Round Three of the Women's One Day Cup

Sunday's game between Lancashire and Somerset concluded the third round of games in the Metro Bank One Day Cup. It is early days, but Surrey are the big winners to date and Essex the big losers. Surrey have won all three of their games and Essex have yet to open their account. 

Here's what happened this weekend....

Essex v Warwickshire
Essex 157 ao v Warwickshire 160/5 (40.4 overs)
Essex's poor start to the season hit a new low as they were bowled out for just 157, 59 of which came off the blade of Grace Scrivens. Gardner and Smale were the only other Essex batters to get into double figures. Was it down to spectacular Warwickshire bowling? Well...No. Five Warwickshire bowlers helped themselves to a couple of wickets as the Essex innings subsided within 40 overs. Warwickshire could take their time in their reply and they did, with Davina Perrin hitting 43 off 59, and the non-bowling Katie George an undefeated 42 off 71. It was unspectacular, but effective. 

Yorkshire v The Blaze
Yorkshire 280/9 v The Blaze 210 ao
I doubt that The Blaze were one of Yorkshire's "targetted teams", according to skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill, that they thought they could be competitive against. However on a day when The Blaze bowling attack looked completely out of salts, bowling 20 wides, and LWH (90) and Jess Jonassen (67) stayed at the crease long enough to make meaningful contributions, compete they could. 
The fact that they got to 280/7 rather than 240 was almost entirely down to Sterre Kalis who was only out in the last over having scored 61 off 42 balls. She treated each of the eight Blaze bowlers with equal disdain. 
But still 281 was not an ungettable score until The Blaze's bowling woes turned into batting woes. While Marie Kelly (56) and Katherine Bryce (55) were at the crease they had hope, but from 126/1 they slithered to 162/8 with Jess Jonassen (4/18) leading the charge. Only a rearguard action by Kirstie Gordon (24) and Grace Ballinger (29) saved The Blaze further blushes, but they were still bowled out in the 42nd over for a chastening defeat for them and Yorkshire's first win at Tier One level.

Durham v Surrey
Durham 256/8 v Surrey 258/7 (36.4 overs)
With all the England players available (although Dunkley chose not to play) on paper this was a game that Surrey should have won with one hand tied behind their back. As it was Durham posted a reasonable score of 256/8, courtesy of a fine century partnership between skipper Hollie Armitage (106) and Mady Villiers (55). Both batted confidently against a fairly toothless Surrey attack, although the Oval is not a ground you want to be a bowler on. That is unless you are Durham's Lauren Filer who helped herself to 5/59 courtesy of some decent pace, but some careless batting from Surrey, who seemed to be after the bonus point from the moment they started their innings. They went Hell for leather from ball one and, although Filer was expensive, they disrespected her decent balls at their peril.
At 62/4 (three of them to Filer) Surrey looked vulnerable, but with Dani Wyatt-Hodge coming in at 6 Durham needed the rest of their bowlers to stand up and be counted. Unfortunately on the placid Oval pitch they could not exert any pressure as Surrey cruised along at 7 an over. Filer returned and got Chatli as she pinged a ball straight to deep square, but Jemima Spence (27) and Maitlan Brown (27*) proved more than useful foils to another inevitable DWH century if Surrey did not run out of runs required before she got there. She got to 96 and Surrey only needed three to win. She went to hit the ball over mid-off, but failed. Two balls later the game was done and the bonus point secured, but you can't help feeling that Surrey's gung-ho attitude might be their downfall on another day.

Lancashire v Somerset
Lancashire 259/8 v Somerset 260/6 (47.5 overs)
This looked like it might be the tightest game of the weekend, with Somerset, fielding their three England players, taking on the champions. The bookies made Lancs favourites, but when news filtered through that neither Emma Lamb nor Gaby Lewis were playing for Lancs the odds on Somerset winning were significantly shortened.
Invited to bat Lancs made a pedestrian start reaching just 28/1 after the powerplay overs and by halfway they were still only on 96/3, but Ellie Threlkeld (71) and Fi Morris (52) put together a partnership of 88 and laid the platform for Lancs to add 77 from the last 10 overs to take them to a respectable, if unspectacular on the Southport wicket, 259/8.
The first half of the Somerset reply almost mimicked the Lancs innings with them on 37/1 after 10 and 90/3 after 25. But after drinks Somerset, in the shape of Heather Knight (63) and Aussie Anika Learoyd (32) decided it was time to come out of their shells. They took 38 off the next four overs and the momentum had changed. Learoyd perished, but that just brought the blunt instrument that is Dani Gibson (60) to the crease. They quickly got the required run rate under a run a ball and despite Sophie Ecclestone accounting for both her England team mates, the damage was done and Somerset cruised to victory in the 48th over.

Martin Davies
20/IV/2026

Round Up of Round Two of the Women's One Day Cup

Hot on the heels of Round One came Round Two of the One Day Cup, but it was too much 50 over cricket for England contracted girls, who played yet another internal T20 game. But it was a chance for The Blaze to get their 2026 campaign underway amidst a blustery forecast. So let's start with their game against champions Lancashire.

The Blaze v Lancashire
Lancashire 223 ao v The Blaze 148/5 (28.3) (The Blaze won by 6 runs (DLS Method)
Once again Lancashire's top order flourished this time in the shape of Emma Lamb 77 (98). Before she got out Lancashire were 176/3 with nearly 14 overs to come. The fact that they only added another 47 runs for the loss of seven wickets, before they were bowled out for 223 in the 49th over, was symptomatic of their failure to address the same problem they had last year.
The Blaze's response got off to an awful start when Sarah Bryce was run out in the first over going for a second run Marie Kelly did not even contemplate. But after 20 overs The Blaze had taken their score to 91/3 and the game was evenly balanced when the weather intervened. When the teams got back on the pitch nearly two hours later The Blaze were required to score another 80 runs in the remaining 11.4 overs. Kelly (44) and Prendergast (40) managed to keep the required run rate in check with The Blaze having one eye on the ongoing DLS requirement as the weather closed in again. Having just taken 11 runs from the 28th over The Blaze were ahead of the DLS requirement when the heavens opened two balls later. 

Durham v Essex
Durham 311/3 v Essex 288/5
It took Essex more than half their overs to get their first wicket against Durham with Emma Marlow getting out for 53, her maiden half-century. It would be another 22 overs before they got their second, by which time Hollie Armitage (81) and Aussie import Tahlia Wilson (152) had taken Durham to 300 with a 163 run partnership. Wilson succumbed to the last ball of the innings, but 311 looked to be a tall order for Essex. Cordelia Griffith (50) and Grace Scrivens (47) set about trying to lay a platform for the chase and had added 113 before Scrivens fell, but they had used up 25 overs in doing so. Griffith was out shortly after and it was not until Flo Miller (49*) joined Jodie Grewcock (77) after 36 overs that the run rate picked up, but by then it was too late. Both enjoyed themselves adding 89 in 13 overs, but Essex still found themselves 23 runs short at the end of their allotment of overs.

Yorkshire v Surrey 
Yorkshire 185 ao v Surrey 193/7  
Things were going pretty well for Yorkshire on 131/2 with Lauren Winfield-Hill 60* and Sterre Kalis 38* when Aussie pacer Maitlan Brown bowled a bouncer at LWH. She got herself into a mess trying to pull it and it kissed her helmet and went through to the keeper. Cue the obligatory appeal from the keeper and then the erroneous raised finger. LWH was not happy and she made her feelings known to the two standing umpires as she wandered slowly off the field. It would ultimately result in 5 penalty runs being awarded to Surrey. Two balls later Brown removed Kalis and 131/2 turned into 132/4. The Yorkshire middle order managed another 53 runs, but having been 185/6 Yorkshire contrived to lose their last four wickets without adding another run. 
By contrast Surrey (or rather Paige Scholfield) made light of the conditions - damp and dark. In a stand of 92 for the second wicket Alice Monaghan scored just 22. Scholfield went to her 50 off 25 balls and hit 17 4s and two 6s in her final score of 89 off 42 balls. But when she was out with the score on 139/3 Surrey's middle order got a serious attack of the collywobbles. Chatli went first ball, Spence two overs later and then brown also went for a duck. Fortunately Surrey have the stoic Alice Davidson-Richards (35*), who watched on in disbelief from the non-strikers end before bringing her team home with back to back 4s off Beth Langston with overs to spare.

Warwickshire v Hampshire
Warks 354/7 v Hampshire - did not bat
In a welcome change for Warwickshire  all of their top five hit half centuries as Edgbaston's short boundary again led to a run-fest. The only thing that could curtail the runs was the weather. After Warwickshire had helped themselves to the second highest score of the season so far - Perrin top scoring with 81 and Pavely 63* off 38 balls, Hampshire must have been delighted that the rain intervened as the players took lunch. No further play was possible and the sides took two points each.

Round Three is this weekend. On Saturday..
Essex v Warks at Chelmsford
Surrey v Durham at The Oval
Yorkshire v The Blaze at Headingley
And now on Sunday..
Lancs v Somerset at Southport

Martin Davies
16/IV/2026

Thoughts on Day One of the Women's One Day Cup

Today I started yet another women's cricket season. This time it was at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton. And for the first time in many years I was there as a completely impartial observer. What I am looking for in particular this year is the next generation of international players. Hopefully I will see some good games of cricket along the way, as well as some exciting individual performances.

First up at The Bowl were Hampshire and Essex. Hampshire finished top of the table last year. Essex finished bottom. Hampshire had England players Bouchier, Kemp and Smith to help them out. Essex didn't!

