The 31st match of the Women’s Vitality Blast 2025 brings Durham Women and Essex Women head-to-head at the Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street, on June 20 at 7 PM local time. This fixture is set to be a crucial encounter as both sides look to gain momentum in the middle phase of the tournament.

Durham Women come into the 31st match after a mixed run of results. Recently, they secured a hard-fought four-wicket win over Somerset Women, chasing down 138 with contributions from Bates (49) and Heath (38*). However, they have also faced some narrow losses, including a seven-wicket defeat to The Blaze and a seven-wicket loss to Warwickshire. Their ability to bounce back in close contests like Grace Thompson’s composed final over in a rain-affected match shows their resilience.
Essex Women, meanwhile, have had some standout performances this season. They started strong with a dominant 65-run victory against Somerset Women. Essex have also demonstrated their batting depth, regularly posting competitive totals and pushing top teams close. Both sides are looking to build consistency as the tournament heads toward its business end, making this clash a vital opportunity for momentum.
With both teams eyeing valuable points, expect a competitive clash that could shape the direction of their seasons.
Squads:
Durham Women
Emily Windsor, Emma Marlow, Hollie Armitage, Leah Dobson, Suzie Bates, Katherine Fraser, Mady Villiers, Trudy Johnson, Bess Heath, Mia Rogers, Abigail Glen, Katie Levick, Lauren Filer, Lizzie Scott, Phoebe Turner, Sophia Turner
Essex Women :
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 for:
Bess Heath
Bess Heath has been a key player for the Durham side. She has played T20 Cricket all across the globe. In the Hundred Women’s Competition, she has played 29 matches, scoring 239 runs at an average of 9.95 and a strike rate of 126.45, with 1 fifty and a top score of 57; in the Women’s Big Bash League, she has played 23 matches, scoring 299 runs at an average of 17.58 and a strike rate of 113.25, with 1 fifty and a top score of 51. She has scored 231 runs in her last 8 innings with the bat and will be one of the key players going into the tournament for Durham Women.
Suzie Bates
The 37-year-old all-rounder has established herself as one of the most consistent and prolific batters in women’s T20 cricket. In 171 WT20Is, she has scored 4,716 runs, at an average of 29.11, with a strike rate of 108.58, and notched up 28 fifties and one century. In her last 10 innings with the bat, she has scored 311 runs and continues to keep the scoreboard ticking. Durham will count on her to continue her good run throughout the tournament.
Lauren Winfield-Hill
Lauren Winfield-Hill is an experienced English wicketkeeper-batter, known for her aggressive style and versatility in the top order. In T20 internationals, she has played 44 matches, scoring 596 runs at an average of 20.55 and a strike rate of 107.97, including three half-centuries and a highest score of 74. 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 her target. In her last 10 Innings with the bat she has scored a total of 304 runs with eight 20+ scores. She is one of the key batters Essex Women will be banking on throughout the tournament.
Grace Scrivens
Grace Scrivens is a talented English all-rounder who bats left-handed and bowls right-arm off-spin who is also the skipper of the Essex side. She is known for her consistent batting performances and ability to contribute valuable runs in the middle order. Scrivens has scored 154 runs in the last 8 innings with the bat and has picked up 4 wickets with the ball. She has been a consistent and key performer for the side. Essex Women would want Scrivens to continue her run throughout the tournament and be handy with the bat for them.
Pitch Report:
The pitch at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street is generally considered good for batting, with consistent bounce and decent pace. It tends to flatten out as the match progresses, making run-scoring easier, especially in the second innings. However, seam bowlers can find some early movement, especially if there’s cloud cover or moisture in the pitch. Spinners may come into play later, but overall, it’s a surface that favors batsmen who like to play their shots.
Weather Report:
Expect very warm and mostly sunny weather. Temperatures are expected to reach highs around 22°C, with only light winds and minimal cloud cover, making for ideal cricket conditions. Rain is highly unlikely, so play should proceed uninterrupted.
Fantasy playing XI :
Hollie Armitage, Suzie Bates, Mady Villiers, Bess Heath, Sophia Turner, Alice Macleod, Cordelia Griffith, Grace Scrivens, Jodi Grewcock, Esmae MacGregor, Lauren Winfield-Hill
Match Details :
Date : 20th June, 2025
Time : 7 PM
Venue : Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street, England
Broadcast : The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website