Day 3 of the 2025 Women’s T20 Blast featured two exhilarating matches, with match no. 7 featuring Essex Women and Somerset Women and match number 6th between Lancashire Women and Durham Women. The games were marked by steady batting performances and explosive bowling attack, with Essex clinching a victory by 65 runs and Lancashire winning by 18 runs.
Match 7: Essex Women vs Somerset Women
In a commanding performance Essex Women outclassed Somerset Women by 65 runs in the seventh match of the 2025 Women’s T20 Blast.
After being asked to bat first, Essex lost an early wickert, overcoming early trouble to post a competitive total of 149 for 7 in their 20 overs. Opener Lauren Winfield-Hill led the charge with a composed and aggressive 42 off just 25, holding the innings together. The Essex top-order faltered early, including the crucial dismissal of skipper Grace Scrivens for just 1, as Somerset’s bowlers applied pressure in the powerplay.
However, the lower middle-order stepped up to stabilize the innings. Madeline Penna chipped in with a steady 19 off 16, while Sophia Smale added a lively 22 off 18 to keep the scoreboard ticking. Somerset’s bowling attack, led by the ever-reliable Emily Anderson 3/19 and supported by Amanda-Jade Wellington 2/21, kept Essex in check during the death overs.
In reply, Somerset never looked settled as they crumbled under Essex’s relentless bowling pressure losing 4/29 inside 5 overs. Essex’s pace spearhead Esmae MacGregor delivered a career-defining performance, tearing through the top order with remarkable figures of 4/8 in her four overs.
While Fran Wilson offered brief resistance with a tidy 25 off 19, the rest of the Somerset lineup fell cheaply. Abtaha Maqsood further compounded with a sharp spell of 2/ 16, as wickets continued to tumble Somerset in clusters. Somerset were eventually dismissed for 84 in 14.2 overs, handing Essex a resounding 65-run victory with 5 points up the table.
Match 6: Lancashire Women vs Durham Women
Lancashire Women held their nerve in a tightly contested match to secure an 18-run victory over Durham Women, adding four valuable points to their tally and continuing their strong start to the season.
Batting first, Lancashire posted a competitive total of 140 for 7 in their 20 overs. The innings saw steady contributions despite periodic collapses at key junctures. Captain Eleanor Threlkeld led from the front with a composed 48 off 45, anchoring the innings through its middle phase. She was well-supported by Ailsa Lister, who’s aggressive 42* off just 23 added crucial momentum during the latter stages.
Lancashire’s top order, however, faltered early. Both Seren Smale and Fi Morris were dismissed for ducks, undone by Durham’s rising star Grace Thompson. Durham’s bowling unit was disciplined, with Suzie Bates and Trudy Johnson chipping in with two wickets each, restricting Lancashire to 140.
In response, Durham’s chase started on a promising note. Suzie Bates played a typically fluent knock, scoring 49* off 38, while Katherine Fraser added a steady 28 off 25 to keep their side in the hunt to chase the total. But once Sophie Morris removed Fraser, the momentum began to shift dramatically.
Lancashire’s bowlers tightened in the second half of the innings. Grace Potts was the standout performer, with excellent figures of 4/33, breaking the back of Durham’s middle and lower order. She was ably supported by Sophie Ecclestone, Sophie Morris, and Grace Johnson, who picked up two wickets each, dismantling Durham’s resistance. Durham collapsed under pressure to be restricted to 122 all out.