Invited to bat on a blustery day with an  ice-cold wind, Essex lost England hopeful Grace Scrivens for a duck, and then Cordelia Griffith was run out with only 21 on the board. It looked like little had changed from last year. But then former Berkshire stalwart Lissy MacLeod and young gun Jodi Grewcock added 94 for the third wicket before Lissy ran herself out. Grewcock carried on in the face of some fairly toothless bowling it has to be said. She looked to be heading for a well-deserved hundred, but a rather ugly swipe and a miss at a Dattani straight ball was her undoing. She is already on the England radar, perhaps more for her leg spin bowling potential, but she showed she has a good temperament. Predominantly a back foot player, happy to pull, hook and cut, she is sometimes tentative coming forward. But she is lefthanded and has the added plus of her bowling. Essex will need her to maintain this fine start with the bat. Hopefully a finger injury sustained while bowling later in the day was not too serious, although she left the field mid-over and never returned, which are not good signs.

Once she had gone for a fine 80 you felt the Essex innings would inevitably peter out to not many over 200, but some measured batting from Amara Carr (33) and some rather more lusty batting from Sophia Smale (33), plus some dire catching from Hampshire allowed Essex to post a competitive 265/8. Hampshire's bowling and fielding let them down badly.

When batting Hampshire suffered their own early loss as Bouchier lofted McGregor tamely to mid-off early on, but that brought Abi Norgrove to the crease to join Ella McCaughan. These are two of the quietest and most unassuming youngsters, but they batted together with a maturity that belied their age. Circumspect at first, Hampshire only had 78 on the board after 20 overs, but unflustered they ran well and put away the bad balls. It was a surprise to the hardy spectators and to McCaughan herself when she chipped a return catch to Smale on 90. Hampshire were still 99 runs shy of their target. Freya Kemp, who didn't bowl, loped to the wicket. Frenetic at first, she should have been caught early on by MacLeod, but she worked through it and the pair added 40 before Norgrove holed out at long on for a splendid 85. She hid her head behind her bat for most of the walk back to the pavilion. But this was her highest score and her disappointment shows she has the right attitude to score more.

The Kemp drop was costly. She went on to score 46 at better than a run a ball, and despite being out in the penultimate over she and stand-in skipper Naomi Dattani (25*) saw Hampshire home with just two balls to spare. 

This was a game that Hampshire should have dominated, but their bowling let them down. Essex will have taken heart from both their batting and bowling performance, but they may continue to struggle in this early part of the season. 

As for prospects Grewcock and Norgrove impressed, but McCaughan stood out. Quite how the new Head Selector left her out of the recent South Africa internal games beats me. England's current loss is Hampshire's gain. Hampshire need to make the most of her while they have her. 

➣➣➣➣

Elsewhere newcomers Yorkshire were bowled out for just 178 in under 34 overs by Somerset at Taunton. Alex Griffiths and Chloe Skelton helped themselves to four wickets each as Yorkshire found ways to get themselves out. It looked like Somerset were in charge of the reply, despite lowly contributions from England pair Heather Knight (5) and Dani Gibson, with Sophie Luff and keeper Jess Hazell looking comfortable at the crease, but Hazell was unfortunately run out at the bowler's end for 18 and Somerset slipped from 99/3 to 115/8 in the space of 6 overs. The game seemed to be Yorkshire's for the taking, but Sophie Luff found a willing and determined ally in debutant leg-spinner Lola Harris. The couple took the score to within 9 of the Yorkshire total before Harris (18 off 55) looped a catch back to Claudie Cooper. It was left to Maddie Ward, endeavouring to make amends for a bad drop of Sophie Luff when she was on 52, to try and winkle out the last wicket, but Luff hit two 4s to level the scores and then struck the next ball straight back to Ward who could not cling on to claim the tie. Skipper Luff (76*) scuttled through for the single and jumped in delight as she completed the winning run. Somerset had won by one wicket.

➣➣➣➣

At Chester-le-Street Lancashire handed Durham a thumping opening defeat. They put 303/8 on the board thanks to another century from Gabby Lewis (131), who put on 176 with Eve Jones (82) for the second wicket. The Durham bowlers, including Lauren Filer in their ranks, had no answer. Sophie Turner and Katherine Fraser picked up three wickets apiece as the Lancashire batters went gung-ho in the last few overs, losing five wickets and adding just 13 runs. 
As feared Durham's batting crumbled. They were all out for 154 in 40 overs with Emily Windsor (46) the only batter to score over 30. Emma Lamb, after failing with the bat, took four wickets with her off-spin. This could be a long season for Durham fans.

➣➣➣➣

And finally to Edgbaston where Warwickshire took on Surrey on a wicket cut almost on the edge of the enormous square. There is one thing you do not need when bowling at Surrey's power-packed line up and that is a short boundary. Warwickshire would have been content with their early work as they had Surrey 95/4 at the end of the 17th over with Scholfield, Dunkley, Capsey and Chatli all back in the pavilion supping on a mug of warm tea. But Danni Wyatt-Hodge, batting at 6, proceeded to pepper the Edgbaston boundary hitting eight 6s and ten 4s as she shot to 124 off just 80 balls. In tandem with a more circumspect Alice Davidson-Richards (57 off 75), the double-barrelled duo added 118 for the fifth wicket off 95 balls. And when ADR was out youngster Jemima Spence spanked a very good-looking 79 off 48 balls with eleven more 4s and two more 6s, as Surrey took their total to a mammoth 389/9. 
Warwickshire lost Davina Perrin early in their reply and at halfway through their innings they looked completely out of the game at 138/5, but some more late heaving to the short boundary from Em Arlott (90) and Issy Wong (45) took Warwickshire past 300 and denied Surrey a bonus point win. All seven of Arlott's 6s were carted onto the short side from the same end. It meant Warwickshire finished on 337/9, but still lost by 52 runs. 

Martin Davies
12/IV/2026

2026 Women's One Day Cup Preview

The nine team Women’s One Day Cup kicks off next Saturday (11th April) with the first four games of the season. The Blaze are the team that miss out on the first round, so their season gets underway the following Wednesday. England players are expected to be available for the games in April, although it would be no surprise if there are more batters than bowlers. Into May the English internationals will disappear and are unlikely to be seen again – series v New Zealand and India, before the T20 World Cup in June. The World Cup will also mean that teams will lose their Scottish internationals from the beginning of May.

Looking at the end of the season England have another series against Ireland in early September, which could cause further disruption, but there are no clashes for the semi-final and final dates mid-month.
It looks like being a really topsy turvy season that will test squad depth and here there looks to be a divide between the top three and the the bottom three.
Top three looks like being Lancashire, Surrey and Warwickshire.
And the bottom three are likely to be Durham, Essex, and Yorkshire.
That leaves Hampshire, The Blaze and Somerset as likely mid-tablers.
It will be interesting to see how the season pans out and whether some of the England hopefuls can live up to their billing having been in Lottie’s “Top 30 Players in the Country” games recently in South Africa.
So here are my views on all the teams. Make of them what you will. I will have regular updates after each round of games.

DURHAM

I can’t help feeling that Durham will struggle again this season, particularly without the assistance of Suzie Bates or any replacement overseas star (they have now signed Aussie keeper/batter Tahlia Wilson for the first half of the MBODC - she will get plenty to do).
Batting looks to be their Achilles’ heel, with much riding on the form of Hollie Armitage, as it did last year, but then she had the help of Bates for much of the season. Ploughing a lone furrow game after game will be a tough ask. Mady Villiers, Leah Dobson and Bess Heath will need to step up if Durham are to set competitive totals.
On the bowling front senior pro Katie Levick will continue to take wickets, and it will be interesting to see if the young pace bowler, Phoebe Turner, can continue her good start as a pro. She burst out of the traps last season, but the second season is always a bit more tricky.
The chances of Durham seeing much of Lauren Filer are pretty slim as she is likely to be involved with the England set-up, who won’t want her bowling in 50 over games before the T20 World Cup.
Scottish spinner Katherine Fraser may also be missing for a chunk of Durham’s campaign on international duties just to make their lives more difficult.

Last Year’s League Position : 6^th This Year’s League Position : 8^th
Squad : Hollie Armitage, Leah Dobson, Lauren Filer, Katherine Fraser, Abi Glen, Bess Heath, Trudy Johnson, Katie Levick, Harriet Robson, Lizzie Scott, Grace Thompson, Phoebe Turner, Sophia Turner, Emma Marlow, Mady Villiers, Emily Windsor
INS : None known
OUTS : Suzie Bates
England contracted : Lauren Filer
Overseas : Tahlia Wilson ; Heather Graham (The Blast)

---------------

ESSEX

Last season was a major struggle for the Essex team led by Grace Scrivens. They won only two of their 14 league fixtures with 18 players getting game time during the season.
Eva Gray toiled away with the ball, but took two thirds of her 15 wickets in just two games. Opening bowler Esmae McGregor looked a good prospect and she will hope to make further progress this season.
Much will be expected of England hopefuls Grace Scrivens and Jodi Grewcock, both with bat and ball. They were both in England’s “Top 30” in South Africa and if they want to remain in contention for an England cap (remember England play Ireland in September) then they will need to stand out at county level.
Scoring enough runs could again be their biggest issue, but they are unlikely to be significantly affected by international call-ups.

Last Year’s League Position : 8^th This Year’s League Position : 7^th
Squad : Amara Carr, Kate Coppack, Ariana Dowse, Jo Gardner, Eva Gray, Jodi Grewcock, Cordelia Griffith, Liberty Heap, Esmae MacGregor, Lissy Macleod, Abtaha Maqsood, Flo Miller, Sophie Munro, Grace Scrivens, Sophia Smale
INS : Liberty Heap (Lancs)
OUTS : None known
England contracted : None
Overseas : None

---------------

HAMPSHIRE

Hampshire were the surprise team of 2025 missing out on the title thanks to a hundred from Lancs’s smart late-season recruit, Gabby Lewis. Their team for the first few games may look strong with England’s Bell, Bouchier, Smith and Kemp on hand, but their contributions may be limited after April, and with last year’s leading wicket-taker, Freya Davies, also missing now retired, life could become a struggle.
It means opportunities with the bat for bright prospects Ella McCaughan and Abi Norgrove and with the ball for Daisy Gibb, Bex Tyson and Poppy Tulloch.
The ace up the sleeve is nomadic Aussie Amanda Jade Wellington, who has moved along the south coast from Somerset. Her experience will be invaluable, but runs and not just wickets might be needed from her to help Hampshire stay in the top half.

