Team Surrey clinched their first points of the Abu Dhabi Women’s T20 Counties Super Cup with a thumping victory against Essex in Match No. 5 of the competition.
Batting first once again proved to be the winning template in the ongoing season, as Surrey set a formidable total on a batting paradise and did not allow the opposition to cross the mark during the second innings. The defeat leaves Essex winless after two games, with no points beside their rank, while Surrey’s win helps them to kick off their proceedings in the points tally.
Batting first, Surrey’s opening pair put on an exhibition in the first innings, setting the perfect stage for the downstream batters. Openers Phoebe Franklin and Alice Monaghan came out with aggressive intent, making full use of the friendly pitch. Skipper Franklin played the perfect role of anchoring, crafting a well-paced 46-ball 57, comprising eight boundaries and one maximum.
Accompanying her was Monaghan firing on all cylinders, racing to a speedy 25-ball 50. Sophia Dunkley then carried the momentum forward with a fluent 22-ball 29, keeping the scorecard ticking. However, Essex fought back during the fag end of the innings, striking to apply the brakes on the scoring rate. Jo Gardner, Kelly Castle, and Esmae MacCregor led the charge with the ball- picking up two wickets apiece. Surrey ended with a daunting score of 183/7 after the completion of 20 overs.
The chasing side once again struggled to gain momentum under the pressure of a tall chase, failing to match the template set by Surrey’s batters. Their approach was cautious from ball 1, which only made the required run rate climb steadily as the innings progressed.
Opener Jo Gardner provided a promising start with a quick-fire 22-ball 35, striking five boundaries to keep Essex in the hunt. However, the momentum dipped when Riva Pindoria’s measured knock, played at a strike rate of 83.3, failed to keep up with the soaring asking rate. Skipper Eva Gray attempted to steady the ship with a composed 32-ball 39, spending a significant part of the middle overs at the crease, but lacked the acceleration required to mount a serious challenge.
Surrey’s bowling unit remained disciplined despite conceding 10 extras, ensuring the pressure never eased on Essex. In the end, the target proved too steep, and Essex fell short, managing only 154/6 at the end of 20 overs. With this, Surrey clinched a well-earned victory, while Essex’s struggles in the tournament continued with their second successive defeat.
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