Essex Cricket is pleased to announce a 2-year partnership with Achilleus Security, appointing them as the Club’s official security partner starting from the 2025 season.
The London-based family-run security provider specialise in stewarding and crowd management services and security guarding, offering responsible, trained and diligent security to ensure that spectators feel safe and secure at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
Achilleus Security supply an array of security and stewarding services, including Security Industry Authority (SIA) licensed security guards and door supervisors, NVQ-standard safety stewards, as well as event planning and licensing advice.
They also offer other resources such as search teams, dog & K9 units, CCTV operators and drone services.
Achilleus is an experienced supplier to a wide range of organisations ranging from Premier League and Championship football clubs, sports stadiums, train stations, charities, construction companies, entertainment venues, music concerts and festivals.
Graham Childs, Stadium Operations Director at Essex Cricket, said: “It’s great to have Achilleus Security on board to become our official security partner.
“They work with other high profile professional sports venues, and we trust that they will be able to ensure our supporters are safe when visiting the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.”
Mario Garcia, Achilleus Security Managing Director, said: "We are so proud to be associated with such a prestigious and iconic sports team and venue.
"Growing up in Essex, I’ve always been aware of Essex Cricket and its rich history, filled with notable players and unforgettable sporting moments.
"One standout memory is Graham Napier’s 2008 T20 world record of 16 sixes and an unbeaten 152 from just 58 balls. To now be even a small part of such a great team, iconic venue, and key part of the Essex community is a massive privilege."
The River Stand, located at the Sir Alastair Cook End, will now formally be known as the Achilleus Security River Stand.
Official Partner Scrutton Bland have agreed a three-year extension to their association with Essex Cricket.
As part of the renewal, the professional financial services firm, who have been an Official Partner since December 2017, will remain as title sponsors of the Scrutton Bland Premier Suite.
Their branding will feature prominently around the ground, as well as across Essex Cricket’s digital channels, and this extension will take the length of their association with the Club beyond ten years.
With offices in Bury St. Edmunds, Colchester, and Ipswich, Scrutton Bland are close enough for personal meetings with clients from anywhere across the East of England.
Formed in 1990 as a merger of two firms that had each been in business for more than 70 years, Scrutton Bland offer professional financial services to both businesses and individuals.
Tracing its roots back to 1919, the firm provides accountancy, business consultancy, and risk and assurance services, including cloud-based accounting, as well as personal and business tax advice.
Dan Feist, Chief Executive Officer at Essex Cricket, said: “We’re delighted that Scrutton Bland have agreed a new deal to increase the length of their commitment to the Club.
“We hope the Essex Members and fans watching from the Scrutton Bland Premier Suite will be able to witness many more special moments in the years to come!
“We remain grateful for Scrutton Bland’s support, and we are thrilled that their branding will remain part of our home venue for at least another three years.”
Elizabeth Nichols, Marketing Director at Scrutton Bland, said: “We’re proud to continue our longstanding partnership as title sponsors of the Scrutton Bland Premier Suite.
Since 2017, this relationship has provided a fantastic platform to support our local community, build strong business connections, and reinforce our brand values.
Renewing our sponsorship for another three years reflects our ongoing commitment to the region and our belief in the power of collaboration to drive success both on and off the pitch.”
There is so much cricket on offer in Chelmsford this summer with the Rothesay County Championship getting underway - against Surrey, no less - on Friday 04 April.
England Women are also in CM2 for a blockbuster Spring Bank Holiday T20 against West Indies Women, you can't miss this one!
And the Metro Bank One Day Cup returns, but this time with Men's and Women's competitions throughout the summer.
Tickets for every match are now available via our Ticket Site, so have a browse and get your summer of cricket booked in.
In a quick turn around of fixtures, Essex host Surrey at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, two days after the Vitality County Cup fixture against Yorkshire in Headingley, Leeds.
Andy Tennant's side will be seeking their second victory in the 50-over campaign against a Surrey side who are two places above them in the table.
Andy Tennant has named a 13-player squad for tomorrow's clash against the Brown Caps.
