Essex (women) vs Surrey (women) (match 24, league one – ‘stand-alone’ fixture) at The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford on Sunday 15 June (14h00)
Commentators described a ‘good match’ in which Surrey collected their fifth win.Essex women were ‘disappointed’ with nothing for hard lines, pointing to fielding standards that were ‘allowed to slip.’ In contrast, Surrey women took a couple of spectacular catches. Close Umpire scrutiny followed after Danni Wyatt-Hodge stepped back inside the ropes to complete her catch to send Cordelia Griffith back to the hutch, first ball. One explanation for such close scrutiny was that new ICC rule-changes concerning permissible boundary catches are expected to be announced soon. Between innings, home-team commentators gave Surrey women ‘clear’ advantage, but then lost two quick wickets during their ‘power-play’ to Esmae MacGregor’s ‘golden arm:’ that took Bryony Smith’s and Alice Capsey’s wickets with successive balls. Top-scorer Kira Chathli – pictured [40 runs(from 34 balls)] partnered by guest Australian Grace Harris31(17) who was ’not far behind.’ Separately, Grace Harris earlier took 3 wickets and provided entertainment by hitting an ‘absolutely huge six.’ Psychological pressure mounted when Essex keeper Lauren Winfield-Hill situated her stance close-up to the stumps when facing seam bowlers. Alice Davidson-Richards ‘A-DR’ and Phoebe Franklin seemed unfazed. A-DR saw Surrey home without further loss, scoring the winning ‘four’ from a ‘reverse ramp.’ Home-team commentators were Guy Swindells and Toby Reynolds.
Essex women wearing full-fronted red, full-backed mauve over sleeveless navy blue; *skipper Grace Scrivens (‘England ‘A’); *[Kia Chathli keeping wicket for Surrey]; *with international player Madeline ‘Maddie’ Penna (Australia); *with Cordelia Griffith & Esmae MacGregor & Abtaha Maqsood (Scotland),*without Jodi Grewcock or Flo Miller; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 52/0 & 82/1 by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Grace Scrivens was caught at ‘cover’ by Grace Harris, from Dani Gregory coming round-the-wicket to the left-hander; *Playing a ‘reverse-sweep’ next over, Lauren Winfield-Hill was caught at ’short-fine’ by Tilly Corteen-Coleman from spinner Grace Harris; *Mis-timing a ‘sweep’ Lissy MacLeod, was bowled by Tash Farrant; *Next ball Cordelia Griffith, was caught at ‘deep-mid-wicket by Danni Wyatt-Hodge (who returned inside the boundary rope – as mentioned above) for a ‘golden duck,’ from Tash Farrant; *Maddie Penna was was caught at ‘deep mid-on ‘by ADR from Tash Farrant; *Two wickets fell during Grace Harris’ death over; *Firstly Jo Gardner lobbed a ‘dolly’ return-catch to bowler Grace Harris; *Two balls later, Eva Gray went for a ‘carbon-copy’ dismissal; Essex women batting: Grace Scrivens39(29), Lauren Winfield-Hill36(31), Maddie Penna27(25), Lissy MacLeod15(21); Surrey women bowling: Tash Farrant 3/20, Grace Harris 3/26, Dani Gregory 17/1;
Surrey women wearing light-blue tops over black with black helmets; *skipper Bryony Smith; *[Lauren Winfield-Hill keeping wicket for Essex] *with international player Grace Harris (Australia) *with Alice Capsey, Alice Davidson-Richards (England), Phoebe Franklin & Kalea Moore *without Sophia Dunkley, Paige Scholfield or Alexa Stonehouse; *Chopping-on from an inside edge, Bryony Smith, was bowled by Esmae MacGregor; *Next ball, Alice Capsey was caught-and-bowled by diving seamer Esmae MacGregor, for a ‘golden duck’; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 39/2 (vs 49/2) & 67/2 (vs 82/1) by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs);*Mis-timed swipe, Danni Wyatt-Hodge was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Maddie Penna, from Abtaha Maqsood; *Top-scorer Kira Chathli was caught at ‘short-fine’ by Lissy MacLeod, from left-armed spinner Sophia Smale; *Grace Harris was caught at ‘point’ by Kate Coppack, from Esmae MacGregor; Surrey women batting: Kira Chathli40(34), Grace Harris31(17), Bryony Smith26(16), Danni Wyatt-Hodge21(22) Alice Davidson-Richards19*not out(13) PhoebeFranklin10*not out(8); Essex women bowling: Esmae MacGregor 3/33, Abtaha Maqsood 1/22, Sophia Smale 1/33;
Match result: Surrey (women) 150/5 (8.1 runs-per-over, from 18.3/20 overs/target 149 from 20/20 overs) beat Essex (women) 148/7 (@7.4 r-p-o from 20/20ov ) by five wickets with nine balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m2606bd54-97ed-405e-8520-3c4d258de40f
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225313 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/essex-women-v-surrey-women/scorecard/b55c7e3c-4158-5ee7-a21e-20f44c4dc60a
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of EssexCricket (nv play) via YouTube [02h59m58s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfoK-Feutnw
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/11/27/vitality-blast-fixtures-for-season-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/11/27/vitality-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2025/
