Essex Women's Metro Bank One Day Cup Campaign resumes this weekend as the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground welcomes The Blaze.
Stephen Parry’s side face the test of The Blaze this Saturday, who sit two places above Essex in the table with a game in hand, four points ahead.
Following defeat to Warwickshire in the last round, Grace Scrivens, who scored a well-orchestrated half-century, will be looking to replicate her form on home soil and help her side secure their first win of the season.
Stephen Parry has named a 15-player squad for The Blaze's visit to the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
Captain: Kirstie Gordon
Head Coach: Craig Cumming
2025 finish: 2nd
2025 leading run-scorer: Kathryn Bryce (632)
2025 leading wicket-taker: Kathryn Bryce and Grace Ballinger (18)
Winter moves: Ireland international all-rounder Orla Prendergast, back for a third spell, will play in April and May and at the backend, with Australian all-rounder Charli Knott available for the three Metro Bank One-Day Cup Women fixtures that coincide with the T20 World Cup. England leg-spinner Sarah Glenn has moved to Yorkshire, with all-rounder Emma Jones joining from Surrey.
The big question: Given the wealth of talent in their squad, The Blaze underachieved in 2025, reaching three semi-finals but losing them all. With the benefit of a full pre-season under Kiwi coach Craig Cumming, they are confident of putting that right this year and, with the World Cup likely to deplete their ranks heavily in mid-summer, the One Day Cup might be their best chance of success. Can they hit the ground running?
Player to watch: Cassidy McCarthy’s T20 form has earned her a £65,000 deal with Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred this summer but she also impressed in the One Day Cup last season with 11 wickets in eight appearances. The 23-year-old right-arm seamer, selected for the England Women Performance Programme over the winter, could make an even bigger impact in this year’s competition.
Final thoughts: Called the Blaze since 2023, having previously evolved from Loughborough Lightning to Lightning, the Trent Bridge-based team will undergo another rebrand in 2027, coming into line with the rest of the professional women’s teams by adopting a county identity. If they can conjure some success in their final season, going out in a Blaze of glory will be a headline that is hard to resist.
The Blaze squad: TBC
Orla Prendergast’s incisive bowling helped The Blaze secure a rain-affected win over Essex at Chelmsford, booking a home semi-final at Trent Bridge. Prendergast took 3-43, including a double strike that triggered a mid-innings collapse, while Lucy Higham supported with 2-33. Outstanding fielding, highlighted by Kathryn Bryce’s run out of Ariana Dowse, added to Essex’s woes.
Essex began positively, with Dowse and captain Grace Scrivens putting together a solid opening stand. Dowse drove and caressed the ball elegantly for boundaries before a brilliant Bryce throw ended her innings on 20. Scrivens made 16 before mistiming a delivery to square leg. Lissy Macleod (30) and Liberty Heap (33) steadied the innings with a brisk 59-run partnership, but the middle order could not sustain momentum. Prendergast and Higham removed key batters in a flurry, with Flo Miller and Amara Carr among their victims. Sophia Smale top-scored with 41, while Jo Gardner made a run-a-ball 36, adding 52 for the seventh wicket after Essex had slipped from 104-2 to 133-6.
The Blaze reached 59 without loss in 11.2 overs before rain ended play. With the DLS calculation, Essex’s total of 211 was comfortably chased, denying them a chance to challenge for a higher score. Despite flashes of resistance, particularly from Smale and Gardner, Essex fell short, highlighting the difficulty of countering The Blaze’s attack in testing conditions.
Click here to for the tournament preview.
If you are unable to attend any of the matchdays, the game will be available to watch via the Essex Cricket YouTube livestream. Alternatively, you can keep up to date with the game via our social media channels as we provide live updates.
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Daily highlights will be available after each day's play via the Club website and social media.
Tickets are available to purchase both online in advance or on the gate on matchday.
Unallocated tickets are available for just £10 with discounts available on family tickets. Purchase a Junior ticket and you can apply for a FREE Junior Membership Upgrade for the 2026 season! Junior Membership includes free entrance to all home Rothesay County Championship and Metro Bank One Day Cup matches.
Please note that the start time is 10:30am so gates will open to spectators at 9:30am.
To secure your seats for Saturday, please click here or call 01245 254010.