Sophie Munro is continuing rehabilitation for a lower back injury. Currently there’s no estimated return date.
Flo Miller’s return from an ankle injury is pending the further investigation.
Cordelia Griffith and Jodi Grewcock are unavailable as they are progressing through ECB concussion protocols.
Surrey Women currently sit in sixth place in the league table, having tied their previous game at Beckenham against The Blaze. The Brown Caps also featured in the Vitality County Cup on Saturday, against Hampshire Women, where they beat Hampshire by 57 runs.
The Surrey side are led by captain Bryony Smith and managed by Head Coach Johann Myburgh.
The big questions: Surrey’s predecessors, the South East Stars, were consistently one of the strongest sides in the country, but only had one Charlotte Edwards Trophy to show for it. Will some exceptionally smart new signings in Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Alice Monaghan from the Southern Vipers help them convert a series of second and third-places into silverware?
Player to watch: Alice Capsey is the type of cricketer that can take a game away from the opposition with the bat and ball. After a difficult winter with England, the 20-year-old will be looking to get off to a strong start with her home county to consolidate her position as a key player for England moving forward.
Young Gun:Tilly Corteen-Coleman was The Hundred’s youngest-ever player when she made her debut for the Southern Brave last year, aged just 16. She was part of the Stars’ academy and instantly looked at home in the first team.
Final thought: Surrey have plenty of star quality with England players Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley, Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Ryana MacDonald-Gay no doubt eager to get to work back in domestic ranks after they were on the winter tour to Australia.
Tickets for Essex Women v Surrey Women are available to purchase online or at the gate. Come and see all of the action for just £8 for an adult ticket and £5 for a junior ticket. Family tickets also available.
If you are unable to attend any of the match days, the game will be available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone, which includes a Live Stream.
Daily highlights will be available after each day’s play via the Club website and social media. Live updates will also be provided through the Essex Women's X account.
Come down to Chelmsford this summer to watch the Eagles live in our new T20 shirt.
Our first home Vitality Blast T20 fixture features a double header - Essex Women v Somerset Women (12pm) & Essex Men v Somerset Men (4pm).
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so have a browse and get your Vitality Blast T20 tickets booked.
Essex: Dean Elgar, Charlie Allison, Tom Westley (c), Robin Das, Matt Critchley, Michael Pepper (wk), Noah Thain, Simon Harmer, Shane Snater, Kasun Rajitha, Jamie Porter.
Worcestershire: Jake Libby, Gareth Roderick (wk), Henry Nicholls, Kashif Ali, Rob Jones, Brett D'Oliveria (c), Matthew Waite, Ethan Brookes, Tom Taylor, Ben Allison, Yadvinder Singh.
Umpires: Ian Blackwell & Graham Lloyd
Match Referee: Alec Swann
Scorers: Sue Drinkwater & Paul Parkinson
Toss: Essex won the toss and elected to bowl
Result: Worcestershire won by 225 runs
Essex suffered a 225-run defeat to Worcestershire in Round 8 of the Rothesay County Championship as Matthew Waite’s career best figures propelled Worcestershire to a three-day victory. The home side rallied to 134 all out at Visit Worcestershire New Road, with Ethan Brookes’ 38, the standout knock, setting Essex 336 to win the game.
Worcestershire’s crucial victory keeps them in touch of the sides around them as the scrap in the bottom-half of Division One continues. After resuming Day Three on 58-5, the hosts began the morning session looking to add to their overnight lead of 259.
Essex capitalised on a slow Worcestershire start however, with Simon Harmer and Shane Snater sharing three wickets inside the first hour to reduce the hosts to 80-8. This brought Ethan Brookes to the crease, who, with a canny supporting role from Matthew Waite, eased their way into proceedings. Brookes (38) expressed himself, as those in Worcestershire colours cheered every run added, as together they stretched the lead past 300.
Evergreen pro Harmer (21-5-37-4) returned the best figures for his outfit, alongside Porter who collected two for himself, as the home side closed out their innings on 134. Set an unlikely 336 to win, Essex’s chase fell apart, as they lost five top order wickets for the loss of just 47 runs.
