Yorkshire were beaten in today’s Abu Dhabi Women’s T20 final by last year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 champions The Blaze, completing an encouraging weekend’s work for Rich Pyrah and his side.
The White Rose finished the three-day competition having qualified for the final courtesy of net run-rate. They were beaten in a thriller by Australian state side Tasmania on Friday before breezing past a United Arab Emirates XI yesterday.
Today, under lights at the Tolerance Oval – on the Sheikh Zayed International Stadium complex, they posted a total of 142-7, which the Nottinghamshire side chased down for the loss of three wickets with an over to spare.
England legend Tammy Beaumont led the chase for The Blaze with 65 off 53 balls. She was caught and bowled late on by off-spinner Ria Fackrell, who returned an encouraging 2-23 from three overs.
Talismanic all-rounder Kathryn Bryce was superb for The Blaze, returning 3-8 from four overs having taken the new ball. She then finished the game off with an unbeaten 28.
Earlier, Yorkshire were led by Netherlands international Sterre Kalis, who top-scored with a brisk 60 off 44 balls, including two sixes.
Kalis has had a super weekend, posting 49 in Friday’s four-run defeat against the Australians.
Yorkshire, inserted, slipped to 14-3 inside five overs, losing openers Ami Campbell and Lauren Winfield-Hill. Erin Thomas also departed.
But Kalis shared 55 for the fourth wicket with Maddie Ward to revive the Yorkshire innings.
Ward, another player who has impressed this weekend, added 21 before being stumped off Bryce’s medium pace.
Ward, who came through The Blaze Academy, has scored runs, taken wickets and captained Yorkshire this weekend. Seamer Rachel Slater skippered the county today.
Bryce also bowled Thomas and had Kalis stumped.
When Kalis departed, the White Rose were 125-6 in the 18th over.
But Beth Langston gave them late impetus with an unbeaten 26 off 15 balls with four fours.
Unfortunately, Yorkshire were unable to build on that late momentum.
Beaumont shared an opening stand of 51 in seven overs with Ella Claridge, who made 28 before holing out off Claudie Cooper’s off-spin.
Fackrell also trapped Michaela Kirk lbw – 68-2 in the 10th over – but Beaumont’s continued presence at the crease was telling.
The right-hander, who played in the disastrous Ashes series in Australia at the start of the year, was a calming influence on this chase and went along at a run-a-ball into her early thirties.
But, with the winning line in sight, she put her foot down and reached her fifty off 44 balls. By this time, Blaze were 121-2 in the 17th over and all but home and hosed.
Scotland international Bryce, a team-mate of Slater’s in that side, rubber-stamped that view with three fours and a six in 27 balls.
She shared 69 in nine overs for the third wicket with Beaumont, who fell to Fackrell in the 19th over with six to win.
Academy bowler Emma Wrightson played for Yorkshire and returned 0-30 from her three overs. Coach Pyrah has blooded a number of Academy players this weekend and will continue to do so when the county tackle 50-over matches against Surrey and Essex in the Desert on Tuesday and Wednesday.
