Essex and Lancs claim first T20 wins of campaign

In the Women’s T20 Blast, Essex and Lancashire both claimed their first victories of the year.

Essex defeated Chelmsford 150 to win the match, but wicketkeeper Lauren Winfield-Hill top scored with a 42 from 25 balls.

Ellie Anderson of Somerset’s bowling team, which took the wicket of Essex captain Grace Scrivens, in the first ball of the innings, recorded a 3-19 score in the first over.

Olivia Barnes made a stunning catch at square leg to take Lissy Macleod, who was forced to miss the second with a hand injury and was unable to play any further.

When Eva Gray’s in-swinger took Sophie Luff’s off stump to give Somerset a 29-4 lead, their chances looked sluggish.

Somerset had a brief glimmer of hope after a 25-wicket partnership between Fran Wilson and Alex Griffiths, but when Wilson fell to Abtaha Maqsood, the visitors could see the writing on the wall.

As Somerset were quickly bowled out for 84 runs, the last batter being injured, with last batter Barnes unfit to start the game, with Esmae MacGregor posting career-best T20 figures of 4-8.

With a gutsy 18-run victory over Durham at Chester-le-Street, Lancashire Thunder regained seven wickets from their Saturday defeat by The Blaze.

Ellie Threlkeld, the visitors’ captain, top-scored with 48 while Aisla Lister added 42 without out, put on 140-7 in their 20 overs.

Suzie Bates and Katherine Fraser scored 61 for the hosts in search of their first win of the campaign in a strong start to the run-ahead match.

In the second half of the innings, Thunder took nine wickets for just 61 runs.