Last Year’s League Position 1^st : This Year’s League Position : 4^th
Squad : Georgia Adams, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Naomi Dattani, Daisy Gibb, Hannah Hardwick, Nancy Harman, Freya Kemp, Ava Lee, Ella McCaughan, Abi Norgrove, Linsey Smith, Rhianna Southby, Pippa Sproul, Megan Sturge, Francesca Sweet, Poppy Tulloch, Bex Tyson, Amanda Jade Wellington
INS : Amanda Jade Wellington; Hannah Hardwick, Francesca Sweet; Pippa Sproul
OUTS : Freya Davies (retd); Daisy Mullan (released); Mary Taylor (Warks)
England contracted : Lauren Bell; Maia Bouchier, Freya Kemp, Linsey Smith
Overseas : Amanda Jade Wellington

---------------

LANCASHIRE

They only finished third in the league last season, but defeated The Blaze in the semi-final and then Hampshire in the Final to become the defending champions.
They relied heavily on Emma Lamb and Eve Jones for the bulk of their runs last year. They formed a formidable opening partnership. With the permanent addition of Final centurion Gaby Lewis they have a strong top order, but their middle order may be called upon to provide more runs this year – Threlkeld, Lister, Smale, Morris and perhaps young Kesteven (if given the chance). No doubt Kate Cross will keen for runs in the lower middle order too.
They are not likely to see a great deal of Sophie Ecclestone, so Hannah Jones, Sophie Morris and Fi Morris will have to step up.
Likely to be there or thereabouts.

Last Year’s League Position 3^rd : This Year’s League Position : 2^nd
Squad : Olivia Bell, Darcy Carter, Alice Clarke, Danielle Collins, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Mahika Gaur, Grace Johnson, Eve Jones, Hannah Jones, Tilly Kesteven, Emma Lamb, Gabby Lewis, Ailsa Lister, Fi Morris, Sophie Morris, Tara Norris, Grace Potts, Seren Smale, Ellie Threlkeld
INS :
OUTS : Alana King, Katie Mack
England contracted : Sophie Ecclestone, Mahika Gaur, Emma Lamb
Scottish : Darcy Carter, Ailsa Lister
Overseas : Gaby Lewis, Meg Lanning (T20 Blast)

---------------

SOMERSET

Last season Somerset got themselves into good positions in games, but could not get over the line. They are unlikely to have the services of Dean, Knight and Gibson for long so they will have to make a strong start. Without retiring stalwart Fran Wilson a lot will fall on the shoulders of Sophie Luff to lead a very young and inexperienced team. It looks a tough ask.
It looks difficult to see where their runs will come from. The likes of Holland, Corney and Griffiths will need to knuckle down. But in Katie Jones they do have an exciting young keeper behind the stumps.
Wickets were hard to come by last season, and with leading wicket-taker Amanda Jade Wellington departing to Hampshire, could be again. Spinners Chloe Skelton and Olivia Barnes will have to support seamers Ellie Anderson and Alex Griffiths.
Not sure Aussie Anika Learoyd is going to be a game changer.

Last Year’s League Position : 7^th This Year’s League Position : 5^th
Squad : Ellie Anderson, Olivia Barnes, Emma Corney, Charlie Dean, Dani Gibson, Alex Griffiths, Lola Harris, Jess Hazell, Niamh Holland, Katie Jones, Heather Knight, Sophie Luff, Mollie Robbins, Chloe Skelton, Rebecca Odgers, Erin Vukusic
INS :
OUTS : Amanda Jade Wellington, Fran Wilson, Laura Jackson
England contracted : Charlie Dean, Dani Gibson, Heather Knight
Overseas : Anika Learoyd (April-July)

---------------

SURREY

Despite having the strongest squad on paper last season Surrey’s MBODC campaign was a poor one, particularly early season when their large England contingent failed to impose themselves. It was perhaps a sign of things to come.
Playing their home games at Beckenham runs were easy to come by, but wins were not. Have to think this could be the last chance saloon for coach Johann Myburg.
This year they will be playing home games at the Oval, where again you would think there will be runs aplenty, particularly as their England batters are likely to be with them for the first few rounds of the competition. Bowling still looks to be their weak suit. A disgruntled Alexa Stonehouse has gone on loan to Warwickshire and Tash Farrant has retired. The current status of Ryanna MacDonald-Gay, who suffered a stress-related back injury in The Hundred last year is not known, although recruiting Maitlan Brown for the early part of the season suggests she will not be available. She also took no part in England’s training camps over the winter. That leaves Phoebe Franklin, Priyanaz Chatterji and Alice Monaghan as the frontline seam options, with Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Danielle Gregory as the spin options. Hopefully TCC will be left by England to have a full county season. She looks their main threat.
The naming of Kira Chatli as captain suggests that Bryony Smith’s participation in the MBODC may be limited.

Last Year’s League Position : 4^th This Year’s League Position : 1^st
Squad : Emily Burke, Alice Capsey, Priyanaz Chatterji, Kira Chatli, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Aylish Cranstone, Sophia Dunkley, Danielle Gregory, Bethan Miles, Alice Davidson-Richards, Phoebe Franklin, Rachel King, Charlotte Lambert, Ryanna MacDonald-Gay, Alice Monaghan, Kalea Moore, Paige Scholfield, Bryony Smith, Jemima Spence, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
INS :
OUTS : Tash Farrant (retired); Emma Jones (The Blaze); Alexa Stonehouse (loan to Warwickshire)
England contracted : Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley, Dani Wyatt-Hodge, Ryanna MacDonald-Gay
Overseas : Maitlan Brown (11/4 – 16/5), Laura Harris (T20 Blast)

---------------

THE BLAZE (Notts)

The chances of The Blaze, thankfully in their last season under that name, seeing much of Nat Sciver-Brunt are minimal, but then that has been forever so. However they are likely to see a lot more of Tammy Beaumont, and perhaps Amy Jones at the start of the season. They may need them as their domestic batting line-up is not strong.
They are also likely to be without skipper Kirstie Gordon and the Bryce sisters for the three rounds of MBODC games played in June during the T20 World Cup.
Opportunities then for Ella Claridge, Marie Kelly and Cassida McCarthy to step up, alongside overseas imports Orla Prendergast and Charli Knott.

Last Year’s League Position : 2^nd This Year’s League Position : 6^th
Squad : Liv Baker, Grace Ballinger, Tammy Beaumont, Georgie Boyce, Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Bryce, Ella Claridge, Georgia Elwiss, Kirstie Gordon, Josie Groves, Lucy Higham, Amy Jones, Emma Jones, Marie Kelly, Michaela Kirk, Charli Knott, Cassidy McCarthy, Charley Phillips, Orla Prendergast, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Anne Sharpe, Prisha Thanawala, Amy Wheeler
INS : Emma Jones (Surrey); Orla Prendergast; Charli Knott
OUTS : Sarah Glenn (Yorkshire); Scarlett Hughes
England contracted : Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver-Brunt
Scottish :  Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Bryce, Kirstie Gordon
Overseas : Orla Prendergast April/May & Aug/Sept; Charli Knott June/July

---------------

WARWICKSHIRE

Early season the pressure will be on Davina Perrin to perform to try and force her way into the England T20 World Cup squad. It will be interesting to see how she copes.
Last season the top order was fragile and was frequently rescued by the middle and lower order, led by the dependable keeper/batter Abbey Freeborn. It will also be interesting to see who keeps for the first three months with Nat Wraith often preferred last season, and with Aussie B-Lister keeper/batter Georgia Redmayne also on her way to Edgbaston. Keeping or not she should shore up the Warwickshire batting line up and perhaps allow some of the youngsters to flourish on occasions – Austin, Brewer, Wraith, Ellis and new import Mary Taylor.
Taylor is really there for her seam bowling skills rather than her batting, but Warwickshire would do well to work with her on her batting as she could be a very useful asset.
At full strength they look a good team on paper…..but cricket isn’t played on paper.

Last Year’s League Position : 7^th This Year’s League Position : 3^rd
Squad : Em Arlott, Meg Austin, Hannah Baker, Chloe Brewer, Georgia Davis, Bethan Ellis, Abbey Freeborn, Katie George, Charis Paveley, Davina Perrin, Georgia Redmayne, Alexa Stonehouse, Amu Surenkumar, Mary Taylor, Millie Taylor, Issy Wong, Nat Wraith
INS : Mary Taylor (Hants), Alexa Stonehouse (on loan from Surrey)
OUTS : Hannah Hardwick (Hampshire)
England contracted : Em Arlott; Issy Wong
Overseas : Georgia Redmayne (until the end of July)

---------------

YORKSHIRE

Having been the only professional team in Tier 2 last year Yorkshire will have been disappointed to have finished only fourth in the table, losing four of their nine games. They did however go on to win the final in a match reduced to 20 overs.
Leg spinner Olivia Thomas was their leading wicket-taker last year, but the transition to a higher standard may prove tricky for her. Jessica Woolston was their leading seamer and a lot will be asked of her this season too.
Senior pros Lauren Winfield-Hill and Aussie recruit Jess Jonassen are going to have to do a lot of the heavy lifting, but two players nearing the end of their careers have their limitations. Should either get injured Yorkshire will be in a whole heap of trouble (or maybe that should be an even bigger heap of trouble).
It is difficult to see them winning many games, even when new recruit Sarah Glenn is available.

