TEAM NEWS
Essex Women: Lissy Macleod, Bryony Gillgrass, Flo Miller, Jo Gardner, Liberty Heap, Sophie Munro, Ariana Dowse (WK), Eva Gray (C), Kate Coppack, Bella Johnson, Esmae MacGregor.
Gloucestershire Women: Izzy Patel, Emily Geach, Liv Daniels (C), Becca Halliday, Georgina Start (WK), Prarthana Reddy, Melissa Story, Alice Bird, Charlie Phillips, Meg Ahearne, Char Phillips.
MATCH DETAILS
Umpires: Rose Dovey & Hemal Wijesuriya
Scorers: Andy Thurogood & CT Lim
Toss: Gloucestershire won toss and elected to bowl
Result: Essex win by 61 runs
MATCH REACTION: Stephen Parry
MATCH REPORT
Essex Women booked their place in the next round of the County Cup with a commanding 61-run victory over Gloucestershire at Castle Park, Colchester.
After being asked to bat first, Essex suffered an early setback when Bryony Gillgrass departed in just the second over. Things became more difficult at the start of the fourth over when Lissy Macleod was dismissed, leaving the hosts needing a response.
That response came emphatically from Jo Gardner. Arriving at the crease at number four, the batting all-rounder took the attack to Gloucestershire's bowlers, striking the ball to all parts of the ground.
Gardner raced to 36 from just 17 deliveries during an explosive 12-minute stay at the crease, smashing five fours and two sixes. Her entertaining innings came to an end in the seventh over when she was bowled by Emily Geach after playing the ball back onto her stumps.
At the halfway stage of the innings, Essex were well placed at 93 for 3, with Flo Miller and Liberty Heap beginning to build an important partnership.
However, Heap was adjudged leg before wicket by Rose Dovey in the 11th over after a quickfire 19 from 11 balls.
Munro was handed a lifeline in the following over when an attempted heave towards the leg-side boundary was spilled by a diving Gloucestershire fielder in the deep.
Miller continued to anchor the innings but was bowled by Geach in the 13th over after making 22 from 21 deliveries.
Essex then lost another wicket in the 15th over when Munro's innings was ended thanks to a smart catch from Geach off the bowling of Alice Bird.
With the innings entering its closing stages, Eva Gray and Ariana Dowse provided the stability Essex needed. The pair combined effectively to put the visitors under pressure at the death, sharing an unbeaten partnership to guide Essex to 194 for 6 from their 20 overs.
Dowse finished unbeaten on 26 from 24 balls, while stand-in skipper Gray added an important 25 not out from just 14 deliveries.
Essex made the perfect start with the ball as Munro struck with the very first delivery of Gloucestershire's reply. Her excellent outswinger found the outside edge of Prarthana Reddy, with Dowse safely completing the catch behind the stumps.
Kate Coppack doubled Essex's advantage in the fourth over when she hit the top of Melissa Storey's off stump.
Just as Gloucestershire were looking to rebuild, Gillgrass and wicketkeeper Dowse combined brilliantly to run out Georgina Start.
Gillgrass then claimed her first wicket in Essex colours on debut in the ninth over, the off-spinner bowling Emily Geach after hitting the left-hander's leg stump.
Playing on her home ground in Colchester, Esmae MacGregor got in on the act by removing Izzy Patel, who edged behind to Dowse.
Gardner added another breakthrough midway through the 14th over when Essex debutant Bella Johnson held onto the catch to dismiss Meg Ahearne.
MacGregor claimed her second wicket of the innings shortly afterwards, removing Gloucestershire captain Liv Daniels thanks to a composed catch from Gardner in the deep.
Coppack picked up Essex's final wicket in the penultimate over, dismissing Phillips as the hosts completed a comprehensive 61-run victory.
The win sends Essex through to the next round of the County Cup, where they will face Northamptonshire Women at the end of August.
