Difficult start to Blast campaign for Women

Esmae MacGregor claimed career-best T20 figures as Essex's bowlers ripped through the Somerset batting line-up to secure their side’s first win of the Women’s Vitality Blast at Chelmsford on Sunday.

- Ben Kosky & Andrew Stockhausen

The Essex medium-pacer finished with 4-8 from 3.2 overs, while leg-spinner Abtaha Maqsood took 2-16 as the visitors were rolled for just 84, with Fran Wilson their only batter to reach double-figures.

Somerset had looked strongly placed at halfway after seamer Ellie Anderson's 3-19 restricted their opponents to 149-7, opener Lauren Winfield-Hill top-scoring with 42 from 25 balls.

Speaking after the game, Somerset head coach Trevor Griffin said: “At the halfway stage, we were really happy - we thought Essex were about par. In the field we stayed in the game and worked hard, the outfield’s quick.

“I was really impressed with the way Ellie Anderson bowled, she was outstanding and we had two great catches from Olivia Barnes.