Last Year’s League Position : 4^th in Tier 2 This Year’s League Position : 9^th
Squad : Ami Campbell, Claudie Cooper, Rebecca Duckworth, Ria Fackrell, Sarah Glenn, Grace Hall, Jess Jonassen, Sterre Kalis, Beth Langston, Hannah Rainey, Rachel Slater, Erin Thomas, Olivia Thomas, Madie Ward, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Jessica Woolston
INS : Sarah Glenn (The Blaze)
OUTS : None known
England contracted : Sarah Glenn
Scottish : Hannah Rainey
Overseas : Jess Jonassen, Sterre Kalis

Martin Davies
05/IV/2026

Women's Premier League 2026 - A Quick Preview

This is the fourth edition of the Women's Premier League, which again will feature just five teams. Last year's winners were the Mumbai Indians, who beat three-times finalists Delhi Capitals in the final. Mumbai have won the title twice and RCB once (2024).
Before this edition there was a mega auction with the aim of shaking up the teams for the next two years, but many teams used their Right to Match to rebuy players, who had not been retained.
The bookmakers, and the experts, make the Mumbai Indians favourites to again lift the trophy, but the betting is tight. 

Here are the likely starting XIs for each team and some thoughts on how they might perform

Delhi Capitals (DC) 
Probable XI - Verma, Wolvaardt, Rodrigues (capt), Kapp, Prasad, Henry, King, T Bhatia (wk), S Rana, Charani, N Sharma
This XI leaves Lizelle Lee on the bench, but after her stellar WBBL she could get the nod ahead of Chinelle Henry in the middle order and also potentially play as wicketkeeper, which would allow DC to bring in another batter/bowler to replace Tanya Bhatia who is a keeper only. 
Jemimah Rodrigues has been handed the captaincy for the first time with Meg Lanning having been snaffled by UPW. She is a smart cricketing cookie, but her team look light in their batting and will rely on their domestic seamers backing up Marizanne Kapp, who looks to be batting too high at 4. 
Prediction - 3rd

Gujarat Giants (GG)
Probable XI - Mooney (wk), Devine, Fulmali (wk), Gardner (capt), Wareham, Ahuja, Soni, Gautam, Kanwar, Sadhu, R Singh.
I cannot help feeling that a lot will depend on the overseas players for GG, especially Beth Mooney with the bat. They also have Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Kim Garth sitting on the bench should they be needed, but their domestic talent looks weak. 
I am not sure that Ash Gardner is a natural leader and they will need her to perform with bat and ball, and I remain unconvinced by Renuka Singh as a T20 bowler, but Georgia Wareham looks to be in the form of her life with bat and ball. They might surprise a few people.
Prediction - 1st

Mumbai Indians (MI)
Probable XI - Kamalini (wk), Matthews, Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Khemnar, Sajana, Gupta, Ismail, Ishaque
MI are relying on Matthews, NSB and Kerr to get them runs and bowl probably 10 of the 20 overs. It is a lot to ask and none of them have been in great form recently. 37 year old Shabnim Ismail has been bought back in, despite having a fairly average record in all three previous WPL tournaments. Her bowling was also expensive in the latest WBBL. If she struggles then MI have little back-up.
I am intrigued to see what 17 year old Kamalini can do as Matthews opening partner. Matthews, who has not played a game since a pretty dire Hundred campaign in August, may be more of a liability.
Prediction - 2nd

Royal Challengers Bangaluru (RCB)
Probable XI - Mandhana (capt), Voll, Naik, Harris, Ghosh (wk), de Klerk, Vastrakar, R Yadav, Patil, Reddy, Bell
Lauren Bell has never played a game in the WPL and is potentially a big gamble for RCB.
While Smriti Mandhana looks nailed on to succeed Harmanpreet Kaur as India's next T20 captain she does not seem to handle the pressure of captaincy that well. 
If the explosive top order fire you can see them making a lot of runs, very quickly, but you can also see them imploding and being 10/4 in 3 overs. 
Without Perry and probably without Vastrakar (injured) this is not a very well balanced team and I think they will struggle.
Prediction - 5th

UP Warriorz (UPW)
Probable XI - Lanning (capt), Navgire, Deol, Litchfield, Sharma, Dottin, Giri (wk), Ecclestone, Sobhana, Pandey, Gaud
They finished bottom last year under the guidance of the sacked Jon Lewis, and have had a complete overhaul in the auction, with their hopes firmly pinned to the leadership and batting of Meg Lanning and the seam bowling of the ageing, and out of favour, Shikha Pandey. It looks like a big gamble. Deepti is not a T20 number 5, and Dottin and Navgire are hit and miss with the bat at the best of times. Lanning could end up batting the entire way through every innings and watching her partners disappear at the other end.
Perhaps this is the tournament that Phoebe Litchfield makes a sustained contribution? They will need her. 
Prediction - 4th

As I have reviewed each team I have genuinely placed four of these five teams in the Final and then changed my mind again. The only team I have ruled out of Final contention are RCB.

I am still not at all convinced by my own predictions for where these teams will finish. In such a short tournament I think it will come down to one or two players (almost certainly batters) finding some great form and winning their team key games. MI have the most potential to have one of those key players, but I am not convinced this will be their year. However I still think they will make the Final. Eventually I decided that GG would meet them there. Devine is in the twilight of her career and it seems to have freed her up. I think she might have a big tournament. 
I don't think DC have the batting depth to win enough games and UPW have too many holes in their line-up filled by high strike rate hopefuls (HSRHs). 

The whole thing kicks off on Friday with Mumbai Indians v RCB and will be shown live on Sky Sport. Most games start at 2pm each afternoon here in the UK. 

Martin Davies
07/I/2026

WBBL11 - Into Finals we Go....

So the league stage of this year's WBBL has concluded and we move onto the Finals - not quite sure how you can have more than one, but that is by the by! Here is a quick wrap up of what has happened this week, before a look at the three Finals!

Results this week:-
Scorchers  184/5 beat Renegades 154/9 by 30 runs
Sixers 164/5 beat Stars 148/8 by 16 runs
Thunder 153/7 beat Heat 130/6 by 23 runs
Sixers 130/9 lost to Renegades 134/4 by 6 wickets with 22 balls remaining
Strikers 167/4 No Result v Hurricanes due to a ball being rolled into the pitch
Stars 66/6 (10 overs) lost to Thunder 79/1 by 9 wickets with 17 balls remaining
Heat 164/7 lost to Scorchers 165/3 by 7 wickets with 4 balls remaining
Sixers 173/4 beat Strikers 172/7 by 1 run 

Points of Interest:-

• Sixers could possibly have finished top of the pile if they won all three of their games in the final week of the competition. They dispatched the Stars, but then failed to turn up against the Renegades. Other results meant the last game of the season v Strikers was a straight knockout. Sixers won by 1 run getting a run out off the last ball. I genuinely shed a tear for the Strikers.
• Just on that last game - great 100 from Ellyse Perry, but spare a thought for Bridget Patterson, who hit 65 off 35 balls when Strikers looked to have no hope. They needed 70 off the last 30 balls. They ended up needing 4 off 3 balls, after she deposited Ash Gardner for 4 4 6 off the first three balls of the last over. She then ran a leg bye.....in hindsight perhaps a mistake. Gardner bowled Wello next ball and Eccles was run out going for the tieing second off the last ball to leave Strikers agonisingly short. Cricket can be so cruel.
• Stars had 11 points from 8 games coming into the last week - at the end of it they still had 11 points and clung on to a qualifying spot by their fingernails. Having lost to the Sixers, they then got pasted by the Thunder in a 10 over shoot out, where their batters missed the target and their bowlers fired blanks. Can they reload before the Finals?
• The unluckiest person not to be involved in the Finals has to be Georgia Wareham. She has been inspirational for the Renegades, not only taking the most wickets in the competition, but at the best economy rate. That is an achievement on its own. But she has also scored 277 runs, averaging almost 40 every time she goes to the crease. Renegades need to recruit better overseas players for WBBL12. Having a recognisable name or one good innings are simply not enough.
• And finally - where does this tournament (and recent form) leave the careers of Tahlia McGrath, Alyssa Healy and Megan Schutt? Should they be in the Australia T20 World Cup squad next year? Will Australia be bold enough to try a few new faces in the series against India in the new year? Are Australia as hard as they are made out to be? We will see.....

And so to the Finals games

Scorchers v Stars (The Knockout) - Bookies make the Scorchers favourites, but only just. I just cannot see the Stars winning. Their batters are not firing with the notable exception of the stoic Meg Lanning, and they are three bowlers light. That is not the recipe for winning cricket matches.
Sixers v Scorchers (The Challenger) - So let's assume......Sixers will have home advantage whoever they play, which means the game will be at North Sydney Oval, which means lots of runs. On paper Sixers have the better top 5 batters, but Healy and Kerr have contributed little and Gardner is a bit hit and miss (perhaps the pressure of captaincy weighs heavy?). They will be favourites, but cometh the hour cometh the Mooney or the Devine....
Hurricanes v Scorchers (The Final - finally) - Canes have been the dominant team all competition, but their last game ended when a groundsman rolled a ball into the Adelaide pitch, which means their batters haven't had a knock for nearly two weeks. Can Scorchers catch them cold in Cane's first ever WBBL final? I think they might just do it in a last ball thriller. Well we can hope can't we? 

No more nonsense from me on the WBBL, but I'm sure I'll find something else to share my random thoughts on soon........stay tuned.

Martin Davies
07/XII/2025

WBBL11 - The Final Countdown

We are already into the final week of WBBL11 with the Hurricanes securing their place in the play-offs today with a thumping win over the Stars. 

