In a dominant batting display, Scotland wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce, playing for The Blaze, outscored Kent Women single-handedly with a match-winning 94 in Saturday’s (May 24) T20 Women’s County Cup quarter-final.
Persistent rain cast doubt on the 11:00am local time start for the third quarter-final at Canterbury. But after showers ceased around 9:30am, the ground staff’s tireless efforts prevented any delay. Under gloomy skies, the home side won the toss and elected to field first against The Blaze. The match marked Sarah Bryce's return to Canterbury, having played for Kent between 2020 and 2023.
Welcome back to Kent, Sarah Bryce! 👋 pic.twitter.com/QNsbXucaCG
— Kent Cricket (@KentCricket) May 24, 2025
The Blaze were in early trouble, losing captain Marie Kelly (4) and Georgie Boyce (5) for just 10 runs. Bryce, alongside her sister Kathryn, got in to consolidate the innings with a 25-ball 43 run stand for the fourth wicket. But the partnership ended when Kathryn returned for a run-a-ball seven at 53-3. The visitors then slipped to 97-4 at the end of 13 overs.
Thereafter, Bryce and Ella Claridge added an unbeaten 80-run stand, taking The Blaze to 177-4. Bryce, having reached her fifty off 30 balls, finished unbeaten on 94 off 61 with the help of 11 fours and two sixes, while Claridge scored a 23-ball 45 not out.
Kent fall 23 short of Sarah Bryce's individual score in T20 Women's County Cup
Kent’s innings crumbled against The Blaze, falling 106 runs short. Their innings came to an end when Isabella James was caught for a duck in the 17th over, eliminating them from the tournament. Elsa Barnfather top-scored with a meagre 13 off 17, while only two others – Coco Streets (10 off 16) and Molly Davis (12 off 16) – reached double figures. The Blaze’s Cassidy McCarthy played a starring role with 3-3 off three overs, supported by Grace Ballinger, Charley Phillips, and Josie Groves (two wickets each) and Kathryn Bryce (one).
Kent’s 71 all out in 17 overs fell short not just of The Blaze's total, but also of Bryce's 94 not out. The Scotland wicketkeeper was adjudged the Player of the Match for her match-winning effort.
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