Birmingham Bears (women) vs Essex (women) (match 27, league one – ‘double-header’ fixture) at Edgbaston Stadium on Wednesday 18 June (11h30)
Bears women were ‘lucky’ to collect their fourth win from five matches played-to-date, with only three batters reaching double-figures. Batting first, Cordelia Griffith partnered by guest Australian Maddy Penna mounted a recovery after Essex women lost three wickets for 12 runs in 11 balls. By comparison, Bears recovered well from a ‘disastrous’ third over during which the ‘competition’s leading wicket-taker’ Esmae MacGregor two wickets, two balls apart. Top-scorer Charis Pavely (pictured) hit her T20 career-best [68runs*not out (from 40 balls] with five ‘fours’ and three ‘sixes.’ Two match-winning partnerships firstly with guest Australian Laura Harris added 25 runs in 15 balls; followed by an entertaining cameo from Issy Wong: that added 33 (from 25.) In summary, although commentators were confident for a home-team win, Bears women were ‘made to work hard’ by an Essex side that took the match down to the penultimate ball. Commentators were Aatif Nawaz (Bears TV host) with Adam Bridge, Aaron Viles (Cricketfanaticsmag.com) and guest player Chloe Brewer. After receiving Vertu POTM, Charis Pavely said that ‘middling’ her bat when playing shots had worked well for her. Weather was described as ‘hot,’ 22C.
Essex women wearing full-fronted red, full-backed mauve over sleeveless navy blue; *skipper Grace Scrivens (‘England ‘A’); *[Nat Wraith keeping wicket for Bears]; *with international player Madeline ‘Maddie’ Penna (Australia); *with Cordelia Griffith & Esmae MacGregor, Jodi Grewcock & Abtaha Maqsood (Scotland), *without Amara Carr or Flo Miller; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 44/1; *Grace Scrivens was caught at ‘extra cover’ by Laura Harris from Phoebe Graham; *LissyMacLeod was caught at ‘extra cover’ by Laura Harris from Hannah Baker; *Lauren Winfield-Hill was ‘run-out’ arriving short at the non-striker’s end, from Georgia Davis; *68/3 by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); Essex women batting: Cordelia Griffith 47(36), Maddie’ Penna 41(42), Lauren Winfield-Hil 30(23); Bears women bowling: Hannah Baker 1/22, Phoebe Graham 1/25;
Bears women wearing ’sky’ blue diamond cheque with yellow trim over dark blue; with yellow helmets and black caps; *skipper Georgia Davis *[Lauren Winfield-Hil keeping wicket for Essex] *with international players Laura Harris (Australia) & Sterre Kalis (NL); *without Abbey Freeborn, Katie George or Phoebe Graham; *Firstly, Davina Perrin was caught by Maddy Penna; followed two balls later by Meg Austin who was caught behind by keeper Lauren Winfield-Hil; *Nat Wraith was ‘run-out’ by Jo Gardner/Lauren Winfield-Hill; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 37/3 (vs 44/1); *Missing a ‘cut,’ Sterre Kalis was bowled by Abataha Maqsood’s first delivery; 78/4 (vs 68/3) by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Issy Wong was ‘run-out’ by Jo Gardner’s throw to keeper Lauren Winfield-Hil at the striker’s end; *Laura Harris was caught at ‘short-third’ by Abataha Maqsood, from Eva Gray; *Millie Taylor was ‘run-out’ from ‘cover’ by Eva Gray’s throw to Lauren Winfield-Hill with batter stranded mid-wicket, from bowler Sophia Smale; *Georgia Davis was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Maddie Penna, from Grace Scrivens; *Hannah Baker scored the winning ‘four.’ Bears batting: Charis Pavely 68*not out(40) Issy Wong 33(25), Nat Wraith10(10); Essex bowling: Eva Gray 2/21, Esmae MacGregor 2/24, Abataha Maqsood 1/27, Grace Scrivens 1/30;
Match result: Birmingham Bears (women) 154/8 (@7.7 runs-per-over, from 19.5/20 overs/target 151 from 20/20 overs) beat Essex (women) 150/3 (7.5 r-p-o from 20/20ov ) by two wickets with one ball remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m6a1b9694-48fa-4612-b617-4ee336094123
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225316 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/bears-women-v-essex-women/scorecard/0da77259-91d3-51f1-8712-52ed9a0b69d7
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Warwickshire Cricket (nv play) via YouTube [03h39m54s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VruRHhGZeeI
*Edited Highlights ‘Charis Pavely hits career best as Bears Women win against Essex’ courtesy of Warwickshire Cricket (nv play) via YouTube [08m42s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYePquunRFQ
*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
