Chathli takes command as Surrey outmuscle Bears

Kira Chathli's belligerent first half-century in the 2025 Vitality Blast led table-toppers Surrey to a 25-run win over The Bears to strike a psychological blow ahead of final's day.

In what may prove a dress-rehearsal for the final itself in nine days' time, the Surrey keeper thrashed 65 in 31 balls, including five sixes. She shared a second-wicket stand of 93 with Grace Harris (37 from 25) as the hosts piled up 204 for 5.

Laura Harris replied with a blistering 42 from 14 balls and Amu Surenkumar, who took 3 for 33 with ball weighed in with 36, but Priyanaz Chatterji's 3 for 23 and 3 for 38 for Kalea Moore meant The Bears came up short on 179 for 9.

Bryony Smith began with a spate of early boundaries before losing her off-stump with Harris was the one to initially pick up the baton, three fours from one Issy Wong over taking Surrey to 59 by the end of the powerplay.

It was Chathli though who cut loose. Having survived an lbw shout from Hannah Baker's first ball, the wicketkeeper/batter belted a full toss for six. It was the catalyst to a cascade of shots that cleared the ropes, the pick of which were two fabulous lofted drives which crashed into the sightscreen.

Chathli's 50 came in 24 balls and there would be one more maximum before she holed out, ending a gem of a knock.

Harris, starved of strike lost patience and was caught trying to clear the long boundary at mid-wicket and despite cameos from Alice Monaghan (24) and Paige Scholfield (15) Surrey needed successive boundaries by Moore to get beyond 200.

Davina Perrin was given a life on one when Moore just failed to cling on to a catch in the deep diving forward, but she quickly atoned, safely pouching Meg Austin next ball to give Chatterji an early scalp.

Perrin didn't make the most of her reprieve, lifting one from Moore to the safe hands of Harris at deep mid-off and Chatterji struck again to remove the dangerous Sterre Kalis, caught by Chathli standing up to the stumps.

The Bears' woes worsened when Wong clubbed Monaghan's first ball straight to Harris and the former Hampshire academy graduate should have had two when Laura Harris lofted one into the off-side but Alexa Stonehouse failed to cling on.

Harris, sister of Grace, celebrated by clearing the long boundary as she took 18 from one Tilly Corteen-Coleman over and Monaghan was similarly dismissed in the next as the Australian's strike rate soared over 300. Monaghan though had the last laugh as Harris attempted to drive through the off-side and was bowled.

Surenkumar cleared the ropes as the teenager and Natasha Wraith added 60 to keep the visitors hopes alive, but both fell in quick succession and despite a few dropped catches in the deep, Surrey closed the game out.