Essex Women begin their Vitality Blast campaign with a clash against Warwickshire Bears Women at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground on Friday.
Following last year’s seventh-place finish, Grace Scrivens’ side will be aiming to improve this season under the new leadership team of Head Coach Stephen Parry, alongside Batting Lead Nick Browne and Bowling Lead Cath Dalton. With a youthful squad continuing to develop and several players gaining valuable experience over the winter, Essex Women will be aiming for a high finish in the Blast this season.
Esmae MacGregor was the leading wicket-taker in last season’s Blast group-stage with 21 wickets and will be hoping to carry that exceptional form into this year’s campaign. The seamer became one of the tournament's standout performers throughout the competition with her ability to strike in both the powerplay and at the death, and she is expected to play a key role again this year in a strong Essex Women's bowling attack.
Captain Scrivens will spearhead the Essex Women batting line-up at the top of the order, while Jodi Grewcock will look to replicate the Metro Bank One Day Cup form in the Vitality Blast that earned her the PCA Player of the Month award for April.
Stephen Parry has named a 15-player squad for the Blast opener against the Bears.
Captain: Georgia Davis
Overseas: Georgia Redmayne (Australia)
2025 finish: Finalists
2025 leading run-scorer: Davina Perrin (385)
2025 leading wicket-taker: Millie Taylor (22)
Winter moves: Australia wicketkeeper/batter Georgia Redmayne has been signed and will bring valuable experience and nous to a squad which is highly talented but still relatively young and inexperienced.
The big question: Can Warwickshire’s squad cope with injuries to key personnel which will affect them in the group stage? Katie George (abductor) and Davina Perrin (hamstring), two integral members of the first-choice top order, will miss at least the early group games. With Issy Wong and Em Arlott away on England duty, the Bears’ squad depth will be tested.
Wildcard watch: Meg Austin – an aggressive top-order batter who scores quickly with a range of strokes, the 21-year-old from Staffordshire is a ‘proper’ batter who can also improvise. Quick between the wickets, she is capable of delivering exciting, match-turning innings.
Final thought: The Bears did brilliantly to finish as runners-up in the Blast last year. They finished third in the group stage to reach Finals Day at which they beat much-fancied Blaze in the semi before losing to Surrey in the final. To have done all that has raised expectations among their supporters this time round, Can the Bears rise to the challenge of higher expectations…as successful teams must do?
Warwickshire secured a thrilling two-wicket win over Essex Women at Edgbaston in the Women’s Vitality Blast, continuing their strong run in the competition.
Chasing Essex’s 150 for three, the visitors were initially in trouble at 56 for three, but an unbeaten 47 from Cordelia Griffith and 41 from Madeline Penna steadied the innings. Their unbroken 94-run partnership ensured Essex posted a competitive total.
Essex’s innings had begun positively, with openers Lauren Winfield-Hill (30) and Grace Scrivens (25) putting on 44 in 35 balls. However, a flurry of wickets, including a run out of Winfield-Hill by Georgia Davis, reduced Essex to 56 for three before Griffith and Penna anchored the innings. Both batters struck six fours each in their stand, providing momentum through the middle overs.
In reply, Essex bowlers made early inroads. Esmae MacGregor claimed two quick wickets, while Abtaha Maqsood, Eva Gray, and Joanne Gardner all contributed to reducing Warwickshire to 43 for four. Despite the pressure, Charis Pavely (68 not out from 40) counterattacked with five fours and three sixes, supported by Issy Wong (33), guiding Warwickshire to 154 for eight with just one ball to spare.
Essex’s bowlers controlled the early phases effectively, applying pressure through disciplined line and length, and the fielding side created chances to restrict scoring. Ultimately, Pavely’s late aggression ensured Warwickshire completed a nail-biting chase, leaving Essex with a competitive total to defend and several positive contributions with both bat and ball to build on.
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