Essex Women travel up to Queen's Park, Chesterfield to play their final game of the 2026 season.
The team will be looking to end the season on a high after yesterday's success against Yorkshire Women at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Grace Scrivens took to the pitch with Lissy Macleod. After losing the wicket of Lissy early on in the innings, Jodi Grewcock (37) and Scrivens (87) built up a strong partnership of 60 runs. Jodi was dismissed after being caught by Ami Campbell and replaced with Sophia Smale (30). It was during this partnership that Scrivens hit her latest half-century. After these dynamic pairings, the side lost wickets quicker with Campbell (3-33) and Jess Jonassen (3-30) leading the visitors wicket taking.
Essex then began the defence of their score of 241. Esmae MacGregor (2-33) struck early, dismissing Lauren Winfield-Hill for nothing after catching her off her own bowling. Key wickets from Abtaha Maqsood (1-36) and Smale(2-45) helped break the top order partnerships. Also in the wickets was Amelie Bishop (1-28) who took her first professional wicket. Sterre Kalis (52) and Campbell (64) began a strong 60 run partnership. As Yorkshire were getting closer to their target, Essex's bowlers then took their chances and took the last three wickets quickly. Bryony Gillgrass (1-18) ended the game taking the final wicket at 49.5 overs securing Essex the win by eight runs.
Stephen Parry has named a 12-player squad for the team's final game of the season.
Loan signing Ella Claridge is unavailable to play against her parent club.
After sustaining injuries against Somerset in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, unfortunately Amara Carr and Flo Miller will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. Ariana Dowse will also miss out in accordance with concussion guidelines.
We wish Amara, Flo, and Ariana a speedy recovery.
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. View full squad here.
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Daily highlights will be available after each day's play via the Club website and social media.
