The Essex Women’s team have completed their London Championship matches with fixtures against Kent, Surrey and Middlesex.
OVer the lockdown period, the sides had been facing each other through a series of running challenges for the Virtual London Challenges but have been able to return to the middle across T20 and 50-over matches in July and August.
Fixtures:
Jul 27: Kent (Billericay Cricket Club) (T20) – Kent won by 6 wickets
Aug 01: Middlesex (Away) (50-over) – Middlesex won by 98 runs
Aug 03: Surrey (Gidea Park & Romford Cricket Club) (50-over) – Surrey won by 8 wickets
Aug 06: Kent (Away) (50-over) – Kent won by 10 wickets
Essex 135/9 (50 overs)
Surrey 136/2 (26 overs)
Essex won the toss and elected to bat
Surrey won by eight wickets
Essex Women were comprehensively beaten by Surrey in their London Championship fixture with Surrey, staged at Gidea Park & Romford’s Gallows Corner ground.
Having tasted defeat in their opening London Championship fixture against Middlesex, Essex were keen for a return to winning ways. However, they found the going tough against a strong Surrey outfit.
Having won the toss and taken the opportunity to bat, Hayley Brown top-scored for the home side, hitting 34 off 80 deliveries, while Jessica Bird scored 26 during her 67 minutes in the middle – Alice Capsey with 3/12 and Hannah Jones, 3-17, the pick of the Surrey attack.
The visitors made short work of chasing down the modest target. Kirstie White made 39 and Kira Chathli 33. Meanwhile, an impressive unbeaten 48 off 41 balls from Aylish Cranstone eased Surrey over the line with 24 overs to spare.
Essex: Beth Dodd, Jessica Bird, KA Midwood, Kelly Castle, Hayley Brown, Jasmine Wesley, Grace Melhuish, Scarlett Hughes, Megan Janman, Emma Jones, Esmae MacGregor
Surrey: Kirstie White, Kira Chathli, Aylish Cranstone, Alice Capsey, Chloe Brewer, Eva Gray, Hannah Jones, Rhianna Southby, Claudie Cooper, Deeksha Sharma, Beth Kerins
Essex 112 (36.5 overs)
Kent 114/0 (17.2 overs)
Essex won the toss and elected to bat
Kent won by ten wickets
Essex suffered a third successive Women’s London Championship defeat as hosts, Kent, roared to a ten-wicket victory at The Mote Cricket Club, Maidstone.
Having won the toss, the Essex order found the going tough against an impressive Kent attack.
Megan Belt led the way for the home side, taking 3/17 from ten overs, while skipper, Tash Farrant, backed up with 2/41.
Kate Midwood’s spritely 28 off 31 balls was the highlight in an otherwise tough time in the middle for Essex. Hayley Brown scored 20, while Jasmine Wesley and Emma Jones cobbled together a last-wicket stand of 29 before Essex were dismissed for 112 inside 37 overs.
Kent opening pair, Grace Scrivens and Sarah Bryce compounded an already difficult task for the visitors’ by swiftly knocking off the target.
Wicketkeeper/batter Bryce hit a stylish 51, while Scrivens 36 assisted as Kent record a comfortable success.
Kent: Grace Scrivens, Sarah Bryce (WK), Maxine Blythin, Megan Sturge, Grace Gibbs, Tash Farrant (Capt), Kalea Moore, Jodie Hobson, Hannah Jelfs, Megan Belt, Indigo Gentry
Essex: Beth Dodd, Jessica Bird (WK), Kate Midwood, Kelly Castle (Capt), Hayley Brown, Amy Hills, Clare Heywood, Grace Melhuish, Bella Howarth, Jasmine Wesley, Emma Jones
Match Reports courtesy of Brian Jeeves (www.yellowad.co.uk)
Photos courtesy of Kieran Galvin