Results over the weekend were:-
Stars 160/5 beat Renegades 115ao by 45 runs
Scorchers 186/5 lost to Hurricanes 189/3 by 7 wickets with 5 balls remaining
Heat 149/9 lost to Strikers 151/4 by 6 wickets with 2 balls remaining
Thunder 174/6 lost to Sixers 176/4 by 6 wickets with 5 balls remaining
Hurricanes 176/4 beat Stars 98ao by 81 runs

Points of Interest

• Ellyse Perry batted like the Ellyse Perry of old as she took the Sixers to an important win over the Thunder, who are all but out of it
• Stars beat the Renegades to go briefly top of the table, only for Canes to beat Scorchers the same day and go back to the top. Canes then played the Stars and ground them into the Hobart mud. Stars have 11 points and are 99% certain of progressing, but will be without Marizanne Kapp for their last two league games. Should they lose those last two games, then Sixers, Strikers and Scorchers could all go past Stars and into the play-offs - the 1% could happen!
• Canes only have one game left to play - against the Strikers
  
• Sixers, on the other hand have three still to play - Stars, Renegades and Strikers. They could still finish top of the league and go straight through to the final. 

Games to play
Scorchers v Renegades - Both teams have an equal 4/4 record. Scorchers have to be favourites, but they are likely to need runs from either Mooney and/or Devine (no change there then)
Stars v Sixers - Stars are going to struggle without Kapp. They are a bowler light and they have brought in a batter, Maia Bouchier, to replace her. Could this be Sixers first win of three in the last week?
Thunder v Heat - Heat haven't really looked like winning a game, but Thunder haven't been much better. Will either side care? Probably not, which means someone will probably get a hundred!
Renegades v Sixers - Sixers might just have the M word, which means they could breeze past the Renegades for win number two!
Strikers v Hurricanes - Canes regathered their mojo against Stars and will be strong favourites to finish their campaign with their 8th win out of 10 games, which means they will finish top
Stars v Thunder - A must-win game for the Stars, although even if they get through to the Knockout match they are unlikely to go any further in the competition. Think they may crumble.
Scorchers v Heat - Scorchers will kick themselves if they don't win this one which should give them the squeakiest of squeaks of getting to the Knockout game.
Sixers v Strikers - Sixers third chance to win, and a win will almost certainly consign Strikers to the bin, if they are not there already. Think Sixers will be on a roll.....

Martin Davies
01/12/2025

WBBL11 - The penultimate weekend...

This week has seen the Heat's chances of qualifying for the Top 4 finally extinguished, with another loss followed by a first point as the rain in Adelaide not only wrecked their game with the Stars, but  produced a farcical outcome to the Strikers v Thunder game (see below).

The latest results were:-
Heat 169/5 lost to Strikers 170/4 by 6 wickets off the last ball of the match.
Stars 151/6 beat Hurricanes 114ao by 37 runs
Renegades 150ao lost to Scorchers 151/6 with 8 balls remaining
Heat v Sixers - No Result (Abandoned without a ball being bowled)
Strikers 45/2 (5 overs) - No Result - Thunder 43/0 (game called off after 2.5 overs)

Points on Interest:-

• Heat had the chance of putting a win on the board v Strikers, but a simple drop at mid-off in the penultimate over allowed Strikers to win off the last ball. It summed up their season tbh.
• If Lizelle Lee and DWH don't make any runs then Canes lose. They stay top, but a loss to the rampant Stars means Stars are hard on their heels at the top.
• The Renegades quite simply got "Devined". Chasing 151 to win she smashed 46 out of 57 off the first 34 balls of the reply. It meant Beth Mooney could guide the skittish Scorchers middle order to the win
• Rain in Adelaide ruined both games there - Heat v Stars never even started, and Strikers v Thunder ended up being a 5 over thrash in the rain! Strikers meandered to 45/2 and Thunder were on the verge of winning on 43/0 thanks to Phoebe Litchfield's brutal 38* (15 balls), when the umpires made the extraordinary decision to end the game. It had been raining steadily throughout the Thunder's innings, but certainly was no heavier  when the umpires randomly decided they needed a cup of tea in the dry!
  

This weekend's games

Renegades v Stars - It is 2v3, but the Stars are on a bit of a roll so might jump to the top of the table
Hurricanes v Scorchers - Within 4 hours Canes are likely to be back on top. Scorchers limited batting resources could well let them down
Strikers v Heat - Remarkably Strikers could keep themselves in the Play-Off hunt if they can repeat their last ball win over the dejected Heat. They should do, but it might be a false dawn for the Strikers.

Sixers v Thunder - Sixers haven't played for over a week, while the Thunder will be smarting from the Adelaide rain fiasco. Both desperately need the win. I reckon Thunder might just pip it.

Martin Davies
28/XI/2025

WBBL11 - Key Games this week

There were just three games over the weekend, but it looks like this week could see some teams taking big strides towards a top four finish, while others don't. 

The latest results were:-
Scorchers 159/4 beat Strikers 158ao by 1 run with 1 ball remaining
Thunder 64ao lost to Renegades 68/2 by 8 wickets with 53 balls remaining
Stars 171/8 beat Heat 153/9 by 18 runs

Points of Interest:-

• Neither Scorchers nor Strikers really wanted to win their game - having posted a moderate 159 Scorchers looked in trouble with the Strikers 77/1 in the 10th over, but a team hat-trick in a maiden16th over reduced Strikers to 121/7, requiring 39 from 24 balls. They needed 25 from the last 2 overs and then 13 from the last, with the last two batters at the crease - but 1424 off the first four balls meant they needed just 2 off the last two balls to win! But Darcie Brown top-edged a leg stump full toss into the air and keeper Mooney came from behind the stumps to take the catch and win the match.
• As suspected Thunder's revival was short-lived - bowled out for 64 by Renegades, who moved up to second in the table
• Heat had Stars 44/6, but let them and Marizanne Kapp (93* off 51 balls) off the hook, as Stars took 47 off the last three overs to post 171/8. Heat never really looked likely to get near the total as batters got in, only to get out.

This week's games :- 
Strikers v Heat - A bottom of the table clash which doesn't have much to recommend it tbh
Stars v Hurricanes - Canes will be keen to put their loss to the Sixers down as a minor aberration, while the Stars bowling seems to be their strong suit. Should be a tight game with the Canes perhaps consolidating top spot.
Renegades v Scorchers - Renegades lose, win, lose, win.....so will they lose this one? They shouldn't do. Scorchers batting is currently looking fragile
Heat v Sixers - Sixers have to win! Heat don't look like ever winning!
Strikers v Thunder - Strikers have lost their last three and look devoid of oomph, but then Thunder have only won two games and were hammered in their last. Might be a case of who is the least bad!

Can the rain please go away!!

Martin Davies
24/XI/2025

WBBL - Halfway through

We have reached the halfway point in WBBL11. Is it me or has it been rather disappointing and very low key? Cricinfo's coverage of the games, via AAP, suggest they don't really care very much about the tournament. Their match reports almost certainly have some AI generated content in them and are frequently inaccurate. 

The latest results were:-
Strikers 134/7 lost to Hurricanes 136/6  by 4 wickets with 2 balls remaining.
Scorchers  150/7 lost to Thunder 154/1 by 9 wickets with 10 balls remaining.
Renegades 155ao lost to Hurricanes 106/4 (13 over target 106) by 6 wickets with 6 balls remaining.
Stars 219/4 beat Sixers 42ao (10 over target 153) by 111 runs.
Thunder 200/6 beat Heat 159ao by 41 runs.
Sixers 147/9 beat Hurricanes 136ao by 11 runs

Points of Interest:-

• Hurricanes have lost their first game, contriving to go from 129/6 to 136 all out in 10 balls to lose by 11 runs to the Sixers. They remain top of the league on 10 points, ahead of the chasing pack, who all seem incapable of actually chasing anything.
• The chasing pack includes Renegades, Sixers, Stars, Thunder, Scorchers, and Strikers, who are all separated by just 3 points (6 down to 3) - they are all the model of inconsistency!
• Brisbane Heat have now lost all 4 of the games they have played
• Thunder won both their games this week, which some suggest is the start of a resurgence. One of those was against the Heat (without Grace Harris or Jemimah Rodrigues). I still wouldn't back them to make the play-offs
• Brisbane Heat keep trying different opening partnerships - the latest one included shipping in Lauren Winfield-Hill. They still lost. Give Annie O'Neil a go!!
• Meg Lanning, not retained in the WPL, now has the most runs in the competition (no she doesn't - DWH has one more after this morning's game!), having helped herself to 135 of them against the Sixers this week
• It continues to rain in Australia and the girls continue to play through it until their clothing gets so heavy they can't carry on!

This weekend's games are:-
Scorchers v Strikers - Neither team look in a very good place and look likely to miss out on the play-offs along with the Heat. Expect this to be a scrappy affair.
Thunder v Renegades - Renegades have a 3/2 record and are likely to burst the Thunder's newly inflated resurgence balloon.
Heat v Stars - After pummelling the Sixers with the bat and the ball it is difficult to see the Stars slipping up against winless Heat.

Martin Davies
22/XI/2025

WBBL - Already 33% done

The second weekend of the WBBL has been completed with 13 of the 40 league stage games having now been played. 

The latest results were:-
Hurricanes 114/1 (12 of 12 overs) beat Heat 108/9 by 16 runs (DLS target 124)
Sixers 142/9 beat Thunder 118/8 by 24 runs
Strikers 112 ao lost to Scorchers 55/2 (9.1 overs) by 6 runs on DLS after rain prevented any further play.
Stars 141/7  lost to Renegades 145/6 by 4 wickets with 7 balls remaining.

