Essex (women) vs The Blaze (women) (match 46 – league one ’double-header’ fixture) at The Ambassador Cruise Line County Ground Chelmsford on Sunday, 13 July 2025 (14h30)
The Blaze women defended their third-lowest score-to-date, still on track to qualify for second or third place for the up-coming semi-finals. Both openers went during their power-play, with both ‘in-form’ Bryce sisters following by mid-way. Thereafter, guest Australian Heather Graham [33 runs (from 23 balls)] played an entertaining innings closing with top-score from three ‘fours,’ and also scored the only ’six’ of the day. Having bowled-out their opponents, Essex women ‘stayed in-touch’ until their big hitters (Jodi Grewcock and Cordelia Griffith) departed with just five overs remaining. When Blaze skipper Kirstie Gordon took three wickets during one single ‘over,’ only bowler-turned batter Kate Coppack (gaffed as ‘Katie’) who scored 14*not out (from 13 balls) made double-figures. The Blaze bowlers kept ‘firm control’ by taking wickets and restricting scoring opportunities crucially when Essex women batters ‘wanted to get-a-move-on.’ Resident home-team commentators (unannounced) were Guy Swindells and Toby Reynolds. Weather: hot and sunny 25C.
The Blaze wearing orange with red splash over black; *skipper Kirstie Gordon *[Lauren Winfield-Hill keeping wicket for Essex]; *debutante Lucy Higham, *with international player Heather Graham (Aus); *without Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones & Nat Sciver-Brunt (England call-up); *With Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland); *Georgia Elwiss was bowled by Maddie Penna’s first ball, also chalking-up Penna’s maiden wicket in the competition; *Michaela Kirk was bowled ‘top-of-off’ from Jodi Grewcock’s ‘top-spin’ googly; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 36/2; *Sarah Bryce was stumped by Lauren Winfield-Hill, from Abtaha Maqsood’s googly;*Cursed by commentators three balls later as an ‘in-form’ batter, Kathryn Bryce went ‘leg-before’ to Abtaha Maqsood; *By ‘mid-way’ 71/4 after 10 overs; *Heather Graham was caught at ‘cover’ from an ‘outside edge’ by diving Cordelia Griffith, from Eva Gray; *Josie Groves was ‘run-out’ at the non-striker’s end, by Abtaha Maqsood; *Ella Claridge was caught by Cordelia Griffiths from Jodi Grewcock; *Lucy Higham was bowled by Eva Gray; *Two balls later Sarah Glenn was bowled by Eva Gray; *Next ball Cassidy McCarthy was bowled by Eva Gray for a ‘golden duck;’ *Eva Gray expectant next match for a ‘hat-trick’ as The Blaze were bowled-out; Blaze batting: Kathryn Bryce27(25), Heather Graham33(23), Sarah Glenn17(16), Ella Claridge16(14), Lucy Higham14(11), Sarah Bryce12(10), Michaela Kirk10(9); Esssex women bowling: Eva Gray 4/18, Jodi Grewcock 2/15, Abtaha Maqsood 2/26, Maddie Penna 1/20;
Essex women wearing full-fronted red, full-backed mauve over sleeveless navy blue; *skipper Grace Scrivens (‘England ‘A’); *[Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze]; *with international player Madeline ‘Maddie’ Penna (Australia); *without Amara Carr; *Mis-timing a ‘paddle,’ Grace Scrivens top-edged a paddle to keeper Sarah Bryce, from CassidyMcCarthy; *Mis-timing aerial ‘slog-sweep,’ Lauren Winfield-Hill was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by CassidyMcCarthy, from Sarah Glenn; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 22/2 (vs 36/2); & *By ‘mid-way’ 48/2 (vs 71/4) after 10 overs; *Maddie Penna was caught at ‘long-off’ by Cassidy McCarthy, from Kirstie Gordon; *Jodi Grewcock was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Josie Groves, from Sarah Glenn; *Cordelia Griffith mis-timed and was caught at ‘long-on’ by Josie Groves, from Kathryn Bryce; *Lissy Macleod was caught from a leading-edge, at ‘extra cover’ by Heather Graham, from Kirstie Gordon; *Eva Gray chipped to ‘mid-wicket,’ caught by Georgia Elwiss, from Kirstie Gordon; *Next ball, Sophia Smale was caught at ‘short-fine’ by Ella Claridge, for a ‘golden duck’ from Kirstie Gordon; *Jo Gardner was bowled by Sarah Glenn’s googly; *Kate Coppack was the third batter to make double-figures, undefeated; Essex women batting: Jodie Grewcock 33(31), Maddy Penna26(24), Kate Coppack14*not out(13); Blaze bowling: Kirstie Gordon 4/23, Sarah Glenn 3/17, Cassidy McCarthy 1/8, Kathryn Bryce 1/21;
*Match result: The Blaze (women) 139/10 (@7.1 runs-per-over from 19.4/20overs beat Essex (women) 104/9 (@5.2 r-p-o from 20/20 overs/target 140 from 20/20 ov.) by 35 runs
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m69450187-87d8-4f3c-8d95-113cfdeb423d
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225335 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/essex-women-v-the-blaze/scorecard/58de2edc-1c88-58b6-836c-2559f08ec063
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Essex Cricket (nv play) via YouTube [03h08m52s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzDnshvx04&t=3s
*Edited highlights with Reporter’s Network summary via Essex Cricket from @url: https://essexcricket.org.uk/2025/07/13/match-report-essex-women-v-the-blaze/
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/06/22/vitality-blast-league-one-fixtures-and-results-to-june-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/07/02/vitality-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2025-2/
