Shrubsole confirms retirement as Southern Vipers win Charlotte Edwards Cup

Southern Vipers 118-3 beat Blaze 114-8 by seven wickets

Southern Vipers lifted the Charlotte Edwards Cup at New Road as they beat Blaze by seven wickets to win the competition for the second year in a row.

A Danni Wyatt half-century propelled the Vipers’ chase of 114, and fittingly it was captain Georgia Adams who hit the winning runs for her team to ensure the Vipers defended their title.

Adams was also named Player of the Tournament for her efforts across the domestic campaign, while Vipers stalwart Anya Shrubsole signed off from regional cricket on a high, lifting the trophy and earning the Player of the Match award as she announced after the game that she was retiring at the end of the season and had played her last game for the Vipers.

Shrubsole had earlier taken 2-24, a typically skilful spell of four overs that was split over yesterday’s scheduled final and today’s reserve day, with a thunderstorm bringing everyone back this morning to take the final to its close with Blaze poised on 53-4 overnight.

Shrubsole attributed the Vipers win, in part, to their know-how, having triumphed in the competition before: “I think our experience was a factor in the final. We were in a really strong position before it absolutely launched it down yesterday, having got them to 50-4, and it’s always tricky to come back as a batting team and start again."

For the former England seamer, who will take part in The Hundred this year before hanging up her boots, it brings to an end a domestic career that begun in 2004.

“It’s hard to put an exact date on when I made the decision, to be honest with you. I think through the course of this tournament it just became clear to me that my time was up.

“I carried on playing because I really enjoy playing, but I guess the pain element of it – if I’m being totally honest – made it not particularly enjoyable at times, so in lots of ways it was a pretty easy decision to call it a day at the end of this year.

“I feel very lucky to have played the last few seasons with this group, because they’re an exceptional team and an exceptional bunch of people.”

ENDS