Charlie Allison and Noah Thain shared the highest score with 23, but on a dismal Essex card, only two other batters could muster double-figures as they were bundled out for a measly 110.
Dean Elgar was the first to go for just nine, as he feathered an edge through to keeper Gareth Roderick off a rising Ben Allison ball. Just one run separated the wicket of Elgar and his opening partner Allison, when the impressive Waite accounted for his wicket in the same fashion.
Tom Westley was pinned in front by a nip-backer from Singh, and the Worcestershire bowlers tightened their grip further on the contest when Waite extended his fine form to remove Robin Das, who had failed to trouble the scorers for a ten-ball duck. When Waite bagged his sixth wicket of the match, the away side were left spiralling towards a heavy defeat, with Michael Pepper accounted for at 47-5.
Only two-overs into his spell, a loose Matt Critchley drive opened the door for Brookes to sneak through and grab a faint edge on the way through to the gloves of Roderick, with a delivery that jagged back enough to ensure his keeper collected his eighth catch of the match. Waite, the stand-out performer across the match, grabbed the headlines as he collected the wickets of Snater, Harmer and Porter on his way to returning career best match figures of 9-53.
The crucial victory for Worcestershire closes the gap on the rest of the pack around them at the basement of the Division One table, while Essex will make the journey home knowing a trip to The Oval awaits them on Friday.
Worcestershire’s seam bowlers produced their best performance of the season to blow away Essex’s batters and put them in complete control on Day Two at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
In a clinical bowling display, wickets were shared amongst the pace bowlers, with Tom Taylor’s 15-over spell of 3-23 the standout performance.
Robin Das top scored with resilient 44, but when he was dismissed by Matthew Waite, Essex were up against it, and were eventually bundled out for 157.
The home side navigated the final session to reach 58-5 at the close and put themselves firmly in the driving seat heading into Day Three.
After wrapping up the Worcestershire innings with just four added to the overnight score, Essex were immediately pegged in reply back as Ben Allison castled his brother, Charlie, without a run being scored.
Skipper, Tom Westley, could only make six before he was caught behind off Tom Taylor, as the Worcestershire opening bowlers enjoyed early success in idyllic bowling conditions at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
Dean Elgar and Robin Das dug in, until the former South African opener succumbed to a sensational catch by Ethan Brookes, who at third slip, dived low to his left and held onto a blinding one-handed take to reduce the visitors to 46-3 as lunch approached.
In a similar vein to the day one, the ball continued to dominate the bat for large parts of the morning session, with Taylor proving the most frugal of Worcestershire’s bowlers.
Das continued to graft hard, rallying for his side with a watchful innings, latching onto any rare loose deliveries.
Matt Critchley then departed for 15, when he edged a rising ball behind into the gloves of Gareth Roderick, leaving Essex 75-4 and up against it.
The off-side fielders were kept busy in the early exchanges of the afternoon, with the ball unable to puncture in the infield, as Waite, Taylor and Singh bowled in tandem to build pressure and restrict their opponents scoring.
Michael Pepper became Taylor’s third wicket of the innings when he fell cheaply and was followed soon after by Das (44), when Waite found his outside edge.
Essex brought up their 100 in the 43rd over of the day, but by this point were in the face of a home side’s bowling entourage on top of their game and pressing hard for their seventh wicket and beyond.
Brookes then joined the action to break the 19-run partnership for the seventh-wicket, before Singh was rewarded for a controlled spell, giving keeper Roderick his fourth catch of the day behind the stumps as Snater exited with his side still 211 runs adrift.
Thain was bowled and Porter caught behind three balls later, both off the bowling of Waite, bringing an end to an underwhelming batting display that totalled just 157.
The Chelmsford-based side showed signs of a fightback when they removed Roderick and Nicholls in quick succession, before Libby was given out LBW for 10 late on.
Simon Harmer dealt the home side a late double-blow when he trapped both Kashif Ali (31) and Ben Allison (0), but Rob Jones and Yadvinder Singh, batted through safely to stumps, with a 259 run lead and five wickets intact.
