Essex Women v The Blaze
Vitality Blast
Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford
Sunday 13 July 2025, 2:00pm
Essex Women return to action at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground on Sunday after exactly four weeks since the last home match.
Following on from Tuesday’s defeat in the last over against Somerset Women at Taunton, the Essex Women face The Blaze on Sunday in what is their first fixture back at Chelmsford since June 15 and will be looking to return to winning ways.
Amanda-Jade Wellington played a match-winning innings under pressure as Somerset beat Essex by four wickets last time out to register their first win of the Vitality Blast T20 campaign in their tenth game.
The Australian international raised 29 from 23 balls, struck 4 fours and shared in a crucial stand of 45 off 29 balls for the fourth wicket with Fran Wilson, who contributed 41, as the home side chased down a victory target of 156 with three balls to spare.
Esmae MacGregor claimed 3-19 to keep Essex in the hunt, but Wellington and Alex Griffiths, required to score 16 runs off the final 17 balls, held their nerve to carry the Cider county to their first win of the season at headquarters.
Returning from England A duty, Jodi Grewcock top-scored with 45 from 34 balls and shared in a stand of 58 for the third wicket with Cordelia Griffith, who contributed 31, as Essex posted 155-5 after being put into bat. The pick of the Somerset bowlers, Wellington returned figures of 1-25 from four overs.
ICYMI: Jodi Grewcock
Squad
Head Coach Andy Tennant has named a 13-player squad for the match against Somerset Women.
Flo Miller and Sophie Munro continue to recover from injuries and are beginning to participate in light training sessions.
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.
How To Watch
Tickets are still available for Sunday’s clash at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground against The Blaze. But, if you are unable to watch live at the ground, the match will be live streamed on our YouTube channel.
Alternatively, you can head to the Matchzone for a video scorecard, stats and clips of the action.
Purchase your England v India tickets!
The England Men under 19s are playing in a four day Test match at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground this summer!
They will face India Men under 19s, including 14-year old IPL superstar Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who became the youngest player bought in an IPL auction after being selected by Rajasthan Royals. He is also the youngest player to score a century in IPL history!
Day one will begin on July 20 with the final day concluding on July 23.
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so have a browse and get yourself down to CM2 to watch the next generation of international cricketers.
