Metro Women’s One Day Cup 2025: Day 1 Wrap – Surrey, Lancashire And Durham Start Strong As Hampshire-Warwickshire Ends In A Tie

The Metro Women’s One Day Cup 2025 kicked off in style, delivering a thrilling opening day of cricket across four action-packed fixtures. 

From dominant chases to nail-biting finishes, the tournament began with a mix of emphatic wins and dramatic moments. Durham, Surrey, and Lancashire flexed their muscles with convincing victories, while Hampshire and Warwickshire served up a rare tied contest to cap off a riveting start to the competition.

Match 1: Essex vs Durham– Durham Won By 9 Wickets

Durham got their Women’s One-Day Cup campaign off to a commanding start with a nine-wicket demolition of Essex at the Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street. 

After electing to field first, Durham’s bowlers, led by Phoebe Turner and Katie Levick, dictated the rhythm of the game, skittling Essex out for 177 in 47.3 overs. Turner was the standout performer, bagging 4 wickets for 33 runs in her 8 overs, while Levick’s tight lines yielded 3 wickets for just 28 runs from her full quota of 10 overs. 

Grace Thompson also chipped in with two scalps, further tightening the screws on Essex, who struggled for any significant momentum with the bat.

The Essex innings was a tale of false starts and scattered resistance. Skipper Grace Scrivens managed 19 runs before falling to Turner, and her opening partner Joanne Gardner added 18, only to be trapped lbw by Thompson. 

The top order crumbled further with Cordelia Griffith and Florence Miller falling cheaply, the latter dismissed for a duck. A brief spell of resistance came from Jodi Grewcock (31 off 64) and Sophia Smale (40 off 68), who looked to rebuild in the middle overs. 

Amara Carr also made a useful 21, but the consistent breakthroughs ensured Essex never truly recovered from the early setbacks. A total of 12 extras slightly helped their cause, but 177 was always going to be under-par on a good batting surface.

In reply, Durham chased down the target in just 32.4 overs, losing only one wicket in the process. Essex had an early breakthrough when Kate Coppack trapped Emma Marlow lbw for 4, but that was the lone success in a dominant batting display by Durham’s top order. 

Suzie Bates led the charge with a superb unbeaten 93 off 103 deliveries, finding the boundary 14 times in an elegant knock that combined control with intent. She was ably supported by skipper Hollie Armitage, who remained not out on 64 off 87 balls, striking 8 boundaries and providing the perfect foil to Bates’ fluent strokeplay. 

Together, they put on an unbroken partnership of 173 runs, showcasing authority and patience as they dismantled the Essex bowling attack.

Essex’s bowlers failed to build any pressure, with none of them managing to take more than a single wicket. Coppack’s figures of 1 for 44 from 8 overs were the only tangible return, while Eva Gray was economical with 7 tidy overs for 24. 

However, the rest of the attack leaked runs, and the lack of breakthroughs left Essex unable to mount any real challenge.

The result handed Durham a dominant victory and a bonus point, setting the tone for their season, while Essex will look to regroup after a disappointing performance with both bat and ball.

Match 2: Surrey vs Somerset– Surrey Won By 7 Wickets

In a thrilling encounter at the Kent County Cricket Ground in Beckenham, Somerset edged out Surrey by seven wickets off the final delivery in a high-scoring 33-over contest adjusted by the DLS method in the Women’s One-Day Cup. 

Chasing a revised target of 238, Somerset kept their nerves in check and pulled off a clinical run chase, reaching 241/3 with no balls remaining to register a memorable win and pocket four points.

Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Somerset found early success when Ellie Anderson dismissed Surrey captain Bryony Smith for just 1 in the opening over. However, the in-form duo of Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Alice Capsey launched a counterattack, adding 59 runs quickly. 

Wyatt-Hodge looked fluent in her 33 off 27, including four boundaries and a six, before falling leg-before to Amanda-Jade Wellington, who turned out to be the pick of the bowlers. Capsey followed soon after, caught off Wellington for a well-compiled 26.

Surrey’s middle order briefly stuttered, with Alice Monaghan falling for a three-ball duck, stumped off Wellington, and Sophia Dunkley departing for 22 after getting a start. Paige Scholfield and Alice Davidson-Richards then stabilized the innings with a 60-run stand. 

Scholfield’s 48 from 43 balls was filled with positive intent, but it was Davidson-Richards’ unbeaten 57 off 47, featuring two sixes and four boundaries, that gave Surrey the finishing push.

Kira Chathli added a quickfire 25, while Phoebe Franklin chipped in with a cameo, lifting Surrey to 243/7 in their allotted 33 overs. Wellington claimed three wickets, with Charlie Dean supporting well, taking 2 for 40.

Chasing a stiff 238 in 33 overs, Somerset got off to a dream start courtesy of a 122-run opening stand between captain Heather Knight and Emma Corney. Knight was in commanding form, striking nine boundaries and a six en route to a fluent 64 off 54 balls before falling to Davidson-Richards. 

Corney, steady and composed, added 61 off 68 before she was bowled by Ryana MacDonald-Gay. With the platform set, Fran Wilson and Charlie Dean kept the scoreboard ticking with a 59-run stand, maintaining the required run rate. Dean’s brisk 41 off 35 helped ease pressure before she was dismissed in the penultimate over.

With 32 runs required off the last 14 deliveries, Amanda-Jade Wellington stepped up with a blazing cameo, hammering 24 off just 7 balls, including six boundaries, to snatch victory from the jaws of a potential last-over deadlock. 

Fran Wilson remained unbeaten on 36 as Somerset sealed a pulsating win with all three of their top-order batters contributing meaningfully.