A stubborn batting display dragged Worcestershire in front after Essex’s bowlers looked to have taken control of proceedings on Day One of the Rothesay County Championship at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
Shane Snater led the way for the visitors early on, returning figures of 3-60 from his 18 overs, as he and his bowling unit had the hosts on the ropes at 123-5.
Rob Jones provided the most resistance as his half-century underpinned a gritty batting display from the hosts, as the loss of regular wickets thwarted any momentum throughout the afternoon.
A crucial eighth-wicket partnership between Matthew Waite and Tom Taylor however, changed the context of the day late on and drove the home side into a healthy position heading into Day Two, as they reached 354-9 at stumps.
After winning the toss and electing to field, Essex didn’t wait long before forcing their first breakthrough of the morning when Shane Snater trapped Gareth Roderick LBW for 17, before New-Zealand International Henry Nicholls departed soon after without scoring after nicking an attempted leave behind from a lively Kasun Rajitha delivery.
On a wicket tinged with green that kept the bowlers interested throughout the morning session, it was the visiting side’s seam attack that continued their line of questioning with Jake Libby given a stern test of his defensive credentials throughout the morning session as the hosts brought up their fifty without any further casualties.
The spring was in the step of the Essex attack however, and it wasn’t long before 20-year-old Noah Thain ensured Essex headed into lunch with the upper hand, when the right arm seamer wheeled away in delight after drawing Libby forward with an enticing delivery that moved away just enough, to catch his edge and leave the Division One strugglers 67-3.
Although wicketless in his opening spell, England hopeful Jamie Porter continued to mount pressure, with a switch of ends later in the morning not deterring from his unrelenting line and length, beating the bat on multiple occasions.
It was to no avail however, as the hosts made it to lunch with seven-wickets intact and 84 runs on the board.
Kashif Ali and Robert Jones came together and looked to provide some much-needed middle order stability by adding 61 for the fifth wicket, before a Snater delivery jagged back and stayed low to castle Ali for 46, and shortly after removed Brett D’Oliveira to put his side firmly in control.
The paceman had his tail up and carried his eye-catching form into the afternoon session as he and his fellow seamers gave nothing away to a side seemingly low on confidence trying to mount a reasonable first innings score.
Ethan Brookes joined Jones and took the attack to the bowlers, but Porter brought an end to proceedings when he had him caught behind for a well-made 45 ball 31.
The combination of a slow outfield and a pitch offering just enough to perk their interests, the Essex attack rotated seamlessly to take wickets at regular intervals.
There was time for Jones to raise his bat as he reached his 50 milestone, but when he departed ten balls later, Worcestershire looked anxiously at their tail in hopes of a late rearguard.
Matthew Waite (73) and Tom Taylor (43), then came together and dug deep to swing the momentum right back in the home side’s favour, as their partnership of 95 for the eighth-wicket left the Pears feeling the happier of the two sides at Stumps on Day One.
Come down to Chelmsford this summer to watch the Eagles live in our new T20 shirt.
Our first home Vitality Blast T20 fixture features a double header - Essex Women v Somerset Women (12pm) & Essex Men v Somerset Men (4pm).
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so have a browse and get your Vitality Blast T20 tickets booked.
The Eagles will travel to the iconic Headingley Stadium to face a strong Yorkshire side in what promises to be a high-stakes match in this exciting knock-out competition. With both teams eager to make a statement early in the tournament, fans can expect a fiercely competitive match full of talent, energy and ambition.
Andy Tennant will take a 13-player squad up to Leeds for the Eagles opening match in the County Cup, featuring Ariana Dowse, who was named Ambassador Cruise Line Player of the Match against Durham in the last match.
Dowse impressed on her debut against Durham Women in the Metro Bank One Day Cup on Wednesday, forming a crucial partnership with Sophia Smale and narrowly missing out on a half-century.
Sophie Munro is continuing rehabilitation for a lower back injury. Currently there’s no estimated return date.
Flo Miller’s return from an ankle injury is pending the further investigation.
