Preview: Essex Women vs Bears Women, Vitality Blast

Head Coach Ali Maiden said Australian import Laura Harris is like having a “super hero” in the side following the Bears' first victory in the Vitality Blast over Durham last Friday at Edgbaston.

joshstacey

2025-06-03T16:25:00.000Z

Head Coach Ali Maiden said Australian import Laura Harris is like having a “super hero” in the side following the Bears' first victory in the Vitality Blast over Durham last Friday at Edgbaston.

Laura Harris struck a record-breaking 16-ball half-century on her home debut, including 8 fours and 3 sixes.

Maiden said, “It’s like having a superhero, you feel like she’s unbeatable. She is human, she will fail occasionally, and things won't happen all the time.

“But her impact in that game was brilliant. Getting her in at the right time is important because of the way that she plays, and I think we got it spot on tactically.

“I personally don’t think there’s anyone else in the world that can do that, and we’ve got her in our team.”

The Bears mirrored their Metro Bank One Day Cup opening round tie against Hampshire by also tying their first game in Nottingham against the Blaze.

With their opponents seemingly cruising to victory on a good batting wicket, the highly disciplined Bears fought back exceptionally to share the spoils on Vitality Blast day one.

They followed it up with their first victory of the professional T20 era, beating Durham thanks to Harris’s half-century, and home-grown talent Davina Perrin looking assured in her T20 best of 87 off 61 balls.

Maiden said, “It was fantastic, we played brilliantly as a team, it was great to win our first home game of the competition and play that well.

“Laura Harris was world-class. It was a good wicket and we were challenged by Suzie Bates and Bess Heath’s partnership, but we held our nerve, fought hard and claimed an easy victory in the end.”

Bears Women are top of the Vitality Blast table and will be looking to consolidate their position against Essex before heading into a jam-packed weekend with two fixtures against Somerset and Lancashire on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

The Bears have already had success in Chelmsford this year with Em Arlott hitting her maiden professional century on the way to setting 289 in their 50 overs, before bowling Essex out for 181 in return.

Maiden said, “Every game is a new game, that’s sport. We have to approach it the same way we did the last game.

“Prepare properly, don’t take anything for granted and go through the same processes.

“They’re a good unit. They (Sunrisers) won the 50-over competition last year, so they have experience of winning.

“Grace Scrivens is a good captain, and they’ll be a tough outfit because they’ll all contribute.”

Squad

Georgia Davis (c)Meg AustinHannah BakerBethan EllisAbbey FreebornKatie GeorgeHannah HardwickLaura HarrisSterre KalisCharis PavelyDavina PerrinAmu SurenkumarIssy WongNat Wraith

How to follow

Members and supporters can follow the match live in our Match Centre at edgbaston.com, which will include a free-to-watch stream and a live text commentary. You can also see a ball-by-ball feed and watch highlights of all the action.

Supporters can get involved by sending their match-day comments and thoughts on X via @WarwickshireCCC and we’ll publish the best ones on our live text commentary in the Match Centre.

Supporters can also watch the Live Stream and get instant push notifications of all wickets, innings and match results via the Edgbaston app, which is free to download on iOS and Android.

Match updates will also be available across the Club’s social media accounts, simply search for @WarwickshireCCC.