Essex (women) vs The Blaze (women) (match 31, league one – ‘stand-alone’ fixture) at The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford (Essex) on 28 June 2026
Described by commentators as a ’tough fixture’ between ‘The Blaze’ women – depleted by ‘ICC t20 World Cup’ absences – who’d previously won their last two matches and Essex women who’d lost their last two. Batting first for Essex, early wickets fell with loaned player Liberty Heap [46 runs (from 31 balls)] falling a whisker short of scoring her maiden ‘fifty.’ Her innings ‘built sufficient momentum’ with top-score that equalled her best ‘A-list’ professional score; and later warranted receiving POTM. Best Blaze bowlers were Lucy Higham (3/24) and guest Australian Charli Knott (2/24.) Turning to Blaze run-chase, skipper Marie Kelly [55*not out(44)] carried her bat, partnered by Charli Knott [54*not out(35)] who also scored an undefeated ‘fifty.’ Separately, Essex fielders were discretely prescribed with ‘catching practice’ between matches. Commentators were Guy Swindells (Sports journalist) for Essex Cricket, with guest Isabelle Duncan (BBC Essex.) Weather: following June ‘heat-wave’ with ‘grey cloud cover,’ 26C.
Essex women wearing full-fronted red, full-backed mauve over sleeveless navy blue; *stand-in skipper Eva Gray; *[Ella Claridge keeping wicket for The Blaze];*with Bryony Gillgrass & Amiele Bishop (debutantes for t20); *with Liberty Heap (Lancs Thunder loan); *With international player Anneka Bosch (Republic of South Africa) *Lissy MacLeod was caught by keeper Ella Claridge, from Maria Andrews’ left-armed spin; *Bryony Gillgrass was caught aerial at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Emma Jones, from Charli Knott; *Jo Gardner was caught at ‘extra cover’ by Marie Kelly, from spinner Lucy Higham; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 33/3; *Anneka Bosch went plumb ‘leg-before’ to seamer Georgia Elwiss (not wearing her usual shirt numbered ’34’); *Score 62/4 by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); *Liberty Heap was caught aerial at ‘long-on’ by Josie Groves, from Lucy Higham; *Amiele Bishop was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Emma Jones, from Lucy Higham; *Ariana Dowse was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Emma Jones, from Georgia Elwiss; *Scooping across stumps to leg-side, Eva Gray was caught comfortably by keeper Ella Claridge, from Charli Knott; *Next ball to Kate Coppack, non-striker Sophie Munro was ‘run-out’ by Charli Knott’s deflection to break the non-striker’s wicket; Essex women batting: Liberty Heap 46(31); Anneka Bosch 21(16); Amiele Bishop 20(26); The Blaze women bowling: Lucy Higham 3/24(4); Charli Knott 2/24(4); Georgia Elwiss 2/30(4); Maria Andrews 1/20(4);
The Blaze women wearing orange stripe with over black with half-white vertical trouser stripe and black pads;*Skipper Marie Kelly *[Ariana Dowse keeping wicket for Essex]; *With international player Charli Knott (Australia WBBL); *without Kirstie Gordon, Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland IT20 World-Cup call-up) *also without Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sarah Glenn or Amy Jones (England IT20 World-Cup call-up); *Mis-timing ‘slog-sweep-‘Tammy Beaumont was bowled by Esmae MacGregor’s ‘full-toss;’ *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 47/1 (vs33/3); *Score 76/1 (vs 62/4) by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); The Blaze women batting: Marie Kelly 55*not out(44); Charli Knott 54*not out(35); Tammy Beaumont 21(17); Essex women bowling: Esmae MacGregor 1/29(3);
*Match result: The Blaze(women) 137/1 (@8.5 runs-per-over/target 137 from 15.5/20ov.) beat Essex (women) 136/9 (@6.8 r-p-o from 20ov.) by nine wickets with 25 balls remaining
*Video scorecard, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#c9cd38578-5761-4c81-a024-f69ca8c04caa_me5e80000-9b94-4272-8f4d-08de2c26e241
*Upcoming League one ‘Vitality Blast’ (20ov.) fixtures @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/12/17/vitality-blast-league-one-fixtures-for-2026-3-of-4/
*Upcoming League one ‘MetroBank’ (50ov.) fixtures with mid-term results @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#me5e80000-9b94-4272-8f4d-08de2c26e24