Cordelia Griffith and Jodi Grewcock are unavailable as they are progressing through ECB concussion protocols.
Yorkshire Women beat Staffordshire Women in their opening game at Westwood Playing Fields in Leeds on the 10th May, winning by 68 runs.
Captain Lauren Winfield-Hill and Rebecca Duckworth both notched up impressive half-centuries for the Yorkshire side. Though competing as a Tier 2 team, they remain fiercely determined to clip the Eagles' wings when the two sides meet.
The big questions: Can Yorkshire Women continue the momentum? With a blend of seasoned internationals and emerging stars, coupled with a clear pathway to the top tier, Yorkshire Women are poised to continue their upward trajectory and make a significant impact in the county cup.
Player to watch: Beth Langston brings experience and versatility to the squad. Having signed her first professional contract with Yorkshire, she aims to make a significant impact both on and off the field. Her leadership and all-round abilities are expected to be valuable assets as the team progresses through the season.
Final thought: Yorkshire Women’s cricket team is entering a transformative era. With a powerful mix of seasoned internationals like Lauren Winfield-Hill, rising stars such as Claudie Cooper, the squad is not just building for today, but for a dominant future. Their upcoming promotion to Tier One in 2026, combined with a surge in grassroots participation, reflects a wider momentum in Yorkshire cricket. If they continue to nurture talent and play with the same drive, Yorkshire Women are poised to become a force in the domestic game and a beacon for women’s cricket across England.
If you are unable to attend any of the match days, the game will be available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone, which includes a Live Stream courtesy of our hosts.
Daily highlights will be available after each day’s play via the Club website and social media. Live updates will also be provided through the Essex Women's X account.
Come down to Chelmsford this summer to watch the Eagles live in our new T20 shirt.
Our first home Vitality Blast T20 fixture features a double header - Essex Women v Somerset Women (12pm) & Essex Men v Somerset Men (4pm).
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so have a browse and get your Vitality Blast T20 tickets booked.
After an extremely entertaining and tense encounter against Yorkshire in the last round of the County Championship, which resulted in a draw off the last ball, Essex take the trip west to face Worcestershire at New Road.
Going into the match against Worcestershire, the Eagles sit fifth in the Division One table and are set to face a side at New Road who remain winless and sit at the bottom of the standings.
In the previous round skipper Tom Westley lost the toss, and Yorkshire counterpart Jonny Bairstow elected to bat first on Day 1. After just shy of 78 overs, Essex bowled the visitors out for a total of 216, with Crichley taking four wickets, Porter and Rajitha two apiece, and Thain and Snater claiming one each.
However, in reply, Essex stumbled to a low total of 123, with George Hill leading the way for Yorkshire, taking six wickets. This left the visitors in a commanding position heading into their second innings.
The side from Headingley then posted a mammoth total of 426 for six declared, just after tea on Day 3. Despite being strong favourites, Yorkshire were denied victory as Essex held on for a dramatic draw at the death on Day 4.
Going into the final day at 64-4 with the smallest of hopes in avoiding defeat, the Eagles pulled off the unthinkable and saw out the Yorkshire bowling attack, right through the final hour and down to the final ball.
Matt Critchley and Michael Pepper knuckled down for a monumental fifth-wicket stand of 154 in 77 overs which laid the foundations for Essex to set their eyes on an unlikely draw.
The pair came together in the depths of despair at 45-4 on the third evening and batted for four-and-a-half hours together, spanning 458 balls, and looking to have made it through two complete sessions on the final day. Pepper, though, fell to the last ball before tea after a 229-ball 68 that included five fours and two sixes.
Critchley followed after the interval for 75 from 246 balls as Yorkshire scented their second win of the season with three wickets in 21 balls. However, last-wicket pair Simon Harmer and Jamie Porter saw out the final 38 minutes and 82 balls to prevent a second successive defeat.
George Hill dismissed both batmen to return career-best match figures of 9-82, supported by Jack White’s season’s best 4-43, but to no avail as Yorkshire toiled in vain for one more wicket.
Chris Silverwood has named a 13-man squad for the trip over to Worcester.
