The Blaze 235-5, defeat Essex 231-9, by five wickets with 55 balls to spare.

A second unbeaten century in as many matches from England’s Tammy Beaumont led The Blaze to a fourth straight victory, defeating Essex at Loughborough in a comprehensive performance as they continue to set the pace in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup Women’s competition.

The opener posted 116 not out in a flawless display of fifty-over batting, amassing 15 boundaries as she led her side from start to finish.

Essex captain Grace Scrivens impressed with a fine red ink 120, but her side's total of 231-9 from 50 overs always looked a difficult to defend against, as The Blaze bowlers were able to squeeze the remaining batters.

Scrivens had support from Jodi Grewcock (28) and Amara Carr (34), but Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast (3-32) and England leg spinner Sarah Glenn (3-36) took three wickets each to stem any Essex momentum as it developed.

Beaumont's match-defining knock was ably backed byKathryn Bryce (47) and England’s Amy Jones (41) as The Blaze were largely untroubled after batting the majority of the middle overs without real risk.

The Blaze made two changes to the XI that faced Hampshire two days prior - Cassidy McCarthy replaced Charley Phillips, while Georgie Boyce came in for Georgia Elwiss, rested due to a niggle.

Put in, Essex were 37-2 after 10 overs, with left-arm seamer Grace Ballinger causing all sorts of provlems, dismissing Alice Macleod, bowled, and Cordelia Griffith lbw.

Opener Scrivens and Jodi Grewcock went about building a decent recovery, adding 59 before the introduction of Ireland international Orla Prendergast brought about a mini-collapse.

Prendergast bowled Grewcock (28) on the back foot, and dealt Essex two more blows from balls banged in short, Florence Miller (7) gloving behind and Sophia Smale (3) chopping on, as 76-2 became 95-5.

Scrivens found more support from Carr, as the pair played sensibly but with enough intent to keep the scoreboard moving. They added 80 for the sixth-wicket, and put Essex back into a reasonable position at 175-5 with ten overs to bowl.

But Sarah Glenn quickly repelled the Essex resurgance - she returned to dismiss Carr (who skied to mid-off) and Eva Gray lbw to bring about a hat-trick chance, before Esmae MacGregor fell lbw to Glenn in her next over. 

Scrivens survived a difficult chance to long-on on 92 off Josie Groves, going on to reach 100 with her ninth boundary from 120 balls. She picked off two more fours and a six off Kathryn Bryce, as she and Kate Coppack added 35 for the ninth wicket to finish with 231-9.

The Essex attack struggled to contain Jones and Beaumont as the England duo propelled their side to 54 without loss in the opening powerplay. The pair displayed excellent timing and effortless ability to reach the boundary, until Jones eventually mistimed MacGregor to be caught at mid-on for 41.

Kathryn Bryce ensured that there was no let-up for Essex, the second-wicket pair putting on 104 in a 20-over partnership, as Beaumont notably hit her second six over the sightscreen at the athletics track end of the Haslegrave Ground, before Bryce feathered one behind to fall on a well made 47.

Sarah Bryce and Georgie Boyce selflessly both holed out chasing the bonus point on offer for winning inside 40 overs, before Beaumont, whose excellent hundred came from 110 balls, restored order by hitting Gray square of the wicket for the winning boundary.

She finished once again unbeaten in front of a strong contingent at Loughborough, showcasing all the power and precision that has seen her recently surpass 5000 List A runs.

Her consistency at the top of the order, and ability to navigate two run chases has seen The Blaze extent their winning run to four staight games, with an eagerly anticipated rematch with Lancashire on Sunday at Emirates Old Trafford penciled in.