The Blaze v Essex Women
Vitality Blast
The County Ground, Derby
Friday 06 June 2025, 3:00pm
After back to back wins against Somerset and the Bears, the Essex Women are set for their next challenge in this exciting T20 campaign against The Blaze.
Essex Women beat Bears Women by 19 runs at home on Wednesday, with the team displaying powerful ball striking and incredible strength in field. Rain stopped play temporarily, meaning the game was reduced to 14-overs. It was an action packed contest, with many boundaries scored and stand-out performances.
The Bears won the toss and elected to bowl. Grace Scrivens and Lauren-Winfield Hill opened the batting, Grace Scrivens scored 36 runs, eight of which were 4’s. Lauren Winfield-Hill scored 21, caught by Issy Wong, bowled by Millie Taylor. When play resumed after rain, Lissy Macleod took to bat and impressed with 44 off 24 balls.
Esmae Macgregor had another great peformance with the ball, taking 3 wickets off 18 balls. There was an outstanding catch from overseas player Maddie Penna and wickets kept falling as Essex Women claimed their consecutive win.
The Blaze have had a great start to the Vitality Blast T20 campaign, with a draw against Bears Women and a win against Lancashire Thunder. It is set to be another exciting match.
Match highlights, match report and post-match reaction from Woodlands Group Eagle of the Match, Lissy Macleod is available here.
The Inside Line: SOPHIA SMALE
Squad
Head Coach Andy Tennant has named a 13-player squad for the contest against The Blaze at the County Ground, Derby.
Jodi Grewcock is due to return to duties next week. Flo Miller has had an operation on her ankle and will be recovering for a couple of months. Sophie Munro is still recovering from her stress fracture.
The Opposition: The Blaze
Captain: Kirstie Gordon
Overseas Player/s: Maddy Green (New Zealand, first four matches), Heather Graham (Australia, last 10 matches)
Key Moves: The big change for The Blaze has been off the pitch, where former New Zealand Test batter Craig Cumming takes over as head coach in place of Chris Guest, who guided the Trent Bridge-based team to its first silverware in the Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 competition in 2024. Cumming arrives with a winning pedigree, though, having won two trophies in four years with Otago Sparks.
The Big Question: After last season’s impressive campaign established The Blaze at the top of the pile in the 20-over format, can anyone knock them off their perch? South East Stars, who ran them closest in 2024, have morphed into Surrey Women, with whom The Blaze shared 692 runs in an incredible 50-over tie at Beckenham earlier this month. There may be little between them over 20 overs too.
Wildcard Watch: Charley Phillips – Such is the depth of The Blaze squad, some 15 of their number are already signed up for the 2025 edition of The Hundred. If they are to be joined by another team-mate, it may be Charley Phillips, who arrived from Sunrisers in the close season as a young bowler with pace and has already made a good impression.
Final Thought The Blaze squad contains four current England players but it is their Scottish triumvirate – skipper Kirstie Gordon and the Bryce sisters, Kathryn and Sarah – who are the heart of the team. Gordon was the leading 20-over wicket-taker in 2024, Kathryn Bryce the top runscorer and wicket-keeper Sarah had only one in front of her in the dismissals table. They may hold the keys to success again in 2025.
Purchase your Essex Double Header tickets!
Our next double header at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground comes against Hampshire Hawks and Glamorgan on Thursday 12 June.
The Essex Women will face Hampshire Hawks Women at 2:30pm before the Men take on Glamorgan at 6:30pm.
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so have a browse and get your Vitality Blast T20 tickets booked.
