Essex women vs Hampshire women – league one, match 41 – at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford (Essex) on Thursday 4 September 2025 with delayed start 15h30
Billed by commentators as ‘bottom (8th) versus top (1st),’ Hampshire women narrowly beat Essex in a run-a-ball match, reduced to 17 overs per innings ‘with slippery outfield’ and frequent ball-towelling. Key to Hampshire womens’ success was a match-winning partnership between Maia Bouchier [31 runs) from 30 balls)] and top-scorer Freya Kemp – pictured [31 runs (from 20 balls)]; together adding 49 runs. Once Maia Bouchier departed, Freya Kemp scored another 7 runs from her next 4 balls. Turning to Essex women’s reply, Essex were 24 runs behind after ten overs (44/4 (vs 68/3.) Only four ‘fours’ were scored from their last seven overs, three of them scored by top-scorer Sophie Munro [28*not out(19).] Defending 14 at the death, seamer Mary Taylor made certain of Hants semi-finals place, guaranteed to qualify in the top four. Commentators were Kevan ‘Kev’ James (BBC Solent & former Hants player) with James Patient (BBC Essex) and Toby Reynolds (Sports journalist). Weather: early intermittent rain cleared.
Hampshire women wearing navy blue, white neck-line with yellow batting pads and white numbering; *skipper Georgia Adams *[Amara Carr keeping wicket for Essex]; *Rhianna Southby was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by Esmae MacGregor; *After 3 overs power-play 16/1; *Maia Bouchier was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Eva Gray, from Esmae MacGregor; *Mis-timing a ‘slog,’ left-handed Freya Kemp was bowled by right-armed Grace Scrivens; *After 10 overs 68/3; *Abi Norgrove was caught aerial at ‘cover’ by Eva Gray from Abtaha Maqsood; *Nancy Harman was ‘run-out’ upon-return, by Eva Gray’s stop at ‘long-off’, and Jo Gardner’s throw to bowler Abtaha Maqsood receiving at the non-striker’s end; *Left-handed Naomi Dattani was caught aerial at ’in-the-deep’ by Sophia Smale from Eva Gray; *Mary Taylor was ‘run-out’ from ‘mid-off ‘by bowler Eva Gray’s stump-to-stump throw to keeper Amara Carr receiving at the striker’s end; Hampshire women batting: Freya Kemp31(20), Maia Bouchier31(30) Georgia Adams14*not out 24; Essex women bowling: Esmae MacGregor 2/17, Grace Scrivens 1/12, Eva Gray 1/18, Abtaha Maqsood 1/22;
Essex women wearing mauve splash over dark blue; skipper Grace Scrivens (‘England ‘A’); *[Rhianna Southby keeping wicket for Hampshire] *with Scotland international Abtaha Maqsood; *also with Ariana Dowse & Sophie Munro; *without Cordelia Griffith; *Left-hander Grace Scrivens was aerial caught at ‘mid-wicket’(elsewhere: ‘mid-on’) by Maia Bouchier from Daisy Gibb; *After 3 overs power-play 10/1 (vs 16/1); *Mis-timing a ‘slog,’ Jo Gardner was caught at ‘long-on’ by Maia Bouchier from Georgia Adams; *Jodi Grewcock was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Naomi Dattani from left-arm seamer Bex Tyson; *Promoted up-the-batting-order, Eva Gray was caught at ‘long-on’ by Freya Kemp, from seamer Bex Tyson; *After 10 overs 44/4 (vs 68/3); *Mis-timing ‘ambitious front-foot switch,’ Sophia Smale was caught at ‘backward-point’ (elsewhere ‘point’) by Abi Norgrove, from Freya Davies; *Mis-timing a ‘pull,’ Flo Miller went ’leg-before’ to Freya Davies; Essex women batting: Sophie Munro28*not out(19), Flo Miller20(20), Jo Gardner12(13), Jodi Grewcock12(19); Hampshire women bowling: Freya Davies 2/15, Bex Tyson2/20, Daisy Gibb 1/8, Georgia Adams 1/19;
Match result: Hampshire (women) 101/7 (@5.9 runs-per-over from 17/17 ov) beat Essex (women) 97/6 (@5.7 runs-per-over from 17/17 overs) by 4 runs (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method)
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m00634da2-c305-4aa1-8035-e4f8ea368685
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225557 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/essex-women-v-hampshire-women/scorecard/598c4edf-c0e4-56b2-8ab3-eaf840ba6a4b
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Essex Cricket (nv play) via YouTube [07h43m14s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5gLYK1jpfw
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/05/22/metro-bank-league-one-fixtures-and-results-up-to-may-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url hhttp://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/05/25/metro-bank-league-two-fixtures-and-results-up-to-may-2025/
