Stubborn streak does the Bears a TON of good

EMILY Arlott admitted she is “just too stubborn for my own good” after her maiden List A century spearheaded a stirring fightback as Bears Women recovered from 22 for five to beat Essex for their first win in the Metro Bank One Day Cup competition.

- By ECB REPORTERS NETWORK

The 27-year-old hit 130 from 141 balls, sharing century partnerships with Chloe Brewer (44 from 75) and Charis Pavely (31 from 40), to propel the Bears to 289 all out at Chelmsford.

Essex seamer Eva Gray returned career-best figures of five for 62 but the home side's tally of 32 wides did them no favours and they were bowled out for 181 in response, despite half-centuries from Grace Scrivens and Cordelia Griffith.

Left-armer Katie George and medium-pacer Brewer picked up three wickets apiece as Essex were dismissed with 11 overs to spare.

“I'm just too stubborn for my own good sometimes and it paid off” said Arlott. “They bowled really well at the top, using the pitch and what that offered.

“It was a case of survival mode and no matter how many balls I faced, I didn’t care if I scored a run, it was just about letting myself settle. It’s amazing how, if you give yourself ten overs, they can go flat and we were able to capitalise.