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 3 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.

Meg Lanning’s last appearance at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground saw her smoke a then international record 133 off 63 balls. Thunder getting stuck in meant the Australian got an immediate go at repeating the feat.

But those hopes were extinguished before 11.35am as Sophie Munro cramped her for room twice before a swing into the leg side was caught at deep midwicket and handed Lanning a three-ball duck.

Having scored two of the three highest individual scores so far in the competition, it was a huge early wicket. Eve Jones – after an attacking 22 – and Danielle Collins also perished in the powerplay.

The hosts doubled down on their initiative and only conceded three boundaries after the sixth over, as pressure built from well-executed plans, tight fielding, and regular wickets.

If Lancashire had threatened to recover in the second half of the innings, Scrivens halted that potential in the 14th over. The Essex skipper had Ellie Threlkeld stumped and Fi Morris caught behind in successive balls, having dropped the previous delivery.

It wasn’t all palin sailing for the Eagles, as Griffiths suffered a leg injury while fielding on the boundary. She left on a stretcher following a 10-minute delay.

But when it was their turn to chase 129, Scrivens and MacLeod’s sweet driving meant the disadvantage wasn’t felt.

Scrivens was caught at cover – ending a 40-run partnership – but Grewcock seamlessly took over as runs came breezily. Grewcock had ticked along nicely with 39 and although she and Jo Gardner fell in successive overs, which ended hope of a bonus point, Essex strolled to four points.

Flo Miller was also bowled but MacLeod reached her 10th T20 fifty in 38 balls before finishing with a flourish over mid-on.