George praises complete performance as Bears Women earn dominant win over Essex

Warwickshire Bears Women captain, Katie George, praised a complete performance from her side as they eased to a dominant seven-wicket win over Essex at Edgbaston in the Metro Bank One Day Cup on Thursday.

2026-09-04T13:00+01:00

The win sees the Bears keep their ambitions in the competition alive, as they climbed to third place in the league table with two games remaining.

With the teams in second and third playing an elimination game for a spot in the final at the end of the league stage, George was pleased that her side were able to earn a bonus-point win at a key time of the season to boost their chances.

“It was an important day,” she said. “We knew that we probably needed to win this game.

“Must-win is a bit of a phrase you can throw around but it probably was and obviously the bonus point as well gives us some real momentum.

“We know we've got a tough game away to Surrey next week and then Durham away, so two good games, but if you beat those sides then you know you're going to be there or thereabouts. We'll see what happens.”

George played a starring role with the bat as she notched an unbeaten 72 in a 122-run unbeaten fourth-wicket stand with Abbey Freeborn (64* from 54) to get the Bears over the line.

That came after the Warwickshire bowling attack, led by 17-year-old left arm spinner Phoebe Brett who took four for 42, and right arm leggy Hannah Baker (3-26), had bowled Essex out for 202 after the visitors had been well-placed on 190 for five.

“It was a massive effort from the bowlers and a real collective effort that teed us up,” George added.

“We knew 202 was a bit under par but you have to respect the Essex bowlers - they have some good girls in their side who can cause problems.

“Meg Austin and Amu Surenkumar at the top brought momentum our way. Brooke Halliday came in and played really brightly and then Abbey Freeborn showed her class.

“We knew a big partnership would take the game away from them, which it did, and then we started looking towards the bonus point. It was a nice way to finish the game.”

George’s latest half century was her fourth of the campaign to go with a maiden hundred, and she is now the second highest run-scorer in the competition with 585 runs at a staggering average over 73.

“I want to contribute to winning games of cricket and that's been my goal for the season,” she said. “To do that has been really pleasing.

“It's been something I've worked really hard on over the winter and thanks to the coaches’ help, they’ve put that hard work in with me. To then be able to put some performances out that hopefully try and win games for us and to also do it consistently has been really pleasing for me personally.