The Blaze 148 for 5 beat Lancashire 223 (Lamb 77, Ballinger 3-30) by six runs – DLS

Lancashire won all three meetings with The Blaze in last season’s competition and seemed to be building a platform from which to extend that sequence when, on a used pitch, they reached 41 without loss in their innings.

Then came a breakthrough for the home side as Eve Jones missed an attempted reverse-sweep and was leg before to off-spinner Lucy Higham.

Lancashire suffered two big blows before the halfway point. Ireland captain Gaby Lewis, responsible for a match-winning unbeaten 141 against Hampshire in last year’s final and 131 in the win over Durham on Saturday, fell for seven, trapped in front by a fine ball from Kathryn Bryce.

Another big threat departed when Seren Smale, after five quick boundaries, was bowled by skipper Kirstie Gordon making room to cut.

Lamb, who made 130 not out and 74 against The Blaze last season, proved a thorn in their flesh again, but only Ellie Threlkeld, the Lancashire captain, could provide lasting support.

The fourth-wicket pair added 77 in 14 overs but after Lamb chipped tamely to mid-off, the Lancashire innings somewhat fell away.

Threlkeld, Fi Morris and Ailsa Lister departed to good catches in the deep with the impressive Grace Ballinger bowling Kate Cross and Tara Norris for figures of three for 30. Charley Phillips dismissed Hannah Jones as Lancashire lost their last seven wickets for 47 runs.

The Blaze reply began disastrously as a miscommunication with partner Marie Kelly resulted in Sarah Bryce being run out of the first ball but four boundaries from sister Kathryn helped them to 38 for one from 10 overs.

Kathryn Bryce shared a 67-run stand with Kelly before top-edging Grace Potts to midwicket for 35. The cheap loss of Georgia Elwiss to a decent ball from Norris set the home side back but enterprising batting by Kelly and Prendergast kept The Blaze ahead of the DLS par score either side of a 100-minute stoppage

Kelly hit five fours before she was caught at long-on, Prendergast four before falling to a stumping, but it was their running between the wickets that was key.