The Essex Women team had a blistering start to their County Championship Division Two One-Day campaign, winning their first three games against Northamptonshire, Derbyshire and Sussex.
All three games exemplified how impressive Essex’s bowling attack was, most notably during the match against Derbyshire. After being bowled out for 143 and facing a first defeat of the season, Essex flipped the game on its head and took the final 6 wickets for just 9 runs. Derbyshire were all out for 139 and Essex earned the most unlikely win after an outstanding comeback.
Unfortunately the sides form didn’t continue, and back-to-back defeats against Devon and Wales meant that Essex finished sixth in the league table, which put them into a winner takes all play-off game against Suffolk.
Essex were missing a few key players for the match, including Dutch international Sterre Kalis who was contracted to Queensland in the WNCL, and Mady Villiers who was playing her first Kia Super League final for Surrey Stars.
Essex were put into bat and both openers had a good start before being dismissed and leaving the team 53-2, but Cordelia Griffith and Jessica Bird started to rebuild the innings, both making quick half-centuries.
Bird brought up her hundred with a sweeping boundary and soon after, Griffith followed by reaching her century. Bird was eventually caught and bowled for 128 off 109 balls, with her innings including 18 fours and 2 sixes.
Following the 50 overs, Essex were 374 for 3, with Griffith scoring 155* from 120 balls. Her innings included 23 fours and 1 six and Suffolk had a target of 375 to retain their Division Two position.
Essex bowler Poppy Timson made a great start with the ball and claimed the wicket of danger woman Penny Everett for 19, which set the tone for the rest of the innings.
Jess Saunders put up a fight for with 15 but soon fell wicket to the bowling of Beth Dodd, and Suffolk, who were only playing 10 players due to injury, managed to reach 81 all out. The commanding performance meant that Essex had won by 293 runs, but more importantly, they had secured their Division Two status for next year.
Cordelia Griffith, Captain of the One-Day side said: “Throughout the season our bowling and fielding unit has been outstanding.
“Nevertheless, there is always room for improvement and I’m confident with another successful winter under our belts, we’ll be challenging next year.”
The T20 campaign also proved successful for the side. After being relegated to Division Three in 2017, the team won 7 of their 8 games and earned promotion straight back to Division Two.
Kelly Castle, Captain of the Essex T20 side said: “Although we were in a lower division this year, it allowed us showcase the talent we have and progress as a team.
“Looking to next year, I hope we can continue to develop over the winter and be competitive in Division Two.”
Head Coach Jim Crapnell said: “Going into the season our aim was to maintain our position in the 50 over competition and attain promotion from Division Three in the T20 competition.
“Thankfully we achieved both and we’re looking forward to the challenges that the 2019 campaign will bring. We have a good core of players and we’ll work hard over the winter to improve individually and as a team.”
