Surrey (women) vs Essex (women) – match 31 – League One – at The Kia Oval 12 May 2026
Essex women were thought to be ‘in trouble’ on 39-3 and 157-7; before they recovered to chalk-up two ‘fifties’ toward a half-decent score. Top-scorer Flo Miller [74*not out (from 68 balls) made her competition-best score: [previously scoring 54*not out vs Somerset and 49*not out vs Durham Cricket.] Ariana Dowse 69(105) scored her ‘fifty’ for Essex from a ‘free-hit’ from Alice Davidson-Richards repeating a second ‘head-high’ full-toss before standing down. Turning to Surrey women’s run-chase, commentators described ‘nervy’ progress, with Alice Monaghan making top score – one short of her ‘fifty.’ Last-ditch eighth-wicket partnership between Priyanaz Chatterji – pictured 37*not out(38) and Aylish Cranstone 31*not out(39) saw Surrey women home to an ‘unlikely’ win, to help keep them in the competition. Resident commentators were Cameron ‘Cam’ Ponsonby, Mark Church (Sports journalists) with guest Kirstie White. Weather: Sunny, blue sky becoming cloudy and cooler between innings, 16-18C.
Essex (women) wearing mauve tops and blue batting pads; skipper Grace Scrivens; [Jemima Spence keeping wicket for Surrey]; *Grace Scrivens was bowled ‘inside-edge’ to her ‘leg-stump’ from Maitlan Brown, for a ‘golden duck’; *Cordelia Griffith was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Bryony Smith, from Priyanaz Chatterji; *Score 28/2 after 10 overs power-play; *Lissy MacLeod was caught aerial one-handed over-her-shoulder by Alice Davidson-Richards , from Alice Monaghan; *Essex in ‘real trouble;’ *Sophia Smale was caught behind by keeper Jemima Spence, from Dani Gregory; *Mid-way for drinks, 89/4 after 25 overs; *Jo Gardner was ‘run-out’ from Dani Gregory’s throw from ‘backward-point’ to Jemima Spence, receiving at the striker’s-end, from Alice Davidson-Richards; *Ariana Dowse was caught at ‘backward-point’ by Danni Wyatt-Hodge, from Dani Gregory; *Next over, Amara Carr went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Alice Monaghan; *Sophie Munro was caught aerial at ‘backward-point’ by Dani Gregory, from Priyanaz Chatterji’s short-delivery; *Eva Gray was caught between ‘long-on’ and ‘cow corner’ by Bryony Smith, from Dani Gregory; *Kate Coppack was ‘run-out’ by bowler Kalea Moore running to mid-wicket, with keeper Jemima Spence receiving at the striker’s-end; Essex women batting: Flo Miller 74*not out (68); Ariana Dowse 69(105); Sophia Smale 22(30); Jo Gardner 13(13); Cordelia Griffith 10(29); Surrey women bowling: Dani Gregory 3/51(10); Priyanaz Chatterji 2/37(10); Alice Monaghan 2/45(10); Maitlan Brown 1/34(9);
Surrey women wearing black with white county and sponsors logos with black caps and helmets (not ‘brown caps’ as described by ECB Reporter’s Network); skipper Kira Chathli; [Amara Carr keeping wicket for Essex] *international player Maitlan Brown (Australia ‘A’); *Scottish international Priyanaz ‘Priya’ Chatterji; *Paige Scholfield was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Eva Gray’s straight ball; *Mis-timing a ‘pull,’ Bryony Smith was caught from a ‘top-edge’ by Ariana Dowse, from Sophia Smale; *Score 48/2 (vs 28/1) after 10 overs power-play; *Alice Davidson-Richards was caught low at ‘mid-wicket’ by Eva Gray, from Sophie Munro’s ’short-pitched’ ball; *Mid-way for drinks, 120/3 (vs 89/4)after 25 overs; *Maitlan Brown was caught aerial by Sophia Smale, from Kate Coppack’s ‘over-pitched’ ball; *Mis-timing ‘over-the-top,’ Danni Wyatt-Hodge was caught by Lissy MacLeod at ‘mid-off’, from Sophia Smale; *One short of ‘fifty,’ Alice Monaghan was caught at ‘deep-backward-square’ by Jo Gardner, from Kate Coppack; *Jemima Spence was bowled ‘outside-off’ by Eva Gray’s ‘in-swing’; Surrey women batting: Alice Monaghan 49(67); Priyanaz Chatterji 37*not out(38); Aylish Cranstone 31*not out(39); Maitlan Brown 29(36); Paige Scholfield 18(27); Jemima Spence 12(13); Alice Davidson-Richards 12(23); Essex women bowling: Sophia Smale 2/35(9.1); Kate Coppack 2/45(8); Eva Gray 2/47(9); Sophie Munro 1/44(9);
Match result: Surrey (women) 229/7(@5.4 runs-per-over from 42.1/50 ov.) beat Essex (women) 227 ‘All out’ (@4.5 r-p-o from 49.5/50 ov.) by three wickets with 47 balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#mc5520000-6664-a623-f935-08de2dc249f9
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url: https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/4408104/metro-bank-one-day-cup-womens-competition-fixtures-2026
