Latest news with #EssexWomen
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Somerset Women comfortably beaten by Essex in Vitality Blast
Vitality Blast: Essex Women 149-7 defeated Somerset 84-9 by 65 runs Esmae MacGregor claimed career-best T0 figures as Essex's bowlers ripped through the Somerset batting line-up to secure their side's first win of the Women's Vitality Blast at Chelmsford, writes Ben Kosky, ECB Reporters' Network. Advertisement The Essex medium-pacer finished with four for eight from 3.2 overs, while leg-spinner Abtaha Maqsood took two for 16 as the visitors were rolled for just 84, with Fran Wilson their only batter to reach double figures. Somerset had looked strongly-placed at halfway after seamer Ellie Anderson's three for 19 restricted their opponents to 149 for seven, opener Lauren Winfield-Hill top-scoring with 42 from 25 balls. Anderson struck with her first delivery after Somerset had won the toss and inserted their hosts, uprooting Grace Scrivens' middle stump to set the tone with two tight powerplay overs. Read more: The seamer should have snapped up another early wicket, spilling a return drive from Lissy Macleod, while Winfield-Hill swept Chloe Skelton for successive boundaries as the pair added a brisk 45 from 33. Advertisement But Olivia Barnes' acrobatic catch at square leg, leaping to grab the ball one-handed at the second attempt, removed Macleod and Alex Griffiths castled Winfield-Hill in the next over to leave Essex under pressure. Amanda-Jade Wellington's miserly spell of two for 21 maintained control, but Sophia Smale – dropped early on by Mollie Robbins – provided some impetus with 22 from 18 before she was eventually bowled trying to ramp the medium-pacer. Jo Gardner (20 from 22) and Eva Gray both cleared the ropes during the death overs to haul their side to fractionally short of 150 – a total that looked far more challenging for Somerset after they lost four wickets in the powerplay. Dropped at slip first ball, Bex Odgers was then caught behind slashing at Kate Coppack and Emma Corney swung at Scrivens and missed before Amelie Munday skied MacGregor into the hands of mid-on. Advertisement Skipper Sophie Luff also fell cheaply, cleaned up by Gray's inswinger, but the experienced Wilson started strongly with successive fours off Coppack and was looking nicely set with 25 from 19 when she perished top-edging a sweep off Maqsood. The leg-spinner also accounted for Griffiths before diving forward at mid-on to pouch Anderson's drive off MacGregor and Somerset's last faint hope of a fightback evaporated when Wellington holed out to long leg. With Barnes unable to bat after sustaining an injury in the field, the contest ended in the 15th over as MacGregor has Skelton caught at mid-off to secure the ninth Somerset wicket – and her fourth.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Parents' 20-year fight for professional women's cricket team
Parents who campaigned for Essex County Cricket Club to create a professional women's side said they battled stereotypes to make the dream a reality. Dave and Pam Letch wanted better opportunities for females in the sport after their daughter first picked up a bat aged nine. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) created a top tier for women's cricket in 2025, and Essex joined, holding its first home game in Chelmsford on Sunday. Mr Letch said it took "a lot of pushing, a lot of persuading and a lot of sweat and tears" over two decades. The couple, from Billericay, founded Essex's women's set-up 20 years ago, but have continued to urge the club to create a professional side. It was an idea Mr Letch came up with while coaching cricket in schools. "I could see the ability of a lot of girls in the schools, and we pushed our daughter to play at as high a level as she could," he said. "At that time, Essex really didn't have their own set-up. The women were playing as East Anglia, rather than Essex." The professional women's game was expanded by the ECB in 2025 with the creation of three tiers. It was hoped the move would see an 80% increase in the number of professional female players by 2029. Mr Letch said he and his wife took it upon themselves to become a "driving force" for growth in Essex, but it did not come easily. "The biggest challenges were getting females involved with the coaching system," he explained. "Also, understanding females could play the game, that they were athletically able to play the game from a young age. "It was difficult trying to get it through to people." Mrs Letch said they had encountered many men who "don't accept what females can do" in sport. The couple hoped Essex Women would inspire the next generation of female cricketers. Mr Letch said: "Now there's a pathway from a nine-year-old playing club cricket to England women. "That was one of the hardest things years ago for people to accept, that there was a pathway for them to follow." Both Mr and Mrs Letch said watching the side play for the first time filled them with pride. Mrs Letch said it was "wonderful", with her husband adding: "We never thought there would be a professional game for the girls, so it's great there now is." Dan Feist, Essex County Cricket Club chief executive, thanked Mr and Mrs Letch after what he branded an "historic week" for the club. He said the side's first home match of the season was "a very special occasion". "We are extremely grateful to Dave and Pam Letch for all their hard work when initially setting up the women's team all those years ago," Mr Feist said. "The future is very exciting for the Essex Women's team." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. One-Day Cup games launch new era of women's domestic cricket Essex Women announce first professional players ECB names counties to host women's teams from 2025 Essex Cricket
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Essex sign England and Yorkshire batter Winfield-Hill
Essex Women have signed England-capped opening batter Lauren Winfield-Hill on loan from Yorkshire ahead of the 2025 Vitality 34, has played over 100 matches for England across Test, One Day International and Twenty20 cricket, wining the 2017 ODI World has scored almost 4,000 T20 runs, playing in Australia's Big Bash and Caribbean Premier League, while also representing the Northern Superchargers in the Hundred."Signing for Essex on loan this season makes perfect sense, and it's an opportunity I'm really excited about," said Winfield-Hill."I want to keep testing myself by playing at the highest level possible, and this move means that I can do that in what is set to be a groundbreaking year for women's cricket in England."I really feel like I can bring something to the group here at Essex, and I'm excited to play in a new environment at Chelmsford, too."Winfield-Hill has also played at wicketkeeper during four years in The Hundred, claiming 38 stumpings
