 21.50 67.53 0 1 12 3 43 36* 21.50 126.47 0 0 Marie Kelly 14 13 205 52 15.76 77.06 0 1 12 10 153 89* 19.12 123.38 0 1 Michaela Kirk 5 4 89 36 22.25 58.55 0 0 4 2 13 9 13.00 86.66 0 0 Cassidy McCarthy 12 9 49 12 6.12 98.00 0 0 – – – – – – – – Daisy Mullan 4 4 47 18 11.75 40.17 0 0 – – – – – – – – Sophie Munro 5 5 37 19 7.40 43.52 0 0 – – – – – – – – Orla Prendergast 3 3 44 29 14.66 61.97 0 0 – – – – – – – – Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Bowling PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi Grace Ballinger 14 96.0 17 29.41 5.20 4/23 0 12 43.0 11 24.63 6.30 2/25 0 Kathryn Bryce 8 58.3 15 15.13 3.88 4/20 0 12 37.0 10 26.10 7.05 2/16 0 Nadine de Klerk 6 41.4 5 40.80 4.89 2/53 0 5 12.0 4 21.00 7.00 2/27 0 Sarah Glenn 3 20.0 2 41.00 4.10 2/36 0 4 15.0 8 12.37 6.60 3/14 0 Kirstie Gordon 13 115.0 19 23.68 3.91 4/40 0 12 47.1 22 12.50 5.83 5/12 1 Heather Graham 4 28.0 9 18.33 5.89 6/39 1 7 24.2 15 9.20 5.67 4/10 0 Teresa Graves 9 6.3 2 15.00 4.61 1/0 0 8 2.0 0 – 9.00 – 0 Josie Groves 9 49.0 8 32.25 5.26 2/26 0 11 25.0 9 16.88 6.08 3/33 0 Lucy Higham 11 51.0 8 28.37 4.45 3/28 0 12 28.0 7 26.14 6.53 3/24 0 Marie Kelly 14 8.0 1 39.00 4.87 1/22 0 12 1.0 0 – 10.00 – 0 Cassidy McCarthy 12 43.2 5 50.60 5.83 2/42 0 – – – – – – – Sophie Munro 5 34.4 8 15.50 3.57 3/28 0 – – – – – – – Orla Prendergast 3 18.0 5 16.00 4.44 3/38 0 – – – – – – – Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Fielding PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Catches Matches Innings Catches Grace Ballinger 14 14 1 12 12 1 Tammy Beaumont 5 5 3 9 9 0 Georgie Boyce 1 1 0 – – – Kathryn Bryce 8 8 3 12 12 4 Ella Claridge 14 8 1 12 12 3 Nadine de Klerk 6 6 0 5 5 0 Bethan Gammon 4 4 0 – – – Sarah Glenn 3 3 1 4 4 1 Kirstie Gordon 13 13 6 12 12 10 Heather Graham 4 4 0 7 7 1 Teresa Graves 9 9 2 8 8 0 Josie Groves 9 9 3 11 11 3 Bethany Harmer 2 2 0 – – – Lucy Higham 11 11 1 12 12 4 Marie Kelly 14 14 9 12 12 11 Michaela Kirk 5 5 3 4 4 1 Cassidy McCarthy 12 12 4 – – – Daisy Mullan 4 4 3 – – – Sophie Munro 5 5 1 – – – Orla Prendergast 3 3 0 – – – Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Wicket-keeping PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Catches Stumpings Matches Innings Catches Stumpings Sarah Bryce 8 8 4 2 12 12 2 11 Ella Claridge 14 6 1 4 12 – – – Source: ESPN Cricinfo
References