Warwickshire (Bears) (women) vs Essex (Eagles) (women) – match 59 – League One – at Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham on Thursday 03 September 2026
Dead rubber marking a disappointing season for both teams with insufficient points to qualify beyond group-stage. Batting first on a ‘green outfield,’ Essex women mustered two substantive ‘fifty’ partnerships, firstly between Bryony Gillgrass and Lissy Macleod; followed by Sophia Smale and Liberty Heap. Temporary skipper Katie George [72*not out runs(from 99 balls)] stepped-up with two substantive double-figure partnerships when Warwickshire women replied. The first with Brooke Halliday (guest New Zealander) added 45, immediately followed by a match-winning century partnership (122 runs) with Abbey Freeborn [64*not out runs(from 54 balls).] Commentators for Bears TV Live Stream were Barbara Daniels (World Cup winner 2013); with Dr Samara Afzal (Chair, Dudley Cricket & Sports Club & former player) and Freddie Cardie (Gooner Fanzine.) Weather: sunny with white clouds and ’quite windy.’
Essex women wearing mauve tops and blue batting pads; *skipper Grace Scrivens; *[Nat Wraith keeping wicket for Bears women]; *with Liberty Heap (Lancs short-term loan); *also with Bryony Gillgrass (Warwicks loan & England Women U19s) & *Ella Claridge (The Blaze loan); *without Jodi Grewcock (England duty)*Grace Scrivens was caught from an ‘outside-edge’ by keeper Nat Wraith, from Alexa Stonehouse for a fourth-ball ‘duck;’ *Score 44/1 after 10 overs power-play; *Bryony Gillgrass was caught behind by keeper Nat Wraith, from Phoebe Brett; *Lissy MacLeod went ‘leg-before’ to Amuruthaa ‘Amu’ Surenkumar; *Ella Claridge was clean-bowled by Phoebe Brett; *Jo Gardner was caught aerial at ‘cover’ by Katie George, from Em Arlott; *Mid-way score: 116/5 after 25overs; *Sophia Smale was caught at ‘long-on’ by Em Arlott, from Phoebe Brett; *Missing a ‘huge swing,’ four balls later, Liberty Heap stumped by Nat Wraith, from Hannah Baker; *Next ‘over,’ mis-timing a ‘drive,’ Amiele Bishop went ‘leg-before’ to Phoebe Brett; *Sophie Munro was caught at ‘point’ by Millie Taylor, from Hannah Baker; *Esmae MacGregor went ‘leg-before’ to Hannah Baker;Essex (women) batting: Liberty Heap 52(45); Sophia Smale 42(72); Lissy Macleod 34(38); Jo Gardner 20(19); Bryony Gillgrass 17(35); Ella Claridge 12(17); Warwickshire (Bears) women bowling: Phoebe Brett 4/42(10); Hannah Baker 3/26(8.5); Amuruthaa ‘Amu’ Surenkumar 1/24(6); Em Arlott 1/32(7); Alexa Stonehouse 1/34(7);
Warwickshire (Bears) women wearing dark blue with white pin stripes, with ‘bear’ logo and yellow numbers; temporary skipper Katie George (in Georgia Davis absence); [Ella Claridge keeping wicket for Essex]; *with guest international player Brooke Halliday (New Zealand); Alexa Stonehouse (Surrey short-term loan); without Issy Wong (England duty); *Playing ‘across-the-line,’ Amuruthaa ‘Amu’ Surenkumar went ‘leg-before’ Esmae MacGregor; *Meg Austin was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Ella Claridge, from Esmae MacGregor; *Score 46/2 (vs44/1)after 10 overs power-play; *Brooke Halliday was caught by Amiele Bishop, from Abtaha Maqsood coming round-the-wicket; *Mid-way score: 117/3 (vs116/5) after 25overs; *No further wickets fell; Warwickshire (Bears) (women) batting: Katie George 72*not out(99); Abi Freeborn 64*not out(54); Meg Austin 25(20); Brooke Halliday 22(33); Amu Surenkumar 10(14); Essex women bowling: Esmae MacGregor 2/39(8); Abtaha Maqsood 1/34(6);
Match result: Warwickshire (Bears) (women) 208/3 (@5.6 runs-per-over /target 203 from 36.3/50 overs) beat Essex (Eagles) (women) 202 ‘All out’ (@4.5 r-p-o from 44.5/50 ov.) by seven wickets with 81 balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#c43d251c2-5e06-43de-826f-47d67a843862_m0f9d0b30-842c-4366-83ab-b13c30f71051
*Mid-term results with upcoming League one fixtures @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/05/17/metro-bank-one-day-cup-league-one-women/
*Group-stage results with remaining League two fixtures @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/08/19/metro-bank-one-day-cup/
