Essex Women are headed to Old Trafford for the team's first ever Finals Day!
After beating Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women in the Quarter-Finals, Stephen Parry's side will face The Blaze in the tournament's first Semi-Final of the day.
In the last round, Grace Scrivens led her team into the field for the first innings of the day. Sophie Munro (3-33) took three quick wickets leaving the hosts 3/5 off 2.2 overs. Further wickets from Sophia Smale (1-18) and Jodi Grewcock (1-15) helped restrict the opposition. Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women ended their batting on 123/8 off 20 overs.
In response, Scrivens and Lissy Macleod headed out to the wicket to begin the hunt. Unfortunately, Lissy was caught after facing just seven balls. Jodi came into partner with Grace and it was an unstoppable duo. The pair managed to both make half centuries and easily chase down the target
They now travel up north to face the final hurdles towards the trophy.
Stephen Parry has named a 14-player squad for Finals Day.
This includes new signing Mollie Adams who will wear squad number two.
After sustaining injuries against Somerset in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, unfortunately Amara Carr and Flo Miller will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. Ariana Dowse will also miss out in accordance with concussion guidelines.
We wish Amara, Flo, and Ariana a speedy recovery.
Captain: Kirstie Gordon
Overseas: Charli Knott (Australia)
2025 finish: Semi-finalists
Winter moves: The Blaze have signed talented Australia A all-rounder Charli Knott, who brings experience of the Women’s Premier League in India, the Women’s Big Bash and The Hundred, and hit five white-ball half-centuries for Hampshire Women last summer. Meanwhile, Emma Jones, formerly with Surrey, can provide useful runs in the middle order.
The big question: The Blaze, like others, will be depleted because of the clash with the Women’s T20 World Cup. They lose England’s Amy Jones and Nat Sciver-Brunt and Ireland’s Orla Prendergast, although it may be the unavailability of their three Scots, Kathryn and Sarah Bryce and Blaze skipper Kirstie Gordon, that is the most keenly felt. Can those left step up a level?
Wildcard watch: United States international Ella Claridge, whose country missed out on qualification for the T20 World Cup, has a chance to make her presence felt in the Vitality County Cup. The 24-year-old wicketkeeper batter will carry some responsibility in the absence of Scotland’s Sarah Bryce and England’s Amy Jones but has proved before that she can rise to the challenge under pressure.
Final thought: Even stripped of six internationals, The Blaze still have the capacity to mount a challenge for silverware. Marie Kelly, a very capable top-order batter and excellent fielder, will captain the side, with experienced England batter Tammy Beaumont as a sounding board as well as a key source of runs. Charley Phillips, Grace Ballinger and Cassidy McCarthy are three top-notch seamers, while former England all-rounder Georgia Elwiss has enjoyed a couple of outstanding seasons with bat and ball.
The Blaze squad: click here.
Captain: Sophie Luff
Overseas: Anika Learoyd (Australia)
2025 finish: Out after round three
Winter moves: Australia A international Anika Learoyd will fill the overseas vacancy created by Amanda-Jade Wellington's switch to Hampshire, while England's Dani Gibson and Charlie Dean have signed one and two-year contract extensions respectively. England Under-19 seamer Bea Willis, batter Ruby Davis and leg spinner Lola Harris have agreed their first professional deals. Opener Amelie Munday and seamer Laura Jackson were released in the winter, while batter Fran Wilson took up a coaching role at Gloucestershire.
The big question: Can a relatively inexperienced squad find a way to win matches without their senior England players? In the anticipated absence of Heather Knight, Dani Gibson and Charlie Dean, it will be incumbent upon those with less experience to prove they can muster the consistency needed to translate last year's near misses into victories in 2026.
Wildcard watch: Lola Harris – playing her first season at this level and still something of an unknown quantity on the county circuit, the highly-rated teenage leg spinner has already made an impact in the Metro Bank One Day Cup. She has a great repeatable action and, providing she can maintain her composure under pressure, the England Under-19 international possesses the variation required to cause problems for batters.
Final thought: Although weakened by the loss of new ball bowler Mollie Robbins and batter Emma Corney, Somerset should still have sufficient resource to better last season's disappointing return of one win from 14 games. If Anika Learoyd, Bex Odgers, Sophie Luff and Niamh Holland can score runs consistently, Chloe Skelton and Alex Griffiths possess the bowling knowhow to restrict the opposition.
Somerset Women squad: click here.
Captain: Bryony Smith
Overseas: Laura Harris (Australia)
2025 finish: Runners Up
Winter moves: Laura Harris has arrived as the overseas star to fill the void left by her younger sister Grace, who was a huge hit last year. Emma Jones has left for The Blaze while Alexa Stonehouse is on loan at Warwickshire and Tash Farrant has retired. Rachel King and Emily Burke (academy) have joined the squad.
The big question: Surrey are victims of their own success in many ways with four players named in the England squad for the T20 World Cup (more than any other county) and Priyanaz Chatterji called up for Scotland. How will they compensate for the loss of three of their top six and the spin wizardry of Tilly Corteen-Coleman? Opportunity certainly knocks for others.
Wildcard watch: Alice Monaghan – all-rounder Monaghan was just finding her way into the team during last season’s tournament but appears much more of a fixture now. A more than useful seamer, Monaghan will also be needed to fill one of the voids in the top order, and she’s also shown herself to be one of the team’s top fielders.
Final thought: Surrey carried an aura of invincibility in last year’s tournament but look more vulnerable now. Laura Harris doesn’t have the all-round versatility of sister Grace, but boasted a strike-rate of 207 last year. Two players conspicuous by their absence so far this season may be crucial to hopes of repeat success.
Surrey Women squad: click here.
If you are unable to attend Finals Day, you can keep up to date with the game via our social media channels as we provide live updates.
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Highlights will be available after each match's play via the Club website and social media.
Tickets are available to purchase from Old Trafford's website by clicking here.