Points of Interest:-

• A plethora of Aussie youngsters are shining in this competition - Lucy Hamilton; Caoimhe (Keeva) Bray; and Ruby Strange have all shown they can more than hold their own at this level
• By contrast the overseas players have generally failed to make much of an impression (with the exception of DWH and Wolvaardt), including the 15 English players. There has been the odd glimmer, but not much to excite England coach Charlotte Edwards.
  
• As well as the injury to Alana King, Alyssa Healy has obviously got major problems with her thumb on her right hand - I'd guess there is a fracture. In addition Amelia Kerr pulled out of her last game in the warm-up with a quad injury.
• Sophie Molineux has returned for the Renegades which strengthens them immensely - good with the bat and the ball
• The Hurricanes remain the only team not to have lost a game and head the table
• The Stars and the Heat are bottom of the table without a win in any of their three starts
• The rain continues to be an issue shortening two of this weekend's games

There are no games tomorrow (Monday), but four of the five games this week are evening games, which means they are at a more watchable 8:10/9:10am here in the UK.
This week's games
Hurricanes v Strikers - Canes must be favourites to keep their 100% record going. Strikers batting seems to be Wolvaardt......and not much else.
Thunder v Scorchers - Difficult to see Thunder getting off the mark v Scorchers, although they are a rather erratic bunch, who don't bat very deep. Two of their games have been won batting second in rain-restricted matches. Might be tight?
Hurricanes v Renegades - Two games in three days for the Canes, with a journey from Tasmania to Sydney in between. Renegades bat deep, even if they don't have players making the big scores. Canes will be favourites, but if the Renegades can get Lee and DWH before they get going, they might just pull off the win.
Sixers v Stars - Second game on at the batter-friendly North Sydney Oval on Thursday should see Sixers consolidate their place in the top 4 and Stars continue to prop up the other 7 teams.
Heat v Thunder - Heat have seen nothing big with the bat from Harris, Rodrigues, Henry or de Klerk. It will be Thunder's second game of the week. If they have sneaked past Scorchers they might go 2 from 2.
Hurricanes v Sixers - This is actually the first game on Saturday, but starts late Friday here in the UK. Should be the game of the week. Canes won the previous meeting at a canter after a Lee/DWH big opening partnership. Can they do it again?

Let's hope the weather improves and all the games can be completed.

Martin Davies
16/XI/25

WBBL End of First Week Update

 We have had another five games of WBBL11, with a mixture of predictable and unpredictable results.

Thunder 148/7 lost to Renegades 151/6 by 4 wickets (with 11 balls remaining)
Scorchers 172/3 beat Heat 149 all out by 23 runs
Sixers 152/9 lost to Hurricanes 154/4 by 6 wickets (with 19 balls remaining)
Stars 173/4 beat Scorchers 78/8 by 16 runs (DLS 95target  off 9 overs)
Renegades 141/9 lost to Strikers 143/3 by 7 wickets (with 14 balls remaining)

Points of Interest

• Hurricanes are the only team with a 100% record - 2 from 2
  
• Alana King is continuing to play despite having broken her little finger on her right (bowling) hand. It looked to be hampering her bowling and can't help her batting or fielding. 
• All teams seem to be having a really hard time holding any catches/getting stumpings
• Significant drops 
  - Beth Mooney 105 (73) - dropped on 0 and 32 - Scorchers won
  - Meg Lanning 90* (55) - badly dropped on 18 - Stars won
  - Laura Wolvaardt 71* (48) - missed stumping on 7 and dropped on 43 - Strikers won 
• Thunder and Heat are yet to get off the mark - both 0/2.
  
• Beth Mooney made her 4th WBBL century. She also has 44 50s! She is the leading run scorer in the WBBL with over 5,000 runs to her name
• The rain continues to play a part in the tournament

Games coming up over the weekend are 
Heat v Hurricanes - can Canes keep their 100% record?
Thunder v Sixers - Thunder could easily end the day 0/3
Strikers v Scorchers - Wolvaardt looks in imperious form for Strikers. Mooney for Scorchers. Who will win out?
Renegades v Stars - Stars could be too much for Renegades

Martin Davies

14/XI/25

WBBL11 is underway

This weekend saw the first games of WBBL11 with all 8 teams involved in the first round of games played in Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne. 
The results were :-

Brisbane Heat 133ao (20 overs) lost to Melbourne Renegades 66/3 (7.3 of 8 overs - DLS) by 7 wickets
Sydney Thunder 181/8 lost to Hobart Hurricanes 182/4 (19.3 overs) by 6 wickets
Perth Scorchers 109 ao (19.3 overs) lost to Sydney Sixers 112/0 (12.5 overs) by 10 wickets
Melbourne Stars 184/5 no result with Adelaide Strikers 32/1 (4.2 overs) due to rain

Points of Interest

• Heat have a bit of an issue with their opening partnership. They tried Charli Knott and Nadine de Klerk with Gerogia Redmayne at 8. Not sure it is a combination that will work too well, and they look a bit light on batting generally.
  
• Batting also looks to be an issue for Renegades with Wareham filling the 5 slot and the inexperienced Davina Perrin under pressure as opener with the reliable Courtney Webb
• Heat's left-arm seamer Lucy Hamilton looks an exciting prospect
• Thunder failed to defend 181 (including 16 wides) courtesy of a 145 run partnership between Dani Wyatt-Hodge (90) and Nicola Carey 58*. 36 off two Power Surge overs from Bates and Ismail showed a weakness in their death bowling options
• This could be a long and fruitless season for the Scorchers. Their batting, on a great batting wicket was woeful, and their bowling not much better. 
• Ash Gardner likes being captain of the Sixers - 5/15 off her 4 overs and a 10 wicket win to start her reign.
• Megan Schutt is a dwindling force for the Strikers. She bowled 0/50 off her 4 overs and Tahlia McGrath is not really a reliable seam option. Strikers could struggle.
• It rains in Australia at this time of year. 

The next five games this week are :-
Renegades v Thunder
Heat v Scorchers
Sixers v Hurricanes
Scorchers v Stars
Strikers v Renegades
Scorchers play two games and cannot really afford to lose them both. Heat may be their best chance of a win.
Sixers v Canes looks to be the game of the week.

We'll have another round-up at the end of the week, by which time the front-runners and the potential wooden-spooners might already be more apparent. Let's hope the weather doesn't intervene too much more.

Martin Davies
09/XI/2025

The Jam in the Metro Bank sandwich

With the T20 Blast league games finished there has been just time to squeeze in two games of 50 over Metro Bank cricket, before the Hundred Circus comes to town for August. For those of you who may have forgotten the league table looked this last Wednesday. If you want to know how it got that way you can read my take on the first eight rounds here.

The big winners in this slither of a second stage in the competition were Surrey and Durham. They both won both of their games. Surrey, minus only Sophia Dunkley, managed to sneak a win against table-toppers Hampshire, after rain interrupted their run chase of Hampshire's 278. At the time they were 151/5 with 24 overs to go. As the rain eased they were required to score 63 off 4.5 overs, which they did with a ball to spare thanks to a measured 73* from Alice Davidson-Richards. Six days later, they beat Warwickshire more comfortably, despite 113 from 18 year old Davina Perrin, with Alice Capsey's 79 underpinning the chase of only 240. 
Surrey moved up from 5th to 4th in the table

Meanwhile Durham managed to extract both Lancashire openers, Emma Lamb and Eve Jones, before they had put together yet another hundred partnership, which opened the door to bowling out the team in red for just 168 within 40 overs. They had been chasing Durham's 257 built around Hollie Armitage's 111. In their second game Durham dispatched Somerset by a mere 105 runs, having posted 315/9 with Suzie Bates helping herself to 163 of them. 
Durham moved up from 6th to 5th in the table, just one point behind Surrey.

The big losers in this short phase were Warwickshire, who lost their fifth and sixth games on the trot, as they first came up short chasing The Blaze's 218/6 in a game reduced to 39 overs. Once again their top order were missing in action, but from 28/5 they did manage to get to 171 all out thanks to 50s from Abbey Freeborn and Nat Wraith. Against Surrey they were again 32/5 but recovered to post 239 thanks to Perrin's hundred, but it was never enough.

Having been pipped by Surrey Hampshire found themselves in a table-topping clash with The Blaze, who had leapfrogged over them in the table. In trouble at 34/3 with Southby, Bouchier and Perry all gone 20 year old Freya Kemp showed her progression as a batter with a mature maiden century, which, combined with 77 from Nancy Harman, took Hampshire to an imposing 291/7. Once again Hampshire's bowlers delivered, bowling out The Blaze in 45 overs for just 211, with 19 year old Daisy Gibb claiming 3/21. 
The win took Hampshire back to the top of the table. The defeat took The Blaze from top to third. 

Things did not improve for Essex who were grateful to get two points from a No Result against Somerset, who had 312 runs on the board when the rain came, but were then trounced by 138 runs by Lancashire. Essex failed to remove Emma Lamb (142) or Eve Jones (71) before they had added 162 for the first wicket. It set up Lancs' total of 306/4. In response only 20 year old Jodi Grewcock (52) put up any great resistance as Essex were bowled out in just over 35 overs for 168.
That win kept Lancashire in second place in the table and Essex firmly rooted at the foot of the table.

The current table looks like this

Each team has four games left to play which will be played in September. There will be an anxious wait to see the 15 names announced in the England World Cup squad in early September, as those players will almost certainly take no further part in the Metro Bank One Day Cup for their counties. 

With five teams within 8 points of each other it is all to play for.

Martin Davies
31/VII/25

Heading to the World Cup

I have just finished typing all the World Cup games into the WCB Women's Cricket Fixtures calendar [you will find them here if you need them], which got me thinking about how England might fare and how the tournament, as a whole, might pan out. It all starts in 8 weeks........and about 4 weeks later Australia will be World Champions for the eighth time.