Nick Browne returns to the squad after captaining the Second XI this week against Yorkshire at Billericay.
Worcestershire are still looking for their first victory of the season after a tough start to the 2025 Rothesay County Championship campaign.
The side, led by Head Coach Alan Richardson, sit in tenth place 31 points adrift of Somerset in ninth place. The Pears have only managed one draw whilst facing defeat on four occasions against Yorkshire, the Eagles, Durham and Sussex. Worcestershire's draw came in the opening round against Somerset at Taunton.
Worcestershire sit in tenth place on 21 points whilst Essex are placed in fifth with 61 points.
Jake Libby is the Pears leading run-scorer so far this season with 327 runs from the ten innings at an average of 32.70, whilst Tom Taylor is their leading wicket-taker so far, with 18 wickets at an average of 29.22.
Worcestershire squad: Brett D’Oliveira (c), Fateh Singh, Jake Libby, Matthew Waite, Gareth Roderick (wk), Tom Taylor, Yadvinder Singh, Ben Gibson, Kashif Ali, Jacob Duffy, Ben Allison, Ethan Brookes, Henry Nichollas, Rob Jones.
Jamie Porter helped wrap up a nervy first Rothesay County Championship victory of the season for Essex on the final day against Worcestershire with the 22nd five-wicket haul of his career.
The 31-year-old pace bowler, the leading wicket-taker in Division One last season, added three more wickets to the three he had taken on Day 3 as Worcestershire were bowled out for 266, 28 runs short of their target. Porter finished with 6-52 from 24.4 overs in the second innings.
However, the victory was not achieved without some belated anxiety. Worcestershire's 23-year-old all-rounder Ethan Brookes, patience personified earlier in his innings, threw caution to the wind when the ninth wicket went down and launched a one-man pyrotechnic show that included seven sixes in a scintillating 88 from 105 balls before becoming Porter’s final victim as Essex wrapped up a tight victory.
If you are unable to attend any of the match days, the game will be available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone, through the YouTube livestream.
Daily highlights will be available after each day’s play via the Club website and social media. Live updates will also be provided through the Club’s various social platforms and channels.
For anyone planning to join the Eagles in Worcester over the next four days, tickets can be purchased directly from their website in advance of each day.
These are priced at £16 for adults with tickets for juniors aged between 3-17 free of charge.
All tickets are available to buy direct from the hosts’ website by clicking the link below. Please be mindful of selecting the correct day on which you would like to attend.
Tickets can be purchased online here or by calling 01905 337 921.
England Women have announced their IT20 squad for the upcoming series against West Indies.
The England Women’s selection panel has named the squads for the upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies, which begins on 21 May.
Led by new captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, England will contest three Vitality IT20s and three Metro Bank One Day Internationals.
The IT20 series, the first under Sciver-Brunt and head coach Charlotte Edwards’ leadership, gets underway with the opening match on Wednesday 21 May in Canterbury.
The third and final IT20 match of the three match series will be played at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
Come down to Chelmsford this month to watch England in action against the West Indies!
We host the third and final IT20 between England and the West Indies on May 26 at 2:30pm.
Fewer than 100 tickets are left available, so click the link below and purchase them whilst you can!
Essex Women: Grace Scrivens (c), Lissy Macleod, Ariana Dowse, Sophia Smale, Amara Carr (wk), Maddie B-Jones, Jo Gardner, Eva Gray, Esmae MacGregor, Kate Coppack, Abtaha Maqsood.
Durham Women: Suzie Bates, Emma Marlow, Hollie Armitage (c), Mady Villiers, Mia Rogers, Bess Heath (wk), Phoebe Turner, Katherine Fraser, Grace Thompson, Sophia Turner, Kate Levick.
Umpires: Surendiran Shanmugam and Julia Jarvis
Match Referee: Simon Hinks
Toss: Durham Women won the toss and elected to bowl
Mady Villiers and Mia Rogers shared a stand of 98 as Durham made it back-to back wins in the Metro Bank One-day Cup women’s competition with a six-wicket victory over hosts Essex.
