The Blaze book semi-final spot with win over Durham

WOMEN'S ONE DAY CUP ROUNDUP: The hosts were propelled to victory by the all-round efforts of Georgia Elwiss, who followed up her two wickets with an unbeaten 46 to help her side chase down 252 with two and a half overs to spare

Trent Bridge: Durham 252-9, The Blaze 256-6 - The Blaze won by four wickets

The Blaze clinched their place in the semi-finals of the Women's One Day Cup after overcoming Durham by four wickets at Trent Bridge.

Half-centuries by Ireland international Orla Prendergast (67) and Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce (66) broke the back of a 253-run target, the pair adding 107 in 109 balls for the third wicket before experienced England allrounder Georgia Elwiss finished the job with an unbeaten 46 from 45.  

Half-centuries from Mady Villiers, who hit a career-best 79 from 88 balls, and Emily Windsor (54) helped Durham Women to 252 for 9 from their 50 overs after opting to bat first.

A home semi-final next Wednesday will be guaranteed if The Blaze win at bottom-of-the-table Essex on Saturday. Durham could still finish in the top four by beating Surrey at home on Saturday, but would need other results to go their way.

Elwiss, Kathryn Bryce and Kirstie Gordon took two wickets each for The Blaze, spinners Katie Levick and Villiers doing likewise for Durham.

Related: Weather hampers much-anticipated Women's One Day Cup return

^{Orla Prendergast top-scored in the run chase (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)}

Durham finished the opening powerplay strongly to be 47 for 2, but had lost captain and key batter Hollie Armitage, caught at gully off a delivery that climbed on her late. Mia Rogers made 25 before chipping to extra cover, but Durham looked well placed at 107 for 3 from 25.

Skipper Gordon broke the Villiers-Windsor partnership at 75 when Villiers, going back, was beaten by her left-arm spin and bowled. Windsor completed her half-century from 69 balls but had added only four more when she was stumped off Gordon. 

The Blaze matched Durham's 10-over score for one wicket fewer at 47 for 1, leg-spinner Levick having bowled Georgie Boyce off her front pad.

Sarah Bryce was caught behind off Phoebe Turner but Prendergast clubbed Levick over the legside boundary to bring up a 50-stand with Kathryn Bryce from 45 balls and by the halfway point The Blaze were well on course to attain their target at 130 for two, a brace of boundaries off Phoebe Turner taking Bryce to her sixth half-century of the competition.

That had come down to 48 off 13 overs when Prendergast picked out deep midwicket. But Elwiss, who at 34 years old has topped 900 all-format runs in her debut season for The Blaze, made sure there was no nervy finish.

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