Is it really that clear cut? Is it really that much of a foregone conclusion? Should I be putting my life-savings on Australia to win the 13th Edition of the Women's Cricket World Cup? Well, probably not.

Cricket, as they say, is a funny game, and the tournament is being played in the sub-continent, on pitches that should suit spin bowlers, and batters that are nimble of foot and agile in mind. It would not surprise me if Sri Lanka, Pakistan or Bangladesh cause a few upsets, but they are unlikely to win the tournament. Given that all the eight teams play each other, and then the top four go into the semi-finals, this is a tournament about consistency. You need to win more games than you lose. In fact in the last edition West Indies qualified for the semi-finals with a 3-3 record, having had one game called off. This time they have not even made the competition. 

Consistency should reward the "better teams". So you would expect Australia, India and England to win more games than they lose. I think the last slot might just go to Pakistan, who are playing all their games at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, in Sri Lanka, so do not have the travel issues that all the other teams face, and will be playing every game on the same pitch. This is a huge advantage. Some might say so big that it is unfair?

So from the group stage it becomes a simple knockout tournament, where the best team on the day will win. In T20 cricket this can often be on the performance of one individual, but that is less likely in 50 over cricket, although it can happen - Chamari Athapaththu, Harmanpreet Kaur and Anya Shrubsole spring to mind. One day cricket tends to be much more of a team performance and this favours Australia and India, so, provided they avoid each other in the semi-final, these would be my two teams in the final.

And so to the final. India playing in front of 40,000 screaming Indians in the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangaluru. The pressure on them will be enormous. It is not something they have dealt with well in the past, and despite the pressures of playing in front of large crowds in the WPL, it might just prove too much for them again. 

So what of England? They are a "new team", under a new coach and a new captain. The problem is that they are not really a "new team" at all. Unfortunately this summer has not seen the blooding of some new players such as Ella MacCaughan, Jodi Grewcock, Charis Pavely or Rhianna Southby. The West Indies series was a golden opportunity to experiment, but it just produced false hope in some of the existing players, which has subsequently been crushed, by not only losing both the T20 and the ODI series to India, but by looking second best in almost every facet of the game. With a genuinely "new team" at the World Cup England might be forgiven for not making the Final. The fact that they might struggle to even make it to the semi-finals with a squad that looks so similar to the one that lost 16-0 to Australia in The Ashes seems an opportunity missed.

But then who knows? England might just go and win the whole thing. I wouldn't be putting my house on that though.

Martin Davies
23/VII/25

Cricket is like Politics

Back in March I wrote a piece suggesting that England Women were in a lot more trouble, in terms of their standing in world cricket, than people would have you believe (you'll find it here). On Saturday I was at Trent Bridge to see England get hammered by India in the first match of their eight match tour. They were superior to England in every department. It was as I feared.

Charlotte Edwards was brimming with confidence and enthusiasm when she was handed her "dream job". I would expect nothing less from her, but I am concerned about what she has got to work with, and the fact that short-term goals - there is a 50 over World Cup in India in September, and then a T20 World Cup here in England in 2026 - determine the make-up of this current England team. The fact that there is a World Cup of some sort every couple of years, and an Ashes series every couple of years in between, means that every team is being picked with the next competition in mind, which is rarely more than 12 months ahead. In that time the team will probably play two or three series at the most. Short term goals are the be all and end all. 

This is no way to develop a great team. It is a pathway to mediocrity. To "safe selections". There is no chance for experimentation, for development, for trial and error. Players who know they will be selected week in week out no matter how they perform, whether they are fit or not, have no pressure to perform beyond the odd 50 here or there, or the odd decent bowling spell. It means when push comes to shove they are not hungry enough, and they are not good enough, and they don't want it enough. 

England need a shake-up! Even if those who come in to replace those who are dropped fail to perform, which many of them will. Playing international cricket is not easy. But players need to be given the opportunity to fail. And that does not mean the odd game here and there, with the "here is your opportunity to show us what you can do". The West Indies series was an ideal opportunity to give some youngsters their chance, particularly batters, but we went with the tried and tested and England won both series at a canter, but what did we learn from these series? Not a lot is the answer.

And here we are playing India with the same team and losing, well so far anyway. If Charlie Dean plays this evening in place of Linsey Smith, as I suspect she might, then the team on the park will not look very different from the team that got hammered by Australia in the Ashes. If Heather Knight was fit it would look even more similar. 

At some point England need to look beyond the next tournament or beyond the next Ashes series, and the coach needs to be reassured that they will be backed throughout that time. In my view now is the time for that reset, but I wonder if the opportunity has already passed. 

Martin Davies
1/VI/25

The Haves and the Have-Nots

Sport is all about the contest.

Professional sport is all about making the contest entertaining and absorbing to watch, so that people are willing to pay to be entertained.

Last night's game between England and the West Indies was neither entertaining nor absorbing, and indeed it was no contest whatsoever. As I got back on my train home from Hove I heard one man who had been at the game say to his friend "It was a good win, but it would have been nice if the West Indies had shown up".

Will I be making the trek to any more of the West Indies' games in this series? The answer is "No". That is not through lack of effort. I have already watched nine live games of county cricket this season having driven hundreds of miles to Taunton, Southport and Beckenham amongst other places. The vital factor is that each of those games has been more entertaining than last night's international.

The reason is that the West Indies only have one class cricketer in their midst - Hayley Matthews. She cannot do it all on her own, although she tried in the first game of the series. I am afraid to say that very few of the others in the Windies team, if any, would even make it into any of the Tier One county teams that I have watched this year. 

This is not the fault of the players, or indeed of Cricket West Indies. It is a fault of the structure of women's cricket (and indeed cricket in general it seems), whereby the strong are getting stronger and more powerful and richer, and the weak are becoming weaker, poorer and more irrelevant. The powerful are India, Australia and England. The weak are all the rest. 

It is no surprise that it is those three countries that have the only three stand-alone short form tournaments where players can make substantial amounts of money. And the majority of the players that make those substantial amounts, and play in the majority of the games, are from those same three countries. It is a never-ending and vicious circle. 

Somehow the powers that be have to redress the balance. More resources need to be channelled to the West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the rest. If not then we can look forward to more games like last night at Hove, and the chances of making women's cricket a self-sustaining sport, that the public are willing to pay a realistic amount of money to watch, are practically zero. 

Martin Davies
24/V/2025

Round Up of the first half of the Metro Bank One Day Cup after 8 Rounds

The Women's Metro Bank One Day Cup - effectively the Women's County Championship, as there is no multi-day women’s cricket - takes a brief respite from 20th May, after eight rounds of games, to accommodate the T20 Blast fixtures. There is then a brief resumption for two rounds at the end of July, before the competition comes to a climax in September with the final four rounds, the semi-finals, and the Final. Blessed by great weather throughout April and May, no games have been lost and the majority of the England contracted players have played, when not ruled out by injury. It has been a great start to the tournament, with plenty of tight games (including two ties) and some great individual performances. There have already been 14 hundreds (a record number in 50 over domestic women’s cricket) and four five-fors.

This is how the table currently looks

Perhaps the biggest surprise has been the underperformance of Surrey. With a team stacked full of England-capped batters (Wyatt-Hodge, Smith, Capsey, Dunkley, Scholfield and Davidson-Richards) you would have expected them to have blown away their opposition through sheer weight of runs, particularly playing their home games at Beckenham - a true batter's paradise. In fact they have played four 50 over games there and won only won. They did also tie against The Blaze, with each team putting 346/9 on the board. They have scored plenty of runs, but defending decent-looking scores has been their big issue. 

At the top of the table a young Hampshire side have probably exceeded even their own expectations losing just one game to The Blaze, after tieing their first against Warwickshire. Their strength has been in their consistent bowling attack, bowling four teams out for less than 209, with leading wicket-taker left arm spinner Linsey Smith to the fore. Batting-wise young Ella McCaughan hit a magnificent 133* at Southport to beat Lancashire and has two other 50s under her belt. Maia Bouchier also has three 50s to her name, but has not gone on to the big score that both she and England probably wanted. Overseas import, Australian Charli Knott, has also scored three fifties and taken eight wickets.

Tight on Hampshire's heels are Lancashire, who have finally got the results people have expected of them in past seasons, and the majority of their wins have been without the injured Sophie Ecclestone in their ranks. Their success has been based around the consistent opening partnership of Emma Lamb and Eve Jones. Together they have had three opening stands of over 100 and two more of over 50. They are both right up there as leading run scorers this season, and Lamb, who has also taken wickets with her off-spin, has earned a recall to the England squad for the West Indies series.

The Blaze (Notts to you and me) overcame Somerset, right behind them in the league, in the last game of this bloc of fixtures to keep up their challenge. They were many people's pre-season favourites. They have lost both their encounters with Lancashire, but have won the rest of their games. The Blaze have had some good team performances led by stand-in skipper Kathryn Bryce, performing with both bat and ball; two hundreds from Tammy Beaumont; and Georgia Elwiss chipping in with useful runs when they have been needed most.

As for Somerset they have been led from the front by skipper Sophie Luff, who has hit a century and three scores over 50. Aussie Amanda Jade Wellington has also frequently shown her worth, both with the ball, and as a closer with the bat. She has hit 178 runs at a superb strike rate of over 145. Perhaps inexperience has let one or two games slip from their grasp particularly down at Taunton.

At the other end of the table Durham got their season off to a perfect start with a crunching nine wicket win over Essex, during which Phoebe Turner took 4-33. With 17 wickets she is currently the league’s top wicket-taker. In the return fixture the result was equally emphatic with a six wicket win. But that, and a tight victory over Warwickshire, are their only wins. Perhaps it is no surprise that both of those defeated teams are the others propping up the table. Runs have proved hard to come by for Durham with a lot depending on Suzie Bates, Hollie Armitage and Mady Villiers at the top of the order. 

