Lancashire Women and Essex Women will face-off in Match 35 of the Women’s T20 Blast on July 5, 2025, at Old Trafford, Manchester, starting at 3:30 PM IST. Both teams come into this game with similar records—three wins and five losses each—making this a crucial mid-table clash as the tournament approaches its business end.
Lancashire Women are looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss to The Blaze Women, where their batting faltered apart from a standout 79 from Ailsa Lister. Their bowlers, including Tara Norris (the team’s leading wicket-taker with 10 wickets in eight games), struggled to defend a modest total. Lancashire will rely heavily on Emma Lamb, one of their top run-scorers, and Kate Cross, who has been effective with the ball, to deliver strong performances at home.
On the other hand, Essex’s opening partnerships have generally been more stable than Lancashire’s, and their bowlers, led by Esmae MacGregor, have been key to their recent success. Both teams will be looking for an impressive win and keep the competition going ahead in the tournament. The game between Lancashire and Essex is expected to be a tightly contested match.
Squads:
Lancashire Women’s Cricket Team
Danielle Collins, Emma Lamb, Eve Jones, Katie Mack, Liberty Heap, Darcey Carter, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Mahika Gaur, Grace Potts, Fi Morris, Eleanor Threlkeld, Seren Smale, Grace Johnson, Alisa Lister, Alana King, Hannah Jones, Olivia Bell, Phoebe Graham, Sophie Morris, Tara Norris
Essex Women’s Cricket Team
Alice Macleod, Cordelia Griffith, Florence Miller, Joanne Gardner, Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones, Eva Gray, Grace Scrivens, Jodi Grewcock, Amara Carr, Ariana Dowse, Abtaha Maqsood, Esmae MacGregor, Kate Coppack, Kelly Castle, Sophia Smale, Sophie Munro, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Madeline Penna, Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones
Players to watch out:
Fi Morris
Fi Morris has played 25 matches in The Hundred women’s competition, scoring 120 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 101.69, with the highest score of 50; she has also bowled in 23 innings, taking 15 wickets at an average of 27.20 and an economy of 7.48, with best figures of 5/7. She has scored 158 runs in her last 10 T20 innings and has been a key component for her side going ahead.
Ailsa Lister
Ailsa Lister is a young Scottish cricketer known for her aggressive batting in T20s. She has represented Scotland internationally and plays for NorthWest Thunder. She is a key player for Lancashire with her ability to contribute consistently with the bat. In her last 8 T20 innings, she has scored 231 runs with the bat, with five 25+ scores and her best coming in the last game, against the Blaze when she smashed 79 runs off 38 deliveries.
Lauren Winfield-Hill
Lauren Winfield-Hill is an experienced English wicketkeeper-batter, known for her aggressive style and versatility in the top order. In the last game against Hampshire Women, Lauren was the standout batter for Essex Women doing bulk of the scoring while chasing down 215 but fell short of the target. In her last 10 T20 innings with the bat she has scored a total of 310 runs with nine 15+ scores. She is one of the key batters Essex Women will be banking on throughout the tournament.
Esmae MacGregor
Esmae MacGregor has gained attention for her wicket-taking ability, especially in T20 cricket. She is known for her accuracy, swing, and knack for breaking partnerships. As of 2025, in her last 9 T20 innings with the ball, she has picked 20 wickets and has emerged as one of Essex’s leading bowlers, often opening the bowling and delivering crucial breakthroughs. Her consistent performances make her a key player to watch.
Pitch:
The pitch at Emirates’ Old Trafford in Manchester is generally considered batting-friendly, offering good pace and consistent bounce which allows batters to play their shots freely, also evident with the average score of 154. Seam bowlers can find some early movement, while spinners may come into play as the pitch wears and offers more grip later in the match.
Weather:
Expected a brief morning shower or two, but the conditions will improve, with no significant precipitation forecasted for the rest of the day. The temperature will hover around 16°C with mostly cloudy skies and a southwest wind at 11 mph.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Alice Macleod, Cordelia Griffith, Grace Scrivens, Esmae MacGregor, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Emma Lamb, Kate Cross, Fi Morris, Seren Smale, Alisa Lister, Alana King
Match Details:
Date – July 5, 2025
Time – 3:30 PM IST
Venue – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
