Surrey return to the road to take on Essex at Chelmsford and close another week of Vitality Blast fixtures.
Surrey will play Essex on Sunday at Chelmsford where play will begin at 2pm for a weekend standalone.
Surrey Squad
A few familiar faces return to tomorrow’s squad including the likes of Alice Capsey who is back from international duties. Priyanaz Chatterji also returns.
How can I keep up with play?
The match will be broadcast live on Essex’s YouTube channel, with a link posted on the Surrey Match Centre and social media channels.
Surrey Cricket’s social media channels will provide live updates from Chelmsford, with clips and highlights posted throughout the day. A written report and highlights will be available at the end of each day’s play.
Last time out
The last time Surrey faced Essex, they were looking to regain momentum in the Metro Bank Women’s One Day Cup after a string of disappointing results.
Batting first, Surrey lost early wickets and finished the power play on 49/2. The pattern continued as wickets fell regularly, leaving Surrey 117/6 when Kalea Moore entered the crease. With Essex seemingly on top, Moore’s arrival shifted the momentum as she built a game changing innings of 50 from 60 balls. At the other end, Ryana MacDonald-Gay mirrored her efforts, and together they put on a superb 113-run partnership, both reaching their maiden half-centuries for Surrey.
Surrey closed their innings on 259/9, a strong recovery considering their shaky start.
With the ball, Surrey started well. Ryana MacDonald-Gay and Tilly Corteen-Coleman led the attack before a moment of brilliance in the field from Emma Jones, whose run-out of Essex skipper Grace Scrivens proved pivotal.
However, Essex’s Joe Gardner threatened to turn the tide with a strong innings, putting her side in a position to chase down the target. But in the 46th over, MacDonald-Gay struck twice in two balls to end the match, leaving Essex 14 runs short of victory.
ESSEX
Previewed by Ben Kosky, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain: Grace Scrivens
Overseas players: Maddie Penna (Australia, full competition)
Key winter moves: Seasoned opener and wicketkeeper Lauren Winfield-Hill has moved to Chelmsford on a loan deal from Yorkshire for the duration of the Blast. The arrival of Penna – part of the Adelaide Strikers squad that won successive Women’s Big Bash League titles – will strengthen Essex’s options in the middle-order batting and leg-spin departments.
The big question: How do Essex reshuffle their bowling attack to compensate for Sophie Munro’s absence? The seamer caught the eye during Sunrisers’ T20 campaign last year, finishing as their leading wicket-taker, but is currently out with a back injury. Despite their potent spin line-up, Essex will need alternatives to fill Munro’s role at the back end of the innings.
Wildcard watch: Esmae MacGregor. The 20-year-old can vary her pace and bowled well in the powerplay overs during Essex’s recent T20 County Cup defeat to Yorkshire. Although she featured more prominently in 50-over cricket last season, Munro’s injury could mean that MacGregor finds herself shouldering greater responsibility in the shorter format over the coming weeks.
Final thought: Essex should be capable of posting challenging totals in this tournament. As well as Winfield-Hill and Grace Scrivens at the top of the order, they can expect runs from the likes of Cordelia Griffith, Jodi Grewcock and Sophia Smale – while Jo Gardner, who begins the Blast in impressive form with the bat, could take on the finisher’s role. But they will also need to develop a ruthless streak that has so far been lacking in their 50-over campaign.