Rogers led the charge with an unbeaten 66, while Villiers, back on what was her home ground for more than a decade until her move north over the winter made 46 as the visitors recovered from 55-3 to win with 70 balls to spare
Earlier, a catastrophic runout sparked a collapse by the hosts in which they lost seven wickets for 53 runs in 81 balls, Villiers taking 3-28, while Ariana Dowse was left stranded on 43 not out.
Lissy Macleod was dropped on two, but that scare aside Essex began well after being sent in. Macleod lofted Grace Thompson back over her head for six, while in-form skipper Grace Scriven unfurled a couple of square cuts as the openers posted a 50-stand in 49 balls.
Thompson (2-28) switched ends to break the partnership with the last ball of the powerplay, Macleod strangled down the leg side. The same combination accounted for Scrivens soon afterwards, the host’s skipper wafting at a wide one outside off stump.
Dowse and Sophia Smale steadied matters, the latter driving Villiers for four before sweeping Susie Bates to the legside boundary as the pair added 51 in 12 overs
Smale perished tentatively paddling one from Villiers around the corner to backward square but Essex still looked handily placed at 120-3 at halfway.
Then came the runout, confusion over a second leaving both batters mid-pitch, Amara Carr unable to turn and beat Villiers’s throw. It was the catalyst for the collapse, in-form Phoebe Turner taking two in an over, including Jo Gardner for a second-ball duck.
Dowse stood firm to remain unbeaten on 43, but spin twins Villiers and Katy Levick (2-28), proved too much for the home side’s tail.
Needing early wickets Essex made a dream start, New Zealand international Suzie Bates edging a swinging ball from the excellent Eva Gray (1-16 from 7) to a diving Carr. If that was a good ball, Esmae MacGregor produced a beauty to befuddle skipper Hollie Armitage and clip the top of off.
Emma Marlow’s response to adversity was to plunder three boundaries from MacGregor’s next over in racing to 30, but comical runouts were catching and a mix up saw her sent back by Villiers, the square leg umpire adjudging her short of her ground, though replays suggested the batter had made it home.
Villiers and Rogers managed the rebuild, both driving Smale for four, while the former clubbed one from Abtaha Maqsood back over her head to raise the 50 partnership.
Villiers fell just short of 50 top edging an attempted pull to Gray at mid-on, but Rogers completed her half century with the help of six fours.
Come down to Chelmsford this summer to watch the Eagles live in our new T20 shirt.
Our first home Vitality Blast T20 fixture features a double header - Essex Women v Somerset Women (12pm) & Essex Men v Somerset Men (4pm).
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so have a browse and get your Vitality Blast T20 tickets booked.
Essex Hawks v Hampshire
D40 Quest South
Harlow Town CC
Essex Hawks: Ronnie Jackson, Matthew Edwards, Joe Moss (c), Ben Aust, Alfie Jeeves, Benny Fryatt, Issac Elles, Matthew Thomas, Laila Robinson, Andrew Mowatt, Martin Henderson, James Ward (wk).
Hampshire: James Boorah, Thomas Millward, Kevin Cooper, Ben Williams (c), Samuel Godfrey, William Hausen (w), Freddie Leamon, Alex Macadam, Sam Marks, Henri Abel, James Humphries
Hampshire: 246-8 (40 overs)
Essex Hawks: 110 (29.2 overs)
Hampshire won the toss and elected to bat.
Hampshire won by 136 runs.
Essex Hawks were on the wrong end of the result as visitors Hampshire recorded a 136-run D40 Quest South victory in a match staged at Harlow Town Cricket Club.
On a warm afternoon, Hampshire posted 246 for eight, with skipper Ben Williams leading the way, scoring a quickfire 70 off 45 deliveries, before he was dismissed by a honey of a ball from Matthew Thomas.
Samuel Godfrey contributed 52, and Freddie Leamon 33. Essex utilised seven bowlers. Ronnie Jackson did his utmost, returning 8-0-56-3, while skipper Joe Moss, 8-0-46-2, and Alfie Jeeves, 8-0-50-2, doggedly stuck to the task.
