Essex Women vs Sussex Women

Essex Women vs Sussex Women: Match Report

Sussex Women fell to 96-run defeat to Essex Women in their 50-over Women's London Championship match at Chelmsford. 

Sussex skipper Chiara Green won the toss and elected to field and the Essex openers made the most of good batting conditions to put on 100 for the first wicket.

The opening stand was eventually broken by Green, who finished with impressive figures of 4-19 from her 10 overs, dismissed Jasmine Westley for 30.

Westley's opening partner Matilda Callaghan batted for nearly the entire innings, only to be run-out by Hope Mullins in the final over when pushing to make her century.

Lucy Western, who made a classy half-century with the bat, also picked up two wickets and there was also one for Sussex debutant Zanzibar Menzies. 

Sussex would need 241 to win at The Cloud County Ground and they started well. Opener Lucy Western looked comfortable at the crease for her 55 from 77 balls, a knock that included five 4s. 

If Sussex were to win, Western would need support from the middle-order and although Indigo Gentry (22) and Carla Rudd (25) batted themselves into the game, their dismissals meant the Sussex tail-end would need to score quickly to give them any chance of a win.

The Essex attack never allowed them to get up with the rate, eventually bowling Sussex out for 144 in in the 40th over. 

Sussex Women are back in 50-over action on Tuesday when they travel to Reigate Prior CC to face Surrey. 

You can keep up-to-date with all of their fixtures and results by visiting: https://sussexwomen.play-cricket.com/Matches 

Photo credit: Saud Ahmed