Marie Kelly’s 37 was outweighed by an unbeaten 69 for Durham captain Hollie Armitage as The Blaze were defeated by five wickets in the North East.

Mady Villiers returned career-best T20 figures of 4/14 and Armitage made her runs off 47 balls as The Blaze were unable to defend their 147-9, succumbing with four balls to spare.  

The Blaze’s openers began brightly against some inaccurate bowling and had scored 30 runs off 3.1 overs before Georgia Elwiss was bowled by Villers for 10.

Off-spinner Villiers further justified her early introduction when she dismissed Kathryn Bryce for two in her next over.

Trudy Johnson made up for a loose first over by taking a fine running catch over her left shoulder at mid-off. 

However, The Blaze continued to score freely, and the score was 73-2 off 9.1 overs when Kelly was dismissed by Heather Graham for 37, with Sophia Turner taking the catch at long off.

Charli Knott maintained the attack and was well-set on 29 when she pulled a full toss from Villiers straight to Graham at deep midwicket. 

That began a poor few overs for The Blaze, who lost Sarah Bryce, caught superbly by Katherine Fraser at backward point for four, and Prisha Thanawala, who fell to Villiers for nought.

Katie Levick took two wickets in five balls to leave the visitors on 127-9 after 18 overs, but Josie Groves’ two sixes in Fraser’s final over hoisted the total to respectability. 

Durham’s pursuit of the target began with a flurry of well-judged attacking shots and the home side were 64 without loss at the end of the powerplay.

The impact of Villiers’ dismissal, leg-before to Kirstie Gordon for 31, was mitigated by the home side’s otherwise serene progress halfway to their target after just eight of their 20 overs.

Armitage reached her fourth fifty in this year’s Blast off 36 balls as the hosts took control of the chase, hitting four fours along the way.

Although a mix-up resulted in the run out of Emily Windsor for 19, Durham had their run chase under control when they got to 110-2 and needed 38 off the last five overs.   

The Blaze did ensure Durham wouldn’t have everything their own way when they took three late wickets, but Armitage and Emily Marlow settled matters.