A flurry of wickets ensured it was always going to be a tall order for Essex to reach their target. Matthew Edwards top-scored, reaching 29 before he was trapped lbw by Alex Macadam. Indeed, Macadam did the bulk of the damage with the ball for the visitors, with 4-0-17-3, while Williams had 5.2-2-20-2, on what proved to be a tough day at the office for the home side.
Essex Kestrels v Kent
S9 Regional South East
Harlow Town CC
Essex Kestrels: Bradley Donovan, Alex Roper, Alex Myles, Al Maxin, James Cole, Bradley Barker, Harry Willis, Charlie Stack, Ollie Kennedy, Jack Flower, Steve Denham.
Essex Kestrels: 244-5 (30 overs)
Kent: 136-7 (30 overs)
Essex Kestrels won the toss and elected to bat.
Essex Kestrels won by 108 runs.
All-conquering Essex Kestrels proved to be too strong for visitors Kent, winning their S9 Regional South East match at Harlow Town Cricket Club by 108 runs.
Unbeaten duo, Jack Flowers (50*) and Charlie Stack (53*) were once again amongst the runs for the home side, while James Cole (38) and Al Maxin (37) were also in decent nick with the bat, helping the home side to a sizable 244 for five.
And despite a decent effort from the visitors, Essex won with some to spare. Harry Willis returned bowling figures of 5-0-13-2, and Alex Myles 6-226-2. Ollie Kennedy, Bradley Donovan and Barker also got in on he act as the Essex attack turned the screw.
Sussex v Essex & Herts Stags
S9 Regional South East
Harlow Town CC
Essex & Herts Stags: 117
Sussex: 119-6
Sussex won the toss and elected to bowl.
Sussex won by four wickets.
Essex & Herts Stags suffered a four-wicket defeat on their trip to face Sussex.
The visitors scored 117. Monty McShane led the way with 25, while Reece Nicholls contributed 15.
However, the home side reached their target for the loss of six wickets. McShane and Nicholls performed equally well with the ball, each claiming two wickets.
Our inaugural Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup fixture has been confirmed, with an away trip to Yorkshire.
Thirty-seven teams from across the three tiers of the women’s domestic structure have entered the knock-out competition, as we enter Round Three due to Tier 1 status, with a trip to Headingley to face Yorkshire on Saturday 17 May at 2:30pm.
Should Essex progress past Yorkshire, the Quarter-Final will take place at Fenner's Cricket Ground on Friday 23 May, against either Devon or Warwickshire.
The 2025 Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup is the first year of the competition in the revamped women’s domestic game structure.
The knock-out nature of the County Cup has given Counties in Tier 2 and Tier 3 the chance to pull off 'underdog' victories against fully professional Tier 1 sides.
Two all Tier 1 ties in Round Three means the competition will be guaranteed at least two teams from Tiers 2 or 3 in the quarter-finals.
The competition, which has taken place across May, will signal the first domestic silverware of the year.
ROUND THREE
Match 25: Surrey v Hampshire Hawks
Match 26: Devon v Warwickshire Bears
Match 27: Northamptonshire Steelbacks v Leicestershire Foxes
Match 28: Glamorgan v Lancashire Thunder
Match 29: Yorkshire v Essex
Match 30: Oxfordshire v The Blaze
Match 31: Cambridgeshire v Kent
Match 32: Somerset v Durham
QUARTER-FINALS
Match 33: Winner of Match 25 v Winner of Match 32
Match 34: Winner of Match 31 v Winner of Match 30
Match 35: Winner of Match 27 v Winner of Match 28
Match 36: Winner of Match 29 v Winner of Match 26
FINALS DAY (Monday 26 May, The Cooper Associate County Ground, Taunton)
Match 37: Semi-Final 1: Winner of Match 35 v Winner of Match 34
Match 38: Semi-Final 2: Winner of Match 36 v Winner of Match 33
Match 39: Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup Final
The semi-finals and final will be played as a three-match Finals Day, with the two semi-finals preceding the final, at The Cooper Associate County Ground, Taunton, on Monday 26 May.
