Report: Durham v Bears Women, Vitality Blast

Durham 140-5 v Warwickshire 113. Durham won by 27 runs. 

Bears Women suffered a fourth successive Vitality Blast defeat as Durham defended 141 to secure a 27-run victory at the Banks Homes Riverside.

After an encouraging performance in the field, the Bears were unable to build momentum with the bat and were bowled out for 113 inside 19 overs.

Durham recovered well from an early wobble to post 140 for five, thanks largely to a career-best 61 from Bess Heath. Bears Women’s bowlers and fielders had started brightly, reducing the hosts to 22 for two inside four overs through Mary Taylor and Alexa Stonehouse, while the Bears also impressed in the field with a number of sharp stops and disciplined work in the ring.

Heath and Emily Windsor rebuilt effectively with an 80-run partnership for the third wicket, Heath taking the aggressive route as she swept, pulled and switch-hit her way to a 33-ball half-century. Windsor provided stability with 31 before being run out in the 15th over.

Bears Women fought back well at the death, conceding only 33 runs from the final five overs. Georgia Davis claimed the wicket of Heather Graham, while Charis Pavely trapped Heath lbw attempting another switch hit.

The Bears’ chase never fully recovered from an uncertain start. Trudy Johnson struck early to remove Abbey Freeborn before Mady Villiers dismissed Georgia Redmayne to leave Warwickshire 15 for two in the fourth over.

Meg Austin and Pavely briefly steadied the innings with a stand of 43, but Durham regained control through a disciplined bowling display. Sophia Turner bowled Austin with a well-executed slower-ball yorker before Abi Glen removed Pavely shortly afterwards.

From there, wickets fell regularly as Durham squeezed the middle order and prevented the Bears from building the partnerships required to threaten the target. Chloe Brewer provided some late resistance with 26, but Durham’s attack continued to apply pressure through Villiers, Heather Graham and Katie Levick.

Head Coach Ali Maiden said:

“It was actually a pretty difficult wicket. Looking at it, we thought it would play quite well. It was a little bit low and slow and spun a bit. 

We thought we’d done really well to limit them to what we did. But, in the chase, you need one of your top six to go and get a score. And nobody did. That’s where we’ve come unstuck.

At the minute, we’re missing a few. We have Davina Perrin out, Katie George out. Those two are injured, Emily Arlott as well. Issy Wong is with England, and overnight Nat Wraith was poorly. 

We’re missing quite a few, but that’s fine. It’s a good opportunity for others.

From my point of view, and with the other coaches, we never really look at the end – the bigger picture stuff. It’s about trying to focus on the things we need to do each game. At the minute, we’re not doing those things. We just have to keep going.”