Essex Women kickstart their 2026 Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign on Saturday with an away trip to Southampton to face Hampshire.
Stephen Parry will be looking to begin his tenure as Essex Women head coach with a victory on the south coast, as the first round of the Women’s Metro Bank One Day Cup gets underway.
Led by Grace Scrivens, the squad have completed their pre-season preparations with matches against Lancashire, The Blaze and Surrey.
Stephen Parry has named a 13-player squad for their first match of the season.
Captain: Georgia Adams
Head Coach: Paul Prichard
2025 finish: Runners-up
2025 leading run-scorer: Maia Bouchier (539)
2025 leading wicket-taker: Freya Davies (19)
Winter moves: The retirement of Freya Davies and the departure to Warwickshire of Mary Taylor has meant a major depletion in the fast-bowling cache. Hannah Hardwick and Francesca Sweet both arrive after successful trials and are capable of bowling pace. The ever-reliable Charli Knott has been replaced as overseas by leg-spinning all-rounder Amanda-Jade Wellington – who has previously taken plenty of wickets at Utilita Bowl for Southern Vipers and Southern Brave.
The big question: Will the domestic players step up when the England stars are away? With Maia Bouchier, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith and Freya Kemp, Hampshire look a seriously impressive side. Without them things could be tricky. Ella McCaughan was exceptional before injury curtailed her 2025. She, Abi Norgrove, Georgia Adams, Rhianna Southby and Naomi Dattani have runs in them – which they will need to ease the pressure on an unproven bowling attack.
Player to watch: Hampshire need a young bowler to step up. After a breakout 2025, Daisy Gibb is tracking in the right direction to be that player. The 20-year-old mainly gained admirers in the Vitality Blast but converting her skiddy swing into 50-over consistency feels a natural next step, and she could be a danger to top-order batters up and down the country.
Final thoughts: Hampshire followed in the footsteps of their Southern Vipers forebearers in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup last season. Throughout that time, they have always found a way to regenerate and continue their dominant 50-over legacy. After losing key Vipers players, they topped the group stage but lost in the final. This year will need another rebirth, however, a top-four finish will still be the target.
Hampshire squad: Ella McCaughan, Maia Bouchier, Abi Norgrove, Freya Kemp, Rhianna Southby (WK), Naomi Dattani (C), Amanda-Jade Wellington, Francesca Sweet, Linsey Smith, Daisy Gibb, Bex Tyson.
Hampshire held their nerve to claim a thrilling four-run win over Essex in a rain-reduced 17-over contest at Chelmsford. Freya Davies (2-15) and Bex Tyson (2-20) led the visitors’ disciplined bowling effort, supported by sharp fielding, to restrict Essex to 97-6 while defending a modest 101. Sophie Munro’s unbeaten 28 was the top score for the hosts.
Essex had chosen to bowl first, with Esmae MacGregor (2-17) making early inroads by removing Rhianna Southby. However, Maia Bouchier and Freya Kemp countered with 31 apiece, sharing a 49-run partnership that steadied Hampshire after early wickets. MacGregor later trapped Bouchier at mid-off in a wicket-maiden, triggering a collapse as Kemp, Abtaha Maqsood, and Georgia Adams fell in quick succession. Sharp fielding by Essex, including a run-out of Nancy Harman, kept Hampshire under pressure, but they managed to reach 101-7.
Chasing, Essex struggled to build momentum from the outset. Grace Scrivens (2), Jo Gardner (boundary-less start), and Jodie Grewcock (caught at the fence off Tyson) fell cheaply, while Eva Gray and Sophia Smale failed to spark a fightback. Flo Miller’s brief resistance and Munro’s 28 kept Essex in contention, but the required rate climbed too high. Davies trapped Miller lbw in the final over, leaving Munro stranded as Hampshire celebrated a narrow but well-earned victory.
Despite the loss, positives for Essex included early breakthroughs from MacGregor and spirited contributions from Munro, showing fight in a tight rain-affected encounter.
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