Warwickshire Bears (women) vs Essex (Eagles) (women) (match 35, league one – ‘double-header’ fixture) at Birmingham, Edgbaston Stadium on 1 July 2026
Convincing home win where Bears women’s victory was conceded by bowling five ‘wides.’ Burning question whether Bears had qualified for a ‘bonus-point’ with four ‘overs’ remaining, without any runs scored beyond the sixteenth over (i.e.: apart from five ‘extras.’) Post-match, Aaron Viles (media award-winner) helpfully explained to viewers that ‘extras’ were excluded from ECB’s bonus point calculation, hence four points awarded (not 5.) Batting first, Essex women played a ‘book-end’ innings having lost wickets either side of three Essex batters who posted double-figures. That resulted in a barely defendable score. Commentators mentioned that Em Arlott had returned to Bears after two months absence, having recovered from injury. Turning to Bears womens’ reply, five Bears wickets fell to seamers (Eva Gray taking 3/29 & Sophie Munro 2/26.) Guest Australian Georgia Redmayne 43*not out(41) partnered by Chloe Brewer 15*not out(12) saw Bears home, with four overs to spare. Commentators for Bears TV Livestream were Aatif Nawaz (host) with Melinda Farrell (The Blaze TV & SKY TV); Adam Bridge (co-host); post-match with guest Bears player Abbey Freeborn – pictured and Aaron Viles (Cricketfanaticsmag.com). Weather: clouds lifting and wind easing late afternoon 25C.
Essex women wearing full-fronted red, full-backed mauve over sleeveless navy blue; *stand-in skipper Eva Gray; *[Georgia Redmayne keeping wicket for Bears];*with Bryony Gillgrass (England Women U19 Tri-Series Squad 2026); *with Liberty Heap (Lancs Thunder loan); *Also with Michaela Kirk (The Blaze loan); *with international player Anneka Bosch (Republic of South Africa); *Lissy MacLeod went plumb ‘leg-before’ to seamer Em Arlott; *Bryony Gillgrass was caught inside the circle at ‘mid-wicket’ by rolling Em Arlott, from seamer Amu Surenkumar; *Mis-timing to ‘square,’ Michaela Kirk was bowled with her ‘off-stump‘ knocked back by Amu Surenkumar; *Anneka Bosch was caught inside the circle at ‘fine’ by Abbey Freeborn, from Amu Surenkumar; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 31/4 ; *Score 45/4 by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); *Jo Gardner was bowled around her feet, indecisively ‘leg-before’ to Georgia Davis; *Two balls later, Liberty Heap was caught aerial between ‘point’ and ‘backward-point’ by Georgia Redmayne, from Georgia Davis; *Next ‘over,’ Ariana Dowse was caught inside the circle at ‘fine’ by Mary Taylor, from Millie Taylor; *With both batters stranded at the non-striker’s end after scoring one run, Eva Gray was ‘run-out’ by Amu Surenkumar’s throw to Nat Wraith receiving at the striker’s end; Essex women batting: Jo Gardner 33(32); Liberty Heap 23(24); Sophie Munro 22*not out(18); Bears women bowling: Amu Surenkumar 3/22(3); Georgia Davis 2/19(3); Em Arlott 1/15(3); Millie Taylor 1/16(4);
Bears women wearing ’sky’ blue diamond cheque with yellow trim over dark blue; with yellow helmets and black caps; *skipper Georgia Davis *[Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Thunder women] *with international player Georgia Redmayne (Australia WBBL); *without Issy Wong (England IT20 World-Cup call-up); *Katie George steepled a ‘top-edge,’ collected at ‘short-fine’ by keeper Ariana Dowse, from Sophie Munro for a second-ball ‘duck;’ *Nat Wraith snicked-an-edge to fellow keeper Ariana Dowse, from Sophie Munro; *Abbey Freeborn was pouched inside the circle between ‘gully’ and ’short-third’ by Lissy MacLeod, from Eva Gray; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 46/3(vs31/4); *Mis-timing a drive,’ Em Arlott was bowled ‘top-of-middle by Eva Gray; *Score 71/4(vs 45/4) by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); *Mis-timing a ‘reverse-ramp,’ Amu Surenkumar was bowled ‘through-the-gate with her ‘off-stump’ flattened by Eva Gray; Bears women batting: Georgia Redmayne 43*not out(41); Abbey Freeborn 17(9); Chloe Brewer 15*not out(12); Nat Wraith 10(8); Essex women bowling: Eva Gray 3/29(4); Sophie Munro 2/26(3);
*Match result: Warwickshire Bears (women) 119/5 (@7.4 runs-per-over /target 117 from 16/20ov.)beat Essex (Eagles) (women) 116/8 (@5.8 r-p-o from 20ov.) by five wickets
*Video scorecard, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#me5e80000-9b94-4272-6f6a-08de2c26e299
*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: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/05/17/metro-bank-one-day-cup-league-one-women/
