Elwiss rides the blows to keep The Blaze on top

The Blaze 253 for 5 (Elwiss 96. Kelly 69) beat Surrey 252 for 9 (Spence 59, Andrews 3-40, Ballinger 3-49) by five wickets

Georgia Elwiss overcame two nasty blows on the hand to hit 96 as The Blaze comfortably beat hosts Surrey by five wickets at Beckenham to strengthen their position at the top of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup standings.

The Blaze's leading scorer in the competition was first injured in the field. then struck on the hand again while batting, but ignored the pain to strike nine fours in her 102-ball stay. She shared a stand of 113 for the third wicket with Marie Kelly who made 69. as the visitors chased down a target of 253 to win with 10 balls to spare

Earlier slow left-armer Maria Andrews marked her List-A debut with an impressive 3 for 40 to restrict Surrey to 252 for 9, Jemima Spence (59). Alice Monaghan (49) the chief contributors. Grace Ballinger backed up Andrews' efforts with 3 for 49.

Monaghan and MacDonald-Gay survived the powerplay despite Ballinger and Charley Phillips beating the bat regularly. The batters then cut loose, Monaghan cutting and sweeping effectively, while Macdonald-Gay's boundaries came in less orthodox fashion.

At 89 for 0 in the 17th over Surrey looked set for a big score, but Jones struck to remove Monaghan for 49. MacDonald-Gay (39) was run out by Marie Kelly's direct throw.

Thereafter Andrews took charge using beautiful flight and subtle variations to frustrate the batters. With Lucy Higham wheeling away frugally at the other end, only four boundaries accrued in the next 20 overs with Alice Davidson-Richards, skipper Kira Chathli. Paige Scholfield all losing the game of patience with Andrews.

Spence. becalmed for long periods belatedly found some fluency to pass 50, while Laura Harris, despite being starved of strike, hit two late sixes to lift Surrey over 250.

MacDonald-Gay hit back early in the chase, plucking out Tammy Beaumont's off stump but Kelly. Knott took toll of some short offerings from Monaghan to get the scoreboard ticking.

Knott majestically lifted one from Kalea Moore straight for six,. the bowler extracted revenge minutes later, holding on to a catch on the fence to give Monaghan the breakthrough.

Elwiss though, together with Kelly steadily removed any jeopardy from the chase. Both batters were quick to punish anything short. the Surrey bowlers overing ample opportunities to do so in a display lacking the discipline shown by the visitors. Their 50s were each sprinkled with 6 fours, Elwiss's the quicker of the two in 63 balls. The 100 partnership soon followed before Kelly departed to a catch at long-on.

Jones didn't stay long. Elwiss took her side to the brink of victory before falling with the scores level, attempting to hit the boundary which would have given her a century.