Essex Eagles v Lancashire Thunder, Vitality Blast

ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Lissy Macleod’s effortless 54 helped Essex continue to keep pace at the top of the Vitality Blast women’s competition table.

Macleod, who had already struck 59 against Warwickshire Bears earlier in the competition, paced Essex’s chase to perfection – with partnerships of 40 and 66 with Grace Scrivens and Jodi Grewcock.

Scrivens had earlier claimed three for 23 as the headline bowling act as Lancashire Thunder spluttered to 128.

Macleod secured the six-wicket victory with 13 balls to spare, despite being a batter light due to Cordelia Griffith’s horrible fielding injury, as Essex moved up to second with just one defeat so far, while Thunder languish in seventh.

Lancashire Thunder captain Ellie Threlkeld:

"It was a really good pitch and we wanted to attack the powerplay hard but we lost a few wickets up top and couldn't get the momentum back through the middle. We knew were a few runs light and then did all we could to take early wickets.

"Credit to the way they bowled and fielded. They made it really hard for us. I thought we hit a lot of fielders when we were batting, and then they knocked it off well.

"It is never nice seeing anything like [Griffith's injury] on the field. I really felt for us. All our girls send our regards. We wish her a speedy recovery.

"I think this is the first game we haven't played good cricket. We have to take confidence from the first three games where we did play good cricket.

"We are one from four now, but we could have been three from three before today.

"We've got to hold our hands up today and say we weren't good enough. But we still have to believe that we have a really good team that could go on a run of wins. There is still belief in the dressing room."