Double defeat for new-look Essex in their season's opening One Day Cup matches

ESSEX have suffered a disappointing start to the campaign after losing their opening two matches in the women's Metro Bank One-Day cup.

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Essex opened their campaign at Durham and were undone by a four-wicket haul for fledgling seamer Phoebe Turner which was followed by a brilliant a unbeaten 93 for New Zealander Suzie Bates as dominant Durham won by nine wickets at the Riverside.

Turner, 21, was the standout bowler with four for 33 from eight overs as Essex, inserted, were bowled out for 177 inside 48 overs. Fellow seamer Grace Thompson also impressed with two wickets on her professional debut, while experienced leg-spinner Katie Levick struck three times.

Essex recovered from 65 for five in the 20th over, with Jodie Grewcock contributing 31 and Sophia Smale 40. They shared a sixth-wicket 53, but it wasn’t enough in front of a 600-strong crowd at the start of the professional era of women's cricket in the North East.

Opener Bates is Durham's first ever professional women's overseas signing, and she led a composed chase with 14 fours in 103 balls. She shared a superb unbroken 173 with second-wicket partner and captain Hollie Armitage, 64 off 87 balls. A five-point victory was sealed in the 33rd over.