Despite valiant efforts from Surrey’s bowlers, particularly Capsey and Davidson-Richards who picked up a wicket each and bowled with discipline, the total proved just short. Somerset’s depth in batting and composure in crunch moments proved decisive as they walked away deserving winners in what turned out to be a cracking contest to kickstart their campaign.

Match 3: The Blaze vs Lancashire– Lancashire Won By 8 Wickets

Lancashire produced a dominant all-round performance to secure an emphatic eight-wicket victory over The Blaze in the third match of the Women’s One-Day Cup at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. 

Chasing a target of 235, Lancashire completed the job in style with 30 balls to spare, thanks largely to a sensational unbeaten 130 from opener Emma Lamb.

The day began with The Blaze winning the toss and opting to bat first. However, their innings didn’t get off to a promising start as skipper Tammy Beaumont was dismissed early, falling for just 4 off 15 balls to Mahika Gaur. 

Amy Jones then tried to stabilise the innings alongside Kathryn Bryce, but her stay was short-lived as she was caught off the bowling of Sophie Morris after scoring 30 from 35 balls.

Bryce, however, stood firm and played a composed knock of 70 from 90 balls, anchoring the middle overs with a mixture of calm rotation and timely boundaries. 

Georgia Elwiss gave her good company, contributing a valuable 49 from 63 balls before falling to Hannah Jones. As the innings wore on, the Blaze suffered a collapse in the lower order. Despite useful late cameos—particularly from Josie Groves who scored a brisk 21 from 20 balls—the side could only muster 234 runs at the end of their 50 overs.

The pick of the Lancashire bowlers was Emma Lamb, who returned with figures of 3 for 42 in her 7 overs, while Hannah Jones matched that wicket tally with a more economical 3 for 38 from 10 overs. Mahika Gaur also chipped in with 2 wickets, maintaining consistent pressure throughout her 8 overs.

Lancashire’s chase began with a minor hiccup as Eve Jones was dismissed for 13, caught and bowled by Kathryn Bryce. But what followed was a batting masterclass led by Emma Lamb. 

She played a near-flawless knock, blending elegance with control to craft a majestic 130 not out off 140 balls, striking 15 boundaries along the way. She was well-supported by Katie Mack, who added 44 from 62 deliveries before being bowled by Sarah Glenn, and then by Seren Smale, whose unbeaten 38 off 43 balls ensured there were no further stumbles.

The Blaze bowlers toiled hard but failed to make inroads, with only Bryce and Glenn managing to pick up wickets. Lancashire’s chase was marked by calculated aggression and composure, ultimately getting across the line in 45 overs with eight wickets in hand.

The result earned Lancashire Women four points while The Blaze were left empty-handed. It was a statement win for Lancashire, who will take plenty of confidence from this clinical performance as the tournament progresses.

Match 4: Hampshire vs Warwickshire– Match Tied

In a gripping encounter at Edgbaston in the Women’s One-Day Cup, Hampshire and Warwickshire played out a thrilling tie, both sides finishing on exactly 208 runs in their allotted overs. 

After electing to bat first, Hampshire struggled to build momentum early in the innings. The top order failed to establish partnerships, with Maia Bouchier falling early to Emily Arlott for just 4. Ella McCaughan (14), Charli Knott (14), and captain Georgia Adams (11) all got starts but couldn’t convert them into substantial contributions. 

The innings found some stability through Rhianna Southby, who anchored with a well-constructed 72 off 95 balls, finding the boundary eight times in a patient and composed knock. She found some support from Abi Norgrove (28 off 46), and the pair pushed Hampshire past the 150 mark. 

However, a flurry of wickets followed her dismissal in the 45th over, and despite the extras column offering a significant 43 runs—including 31 wides—Hampshire were bowled out for 208 in 48.3 overs.

The Warwickshire bowlers maintained a tight grip on proceedings. Chloe Brewer was the standout with 3 for 40, well supported by Georgia Davis and Emily Arlott, who picked up two wickets each. 

The fielding efforts of Davina Perrin were also crucial, featuring in two run-outs that dented Hampshire’s lower order.

Chasing 209, Warwickshire got off to a steady start with Sterre Kalis and Abigail Freeborn adding 35 for the first wicket before Kalis fell for 18. Freeborn played the anchor role with an impressive 70 off 96 balls, including six fours and a six, holding the innings together as wickets fell around her. 

Davina Perrin (17) and Katie George (7) couldn’t provide lasting support, and the middle order collapsed in the face of disciplined bowling from Hampshire. Linsey Smith proved unplayable at times, claiming four vital wickets for just 39 runs in her 10 overs, including key scalps of Perrin, Brewer, Arlott, and Ellis. 

Lauren Bell chipped in with two wickets, removing both openers, while Freya Davies and Charli Knott picked up one each.

With Warwickshire needing 20 runs from the last 7 overs and two wickets in hand, the game hung in the balance. Charis Pavely and Georgia Davis edged them closer, but Pavely was bowled by Davies at a critical juncture. 

The final over began with Warwickshire needing 6 runs and one wicket remaining. Georgia Davis managed to level the scores before being run out off the last ball of the innings, completing a dramatic and rare tie.

Both teams shared points, taking two each from a match that showcased the competitive spirit and intensity of the women’s domestic circuit.

The result highlighted individual brilliance, particularly Southby’s gritty half-century and Smith’s four-wicket haul, alongside Freeborn’s valiant effort in the chase, culminating in a game where neither side deserved to lose.

Click Here to get the latest news related to Women’s Cricket. You can also check about Match predictions here. Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more updates.