Almost the opposite is true of Warwickshire whose blushes have been saved by their lower middle order in several of their games. Emily Arlott, Charis Pavely and Georgia Davis have all scored over 50 batting at 7 and below. In fact Arlott went on to post 130 against Essex. Arlott has also been consistently in the wickets, which has resulted in her too getting a call-up to the latest England squad, as new England Head Coach Charlotte Edwards is true to her word that form matters.

And firmly rooted to the bottom of the table are last year's 50 over champions Essex (when they were called Sunrisers). They have managed just the one win, over Lancashire. Grace Scrivens scored back-to-back hundreds against The Blaze and Hampshire, but both were in a losing cause. They have got into winning positions in a few games, but have failed to get over the line. Their season looks done with just six games to come.

With the England internationals presumably available and encouraged to play again in all the remaining matches in the competition, you would expect Surrey to perform better in the second half of the season and join Hampshire, Lancashire and The Blaze in the semi-finals come September.

 

Martin Davies
20/V/25

Hampshire steal another win in Taunton

When Maia Bouchier caressed the first of her seven boundaries to the fence in the second over of this important clash between top of the table Hampshire and unfancied high-fliers Somerset, it looked like this was going to be another run-fest at Taunton....nothing could have been further from the truth.

A tempered start by Hampshire, who chose to bat on a used wicket, became a workmanlike first 25 overs - 107/2, and then a grinding first 40 overs - 164/4, and a disappointing end - 213 all out off the last ball of their innings. 

Bouchier flattered to deceive with a relatively fluent 39 off 43, but beyond her it was a hard slog. Charli Knott worked the hardest at the coalface and came away with 64 off 102 balls, and for a while she and Rhianna Southy (46 off 65 balls) seemed to be setting some kind of platform for Hampshire to go on and make 250+, but having been 151/3, albeit in 36 overs, Hampshire contrived to lose their next seven wickets for just 62 runs. 

True Somerset bowled accurately and fielded pretty well, giving away just 6 extras in the Hampshire innings, effecting two run outs and taking their catches, albeit with a bit of luck for Sophie Luff as she clung on to a rebound off a skied Knott drive at mid-on with the use of her right thigh. But Hampshire will have been disappointed with only 213 runs on the board.

Somerset needed a positive reply and for two overs they looked to have made just that - 13/0. But some accurate bowling from Freya Davies, who picked up the early wicket of Emma Corney, and then left-arm spinning duo Linsey Smith and Bex Tyson, put the brakes on, which lead to Knight pushing a ball to Bouchier at short cover and running. At the other end Sophie Luff gave it some consideration and then quite rightly rejected the opportunity to get run out herself. Bouchier's direct hit left Knight floundering well short of her crease.

Just 9 runs came from the next 17 balls before Fran Wilson spooned a catch to Bouchier at short extra cover; 18 balls and just 3 runs later Charlie Dean swept Tyson into deep square legs' hands. Somerset were 63/4 in the 19th over. Somerset skipper Sophie Luff watched on with exasperation and horror as the procession continued at the other end and her team were reduced to 109/8, after a brief interlude for rain which apparently reduced the innings to 49 overs, but kept the DLS target exactly as it had been before - 214 to win.

It all looked pretty academic until number 10, Ellie Anderson, found her own bottom-handed way of keeping her skipper company for more than five minutes. For the next 13 overs Anderson shovelled and drove, and Luff used her feet and occasionally took to the air, to get Somerset to 178/8, a stand of 69, which meant that Somerset needed 36 runs to win from 28 balls. But with an improbable victory in sight Anderson pulled a decent length ball from Tyson straight to Bouchier at midwicket. There was no great celebration from Hampshire, just an audible team sigh of relief. In the next over Georgia Adams brought Luff's valiant solo effort of 74 to a conclusion, as she sneaked a ball under her bat, as she once again danced down to hit the ball through wide mid-on, but this time missed. Somerset were all out for 182 to lose by 31 runs. A comfortable victory for Hampshire on paper, but a lot closer than Hampshire will have liked.

But this is just the type of game that the girls need to be involved in to learn the ups and downs of a 50 over game of cricket, and how to handle pressure both with the bat and the ball, and in the field. It wasn't a classic, but it was a good game of cricket.

Martin Davies
13/V/25

Metro Bank One Day Cup - Round Six

Durham v Warwickshire
Warwickshire 243/9 v Durham 244/7 (46.3 ovs)
Warwickshire, who elected to bat, never really got their innings going as they lost five wickets within the first 22 overs, with a brief cameo from Davina Perrin (32) ended by a fine return catch from Mady Villiers (2/35). When Katie George (42) and then Emily Arlott (29) departed Warwickshire looked in trouble at 152/7, but as in previous games their tail wagged with some purpose. Charis Pavely (57) and Issy Wong (32) added 83 for the 8th wicket before both succumbing in the final over of the innings, which left Warwickshire with a mediocre 243/9 on the board. Durham seamer Sophie Turner claimed 3/58.
After losing Emma Marlow early, Suzie Bates (72) and Hollie Armitage (46) powered on untroubled, until Armitage slapped a short wide delivery to cover point and then Bates was brilliantly stumped down the legside by Abbey Freeborn. Mady Villiers (65*) lost a succession of partners as the game seemed to be slipping away from Durham. Overs were not the issue, but wickets were. But finally she found an ally in Grace Thompson to help her get Durham over the line for their second win, with plenty of overs to spare and three wickets still in hand.
Highlights - Durham v Warks

Hampshire v Essex
Hampshire 273/5 v Essex 256/8 
Hampshire looked set for a massive total as the ball found its way from the bat to the boundary without too much effort within the first few balls, but Kate Coppack (2/44) removed Maia Bouchier and Charli Knott and the run rate declined as Hampshire rebuilt. Ella McCaughan's good form with the bat continued with a controlled 44, until she misjudged a sweep against Abtaha Maqsood and was adjudged lbw. Keeper Rhianna Southby (61) joined her skipper Georgia Adams (110*) at the crease for a vital 4th wicket partnership of 114 in a little over 23 overs to take Hampshire past 200. With cameos from Abi Norgrove and Nancy Harman Hampshire added 52 from the last 6 overs, as Adams also went to her century off 125 balls. 
In reply Essex made an equally bright start with Lissy Macleod (25) finding the boundary with some ease, but Linsey Smith (4/33) spun one past her tentative push to claim the first wicket. Concussion substitute (for Cordelia Griffith) Jo Gardner came in at three, but struggled to time the ball, and Essex's run rate plunged, with some tight bowling from left-arm spinners Smith and Bex Tyson, and off-spinner Knott. At the halfway stage Essex were only 108/1 with Grace Scrivens 53* (off 71 balls) at the time. Shortly after the drinks' break Smith accounted for Gardner, and with Jodie Grewcock (33) at the crease Essex picked up the pace. At the 40 over mark they were ahead of where Hampshire had been in their innings and needed 74 off the last 10 overs with 7 wickets in hand, but within 15 balls the game was gone as Tyson removed Gray, and Smith accounted for Scrivens, to a rash attempted reverse sweep, and Amara Carr, to a smart stumping by Southby. Essex ended an agonising 17 runs short and Hampshire moved to the top of the league with a fourth win.
Highlights - Hampshire v Essex

Lancashire v The Blaze
The Blaze 222 ao (48.2 ovs) v 226/6 (47.2 ovs)
The Blaze showed how much they will miss England players Tammy Beaumont, who could not repeat her previous heroics with the bat, and Amy Jones (52), next week, as Jones was the only batter in the top 6 to make a significant score. When she departed in the 33rd over The Blaze were on 141/6 and struggling, but Ella Claridge (63) martialled the tail through to 222 before she was the last out in the 49th over. It looked under par, but it at least gave The Blaze something to bowl at, with skipper Kirstie Gordon back in their bowling attack. Grace Potts finished with figures of 4/37.
But Lancs' opening pair of Eve Jones (33) and Emma Lamb (74) are brimming with confidence and found their way to 88 in just 14 overs before Jones gave Gordon (3/33) her first wicket. Sarah Glenn quickly accounted for Katie Mack, and Gordon removed both Seren Smale and Fi Morris in quick succession, to leave Lancs slightly on the back foot at 111/4. When Emma Lamb tickled Kathryn Bryce to the keeper down the legside Lancs may have wondered if this game was going to get away from them, but with plenty of time Ellie Threlkeld (35*) and Kate Cross (38*) calmly added an unbroken 71 for the 7th wicket to take Lancashire to victory in the 48th over, ending The Blaze's winning streak of four games. 
Highlights - Lancs v The Blaze 

Somerset v Surrey
Surrey 306/7 (44 ovs) v Somerset 215 ao (40.5 ovs)
High-flying Somerset had their tail feathers trimmed by a rampant Surrey batting attack lead by Bryony Smith (110) and Sophia Dunkley (79), as they racked up 306/7 in a game reduced to 44 overs after rain intervened for 40 minutes midway through the Surrey innings. The only Somerset bowlers to escape the onslaught were Amanda Jade Wellington (4/47) and Charlie Dean (2/56) in their full compliment of 9 overs. 
In truth Somerset never really looked like getting the adjusted DLS revised target of 317, and when Heather Knight was run out at the bowler's end as Alice Monaghan deflected a head high drive from Fran Wilson back onto the bowler's stumps, you could see the Somerset shoulders sag slightly more. Wellington (36) and Chloe Skelton (25) offered some late belligerent hitting, but the Somerset score only just crept into the 200s before Alexa Stonehouse issued the coup de grace in the 41st over. She, along with Alice Monaghan and Dani Gregory, each took a couple of wickets. 
Highlights - Somerset v Surrey

Metro Bank One Day Cup Table after six rounds

Martin Davies
12/V/25