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The Vipers have won the competition two years in a row, retaining their title last year in the final against the same opponents at Worcester’s New Road.
Vipers skipper Emily Windsor won the toss and chose to field and it looked to be a good decision as Marie Kelly departed in the first over.
It went from bad to worse for The Blaze as they then lost four wickets while adding just five runs to leave them on 24-5 in the sixth over.
Their decline continued until a ninth-wicket partnership of Kirstie Gordon (29) and Lucy Higham (36*) worth 62 pushed the total past 100 before the former was dismissed by Alice Monaghan with two balls remaining.
The Vipers’ slow but steady progress in response appeared to be moving them towards victory on 91-6.
But Ella McCaughan’s 19 was their top score and they lost two wickets in three balls in the 18th over before de Klerk sealed victory for The Blaze.
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